AT&T’s Network Disaster Recovery team dispatched more than 20 pieces of recovery equipment to Florida. This includes portable cell sites, mobile command centers, hazmat response vehicles and charging stations. The carrier also brought in a fleet of drones to assist with damage assessment and recovery in some of the hardest hit areas, including the Florida Keys.
One portable cell site is stationed at the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC), two are positioned in Naples to specifically support public safety and another four portable cell sites have been deployed to the Florida Keys. Network assets are also being staged at a local EOC in Miami-Dade, according to the carrier.
AT&T is working with public safety officials to prioritize communications for first responders. More than 15,000 public safety personnel responding to Irma who use AT&T’s mobility services were equipped with AT&T Dynamic Traffic Management at no additional charge. It’s also delivering charging accessories and car chargers to first responders.
AT&T has employees trained in incident response on the ground at Florida’s Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee to quickly and fully address needs coming in from the state.
Significant progress has been made in restoring services to areas of Florida affected by the storm. A portable cell site has been deployed on St. Thomas to support recovery efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“AT&T’s Network Disaster Recovery team arrived in the Florida Keys as soon as the roadway was deemed passable,” said Walton County Sheriff Mike Adkinson and president, Florida Sheriffs Association. “Not only were they able to quickly restore basic communications via deployable satellite systems, but they arrived with hundreds of rugged public safety handsets and their own fuel truck.”
“Deputies and other public safety officials were quickly provided with communications capabilities soon after Hurricane Irma devastated the area. AT&T’s quick and comprehensive response goes a long way in proving that their choice as the Federal First Responder Network Authority’s partner, responsible for deploying public safety’s nationwide FirstNet network was the right one,” Sheriff Adkinson added.
September 15, 2017
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