UPDATE: Federal Communications Commission Provides 24/7 Emergency Contact Information for Hurricane Matthew. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be available to address emergency communications needs twenty-four hours a day throughout the weekend, especially relating to the effects that Hurricane Matthew may have on the Southeastern United States.
The FCC reminds emergency communications providers, including broadcasters, cable service providers, wireless and wireline service providers, satellite service providers, emergency response managers and first responders, and others needing assistance to initiate, resume, or maintain communications operations during the weekend, to contact the FCC Operations Center for assistance at 202-418-1122 or by e-mail at FCCOPCenter@fcc.gov.
As Hurricane Matthew travels towards the East Coast, telecom providers are staging equipment and calling in extra tower crews to prepare for and minimize power outages if possible. Verizon Wireless is fine-tuning hurricane prep in coastal markets and local network teams are prepared to travel to help regions hardest-hit by the storm.
Links and Resources:
State Emergency Alert Plans and Chairpersons:
- Florida
- Georgia
- North Carolina: Ardie Gregory – EAS Chairperson, WRAL-FM, 3100 Highwood Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27604, phone: 919-890-6104
- South Carolina: Plan: John George, Audio Broadcasting Group,Lexington, SC 29073 phone: 803-951-7443
Since last year’s storms, Verizon has enhanced its 4G network by adding capacity to cell sites, fortifying coverage along evacuation routes and deploying advanced LTE technology. It’s also installed new in-building network systems at hospitals, government and emergency facilities and other high-traffic public locations.
The company has a number of “super-switch” network processing centers, which are designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes. With hardened shells, these facilities also feature large-scale on-site power generation, various redundant operations and technologies, and other back-up systems to ensure the company’s network remains operational.
“Our engineers and technicians are working around the clock preparing emergency services, staging extra equipment and running drills to ensure our customers can rely on us when they need it most,” said Sergei Mislevy, executive director of Network Operations for Verizon Wireless. The company has a fleet of dozens of Cells on Wheels, Cells on Light Trucks, and generators on trailers that can be rolled into hard-hit locations or areas that need extra network capacity. Its pre-arranging fuel delivery to mobile units and generators to keep the network operating at full strength even if power is lost for an extended period of time.
AT&T also staged emergency response equipment in strategic locations, if needed. Its national reliability center is monitoring outages for quick action.
The company is topping off its generators at its cell sites with fuel and says these sites are equipped with high-capacity back-up batteries. To improve network redundancy in storm-prone areas, AT&T installed more generators at critical cell towers and switching facilities, and moved electronics key to network operations above expected flood levels.
Joe York, president, AT&T Florida, says “[W]e practice readiness drills and simulations throughout the year. We do all we can to have our networks prepared when severe weather strikes.”
Carriers also stepped up to the plate to ensure customers could reach their loved ones in already affected areas such as Haiti, where officials worried downed communication towers could hamper emergency response. According to Pix11, T-Mobile is offering free call and text services from the U.S. to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos.“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the path of this powerful storm,” said T-Mobile President and CEO John Legere.
Similarly, Sprint is eliminating international call and text charges through Friday and AT&T is crediting or waving fees associated with calls and texts to these regions during the same time-period. Sprint CEO Marcel Claure echoed Legere’s sentiment, “We want to do what we can to help our customers stay connected with loved ones.”
If you have any updates or photos pertaining to the storm please contact our editor.
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