Verizon updated customers about the state of its networks in areas impacted by Hurricane Ida. It said yesterday that overall, its network remains strong in Louisiana, “however recovery efforts, changes in commercial power and flood waters continue to create a dynamic environment for our field teams.”
Most customers in areas that have cell sites out-of-service are receiving service from nearby sites. But there are still a few areas with service gaps including St. James Parish, the coastal communities, Hammond, and the southern coastline of Lake Pontchartrain. “Our teams are focusing efforts on site restoration and moving mobile assets into these areas as quickly as they are able to access them,” said Verizon.
“Overnight, teams completed an additional 150 site surveys uncovering additional damage or displacement to antennas. As tower crews climb to repair those, both coverage and capacity on those towers will be improved,” the carrier noted.
In the northeast, a central office in Scarsdale, NY was flooded, causing copper, fiber and wireless service interruptions from White Plains down to Mount Vernon yesterday. Engineers were pumping water out and moving mobile equipment to that central office to restore service.
While there are scattered impacts in other areas of the Northeast, overlapping coverage (coverage from nearby network facilities) is providing service to most customers. Teams were beginning site surveys and damage assessment yesterday of poles, towers and other network facilities.
AT&T said its wireless network in Louisiana was operating “at more than 96 percent of normal” yesterday. “We have 22 on-air mobile cell site solutions supporting customers and first responders in impacted areas.” It has out-of-state technicians helping its crews in the restoration efforts.
“We are continuing to conduct daily aerial site inspections to survey any potential damage to infrastructure,” notes AT&T. The telecom cautions that lines on the ground are providing critical connections. “Do not cut any lines on the ground and do not disrupt equipment – whether generators or other infrastructure,” it cautions.
T-Mobile had not issued Ida updates by press time yesterday.
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