Broadband Providers Are Helping People Weather the Storm

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UPDATE USTelecom says member companies remain on the front lines before, during, and after natural disasters. Several members have operations in and around Hurricane Florence’s path and are coordinating with local, state and federal offices of emergency management and preparing to keep networks up and running. USTelecom outlines some ways broadband providers on the East Coast are stepping in to help communities weather the storm in a blog post:  

  • CenturyLink initiated its disaster preparedness plan, which includes readying emergency crews and equipment, making sure generators are functioning, and communicating closely with government agencies and first responders.

  • Frontier activated its Emergency Response Center which is the nerve center for managing the impacts and aftermath of Hurricane Florence. The company has made sure it has enough fuel for the fleet and emergency generators to keep things operational during the storm and its aftermath.
  • Windstream launched a Storm Center webpage to track hurricane updates from the company and outline its disaster preparedness plan, which includes placing portable generators in the areas of potential impact and preparing emergency supplies.

The storm is already having an effect.  MSA shut down its Jacksonville, North Carolina manufacturing plant because of Hurricane Florence. Jacksonville is part of the area under mandatory evacuation. The company makes safety products to help protect workers who may be exposed to a variety of hazardous conditions, including tower climbers. Orders that were scheduled to ship by September 11, will be delayed at least until next week (the week of September 17).  MSA will update clients on the status of orders and lead times once the storm passes.

September 14, 2018