• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Motorola Prepares to Support Local Private Communications Systems As Hurricane Frances Makes Landfall

Posted on: Friday, 3 September 2004, 06:00 CDT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As Hurricane Frances makes landfall along Florida's East coast today, Motorola, Inc. is working to ensure its customers' mission communications systems remain fully operational in the event of power outages and storm damage. Over the past several days, field support and product teams have again been placed on high alert, preparing to build and ship equipment and resources to customers, as well as undertake facility repair and recovery as needed.

"We have all the necessary resources in place to help customers maintain the integrity of their critical communications networks in what will be the second major crisis to hit the area in several weeks," said Greg Brown, executive vice president of Motorola, Inc. and president of its Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS). "We stand ready to deploy all available resources to support public safety and first responder communications systems in the event of power loss or equipment storm damage."

In addition to staying in close contact with affected customers and suppliers, Motorola has activated its Public Safety Emergency Ordering System. The system allows for immediate equipment shipping and priority handling of all customer requests. To date, Motorola has shipped more than 450 XTS 5000(TM) and XTS 3000(TM) portable radios, 435 radio chargers and 1,700 batteries for public safety use immediately following Hurricane Charley's landfall. Orders have continued to be processed in preparation for Frances' arrival, with more than 800 portable radios, chargers and batteries delivered to first responders in anticipation of their post-landfall requirements. In addition, dedicated tower crews have been mobilized to immediately address any public safety communications issues once Frances moves out of the area.

"In an emergency, mission critical communications networks remain the single most powerful tool public safety and government agencies have at their disposal to ensure the safety and well-being of first responders and the citizens they protect," said Brown.

Three Motorola mobile trunked communications systems stand ready to be deployed to any city or county affected by Frances to ensure critical public safety, utility and government communications networks remain operational. Currently, a mobile, five-channel 800 MHz trunked radio site located in Savannah, Ga., is being programmed in conventional mode to support local mutual aid systems as well as a national channel as a precautionary measure.

Motorola's preparation for Frances comes immediately on the heels of efforts to support customers recently affected by Hurricane Charley. Despite widespread destruction along Charley's path, Motorola's critical communications networks provided public safety responders with necessary interoperability to keep emergency, recovery and administrative operations running smoothly throughout the crisis.

"Our 800 MHz trunked critical communications network provided the foundation for all communications functions -- and did so with complete reliability," said Paul Winter, communications manager for Charlotte County, Fla., where the town of Punta Gorda sustained some of the worst storm damage.

Motorola's System Support Center, responsible for the 24-hour daily real- time monitoring of more than 600 SmartZone(R) communications networks nationwide, offers a special 800 number for customers to request and secure emergency resources. Center systems also are used to dial into 911 and SmartNet(TM) networks potentially affected by the hurricane hourly to assess system availability, functionality and general operation.

About Motorola

Motorola, Inc. is a global leader in wireless, broadband and automotive communications technologies that help make life smarter, safer, simpler, synchronized and fun. Sales in 2003 were U.S. $27.1 billion. Motorola creates innovative technological solutions that benefit people at home, at work and on the move. The company also is a progressive corporate citizen dedicated to operating ethically, protecting the environment and supporting the communities in which it does business. For more information: http://www.motorola.com/ .

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020307/MOTLOGOhttp://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020415/MOTNOTAGLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840

Motorola, Inc.

CONTACT: Adrienne Dimopoulos, +1-847-576-6612, or Steve Gorecki,+1-847-538-0368, both of Motorola, Inc.

Web site: http://www.motorola.com/

More News in this Category