With a “more active than average” Atlantic hurricane season predicted for 2008, AT&T Inc. Has announced that the company is prepared to respond quickly if a storm strikes. To help customers prepare, too, the company is providing important communications tips for use before, during and after a storm.
“The Southeast has been tested by hurricane seasons in the past, and we have demonstrated our ability to respond time after time,” said Harry Lightsey, president — Southeast region of AT&T. “We realize the important role that communications play in an emergency situation, and that’s why we have invested billions of dollars to toughen our networks and our disaster recovery capabilities. Furthermore, AT&T employees have always demonstrated a commitment to serve their neighbors and their community, even when their own homes were damaged,” said Lightsey.
“AT&T has built the most technologically advanced wireless network in the country,” said Steve Sitton, president of AT&T’s wireless operations in the Southeast. “The wireless services we offer can help keep our customers connected during emergencies in a variety of ways including voice communications, video applications and text messaging. We have continued to improve the reliability of our wireless services in hurricane-prone areas by installing more backup generators at critical sites, moving facilities to less vulnerable areas and improving our recovery efforts. We are committed to keeping our customers connected, and we have taken steps to ensure our wireless networks are ready,” said Sitton.
Millions of residential and business customers depend on AT&T for critical voice, data and video communications as well as entertainment services. AT&T is committed to delivering the highest levels of service quality and reliability for customers under all circumstances.
A critical element of AT&T’s efforts to maximize network reliability is the company’s ability to swiftly respond when disaster strikes. AT&T monitors and maintains its networks 24/7 and conducts readiness drills throughout the year to ensure that the networks and personnel are ready to respond in a moment’s notice.
Network preparations include:
– Adding capacity to the wireless network to accommodate increased call
volume.
– Testing the high-capacity backup batteries located at every cell site.
– Maintaining a robust backup power plan, which includes deploying
extended battery life and portable generators, and maintaining
existing fixed generators.
– Topping off generators with fuel at cell sites and central and
field-level switching facilities.
– Using natural gas in some of the permanent generators to eliminate the
need to refuel.
– Staging generators in safe locations for their immediate deployment
once a storm has passed.
– Elevating switches critical to network operations above expected flood
levels.
– Protecting physical facilities against flooding.
– Preparing the following for deployment in the wake of a storm:
– Mobile cell sites
– Mobile command centers
– Emergency communications vehicles
– A self-sufficient base camp, complete with sleeping tents,
bathrooms, kitchen, laundry facilities, on-site nurse and more
than 10,000 meals ready to eat (MREs), plus more
– Hazmat equipment and supplies
– Equipment-trailers to provide infrastructure support and mobile
heating ventilation and air conditioning
– Internal and external resources for initial assessment and
recovery efforts
AT&T offers the following recommendations for consumers and small business owners in preparation for this year’s hurricane season.
Consumer Tips:
– Have a family communications plan in place. Designate someone out of
the area as a central contact, and make certain that all family
members know whom to contact if they become separated. Most important,
practice your emergency plan in advance.
– Be sure you have a “Hurricane Phone.” It’s a good idea to have a
wireless phone on hand and at least one corded (landline) telephone
that is not dependent on electricity in case of a power outage.
Cordless telephones usually have receivers that are electrically
charged, so they won’t work if you lose your power.
– Program all of your emergency contact numbers and e-mail addresses
into your mobile phone. Numbers should include the police department,
fire station and hospital, as well as your family members.
– Keep your wireless phone batteries charged at all times. Have an
alternative plan to recharge your battery in case of a power outage,
such as charging your wireless device by using your car charger or
having extra mobile phone batteries or disposable mobile phone
batteries on hand.
– Keep your wireless phone dry. The biggest threat to your device during
a hurricane is water, so keep your equipment safe from the elements by
storing it in a baggie or some other type of protective covering.
– Forward your home number to your wireless number in the event of an
evacuation. Because call forwarding is based out of the telephone
central office, you will get incoming calls from your landline phone
even if your local telephone service is disrupted at your home. In the
unlikely event that the central office is not operational, services
such as voice mail, call forwarding, remote access call forwarding and
call forwarding busy line/don’t answer may be useful.
– Track the storm and access weather information on your wireless
device. Many homes lose power during severe weather. If you have a
wireless device that provides access to the Internet, you can watch
weather reports through MobiTV(R) or AT&T Mobile TV or keep updated
with local radar and severe weather alerts through My-Cast(R) Weather,
if you subscribe to those services.
– If you have a camera phone, take, store and send photos — even video
clips — of damaged property to your insurance company from your
device.
– Take advantage of location-based mapping technology such as AT&T
Navigator, available on some wireless devices, to seek evacuation
routes or to avoid traffic congestion from downed trees or power
lines.
Small Business Tips:
– Set up a call-forwarding service to a predetermined backup location.
Set up a single or multiple hotline number(s) for employees,
employees’ families, customers and partners, as appropriate, to call
so that all parties know about the business situation and emergency
plan. For this to be most effective, maintain an updated contact list,
including mobile and home phone numbers and e-mail addresses, for all
employees.
– Protect hardware/software/data records/employee records, etc.
Routinely back up these files to an off-site location. Use a generator
for supplying backup power to vital computer hardware and other
mission-critical equipment. Prearrange the replacement of damaged
hardware with vendors to ensure quick business recovery.
– Outline detailed plans for evacuation and shelter-in-place plans.
Practice these plans (employee training, etc.). Establish a backup
location for your business and meeting place for all employees.
– Assemble a crisis-management team and coordinate efforts with
neighboring businesses and building management. Be aware that
disasters affecting your suppliers also affect your business. Outline
a plan for supply chain continuity for business essentials.
Maximizing Service During and After a Hurricane:
– During an emergency, more people are trying to use their phones at the
same time. The increased calling volume may create network congestion,
leading to “fast busy” signals on your wireless phone or a slow dial
tone on your landline phone. If this happens, hang up, wait several
seconds and then try the call again. This allows your original call
data to clear the network before you try again.
– Try wireless text/short messaging service (SMS). During an emergency
situation, text messages will often go through quicker than voice
calls because they require less network resources. All of AT&T’s
wireless devices are text messaging capable. Also, if you have a
wireless data device such as an Apple iPhone or a BlackBerry(R)
smartphone, you can use its messaging capabilities to communicate.
Depending on the call plan, additional charges may apply.
– Keep non-emergency calls to a minimum, and limit your calls to the
most important ones. If there is severe weather, chances are many
people will be attempting to place calls to loved ones, friends and
business associates.
Additional information and tips for disaster preparedness can be found at http://www.att.com/vitalconnections.
SOURCE: The December Seasonal Forecast issued by Dr. Bill Gray and Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University (CSU).
