AT&T Stands Ready for 2010 Hurricane Season in the Southeast
Poster: SySAdmin
Posted on May 17, 2010 at 7:14:01 AM
AT&T Stands Ready for 2010 Hurricane Season in the Southeast
Offers Communications Tips for Consumers and Businesses
ATLANTA, May 17 -- With an "average" hurricane season predicted for 2010, expected to include 15 named storms in the Atlantic Ocean, AT&T* today announced that it is prepared to respond quickly if a storm strikes. To help customers prepare too, AT&T is providing important communications tips for use before, during and after a storm.
"The Southeast has been tested by inclement weather and hurricanes in the past and AT&T has always been quick to respond and restore service to impacted communities," said Steve Sitton, regional president - Southeast, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Services. "Our customers rely on us to be prepared and keep them connected during emergencies, and we are committed to fulfilling those needs."
In its arsenal of Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) capabilities, AT&T has the industry's largest and most advanced disaster response capability with unmatched resources to help ensure the flow of both wireless and wired communications during times of need. AT&T has invested more than $500 million in its NDR function since it was formed. AT&T's NDR function includes more than 300 technology and equipment trailers that can be quickly distributed anywhere in the U.S. or worldwide to respond to disaster situations such as severe hurricanes. AT&T invested $145 million in recovery and restoration efforts related to the 2008 hurricanes that include the opening of a third NDR equipment warehouse in the Southeast.
AT&T has continued to enhance network redundancy in hurricane-prone areas, which includes the installation of more back-up and permanent generators at critical cell sites and switching facilities, location of critical equipment to less vulnerable areas, upgrade of electronics in many locations, replacement of copper wiring with fiber optic cable, elevation of switches critical to network operations above expected flood levels, and protection of physical facilities against flooding.
"AT&T continues to make significant investments in its NDR program in order to help ensure quick recovery of vital communications services for our customers in the wake of a natural or man-made disaster, such as a hurricane," said Mark Francis, Vice President - Global Network Operations Center, AT&T. "We understand how important it is for our customers to communicate with loved ones in times of emergency, and we're committed to providing them with reliable communications services."
A critical element of AT&T's efforts to maximize network reliability is its ability to swiftly respond when disaster strikes. AT&T's Global Network Operations Center, a state-of-the-art command center, monitors and maintains AT&T's global networks 24/7, and its NDR organization conducts readiness drills and disaster simulations throughout the year to ensure that networks are prepared and personnel are ready to respond in a moment's notice. The NDR team works closely with local AT&T network personnel and Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) to restore and maintain service until permanent repairs can be made.
AT&T's standard pre-storm 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.
-- Distributing 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.
Response equipment readied in the wake of a storm:
-- Mobile cell sites and 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)
-- Hazmat equipment and supplies
-- Technology and support 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:
-- 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 electronically
charged, so they won't work if you lose your power.
-- 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 who to contact if they become separated. Most important,
practice your emergency plan in advance.
-- 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 voicemail, 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 AT&T Mobile TV or keep updated with local
radar and severe weather alerts through My-Cast® Weather, if you
subscribe to those services.
-- Camera phones provide assistance. 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. Services such as
AT&T Navigator and AT&T FamilyMap can help you seek evacuation routes
or avoid traffic congestion from downed trees or power lines, as well
as track a family member's wireless device in case you get separated.
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, many 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 text messaging. During an emergency situation, text messages may
go through more quickly than voice calls because they require fewer
network resources. All of AT&T's wireless devices are text messaging
capable. Depending on your text or data 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: Klotzback, Philip, and William Gray. "Extended Range Forecast for Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Activity and Landfall Strike Probability for 2010." Colorado State University. Web. April 2010
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATTNews. Find us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at http://www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.
© 2010 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 3G service not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.
Source: AT&T Inc.
CONTACT: Gretchen Schultz, Office, +1-407-237-3324, Mobile,
+1-407-324-6009, gretchen.schultz@att.com, for AT&T
Web Site: http://www.att.com/
Offers Communications Tips for Consumers and Businesses
ATLANTA, May 17 -- With an "average" hurricane season predicted for 2010, expected to include 15 named storms in the Atlantic Ocean, AT&T* today announced that it is prepared to respond quickly if a storm strikes. To help customers prepare too, AT&T is providing important communications tips for use before, during and after a storm.
"The Southeast has been tested by inclement weather and hurricanes in the past and AT&T has always been quick to respond and restore service to impacted communities," said Steve Sitton, regional president - Southeast, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Services. "Our customers rely on us to be prepared and keep them connected during emergencies, and we are committed to fulfilling those needs."
In its arsenal of Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) capabilities, AT&T has the industry's largest and most advanced disaster response capability with unmatched resources to help ensure the flow of both wireless and wired communications during times of need. AT&T has invested more than $500 million in its NDR function since it was formed. AT&T's NDR function includes more than 300 technology and equipment trailers that can be quickly distributed anywhere in the U.S. or worldwide to respond to disaster situations such as severe hurricanes. AT&T invested $145 million in recovery and restoration efforts related to the 2008 hurricanes that include the opening of a third NDR equipment warehouse in the Southeast.
AT&T has continued to enhance network redundancy in hurricane-prone areas, which includes the installation of more back-up and permanent generators at critical cell sites and switching facilities, location of critical equipment to less vulnerable areas, upgrade of electronics in many locations, replacement of copper wiring with fiber optic cable, elevation of switches critical to network operations above expected flood levels, and protection of physical facilities against flooding.
"AT&T continues to make significant investments in its NDR program in order to help ensure quick recovery of vital communications services for our customers in the wake of a natural or man-made disaster, such as a hurricane," said Mark Francis, Vice President - Global Network Operations Center, AT&T. "We understand how important it is for our customers to communicate with loved ones in times of emergency, and we're committed to providing them with reliable communications services."
A critical element of AT&T's efforts to maximize network reliability is its ability to swiftly respond when disaster strikes. AT&T's Global Network Operations Center, a state-of-the-art command center, monitors and maintains AT&T's global networks 24/7, and its NDR organization conducts readiness drills and disaster simulations throughout the year to ensure that networks are prepared and personnel are ready to respond in a moment's notice. The NDR team works closely with local AT&T network personnel and Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) to restore and maintain service until permanent repairs can be made.
AT&T's standard pre-storm 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.
-- Distributing 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.
Response equipment readied in the wake of a storm:
-- Mobile cell sites and 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)
-- Hazmat equipment and supplies
-- Technology and support 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:
-- 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 electronically
charged, so they won't work if you lose your power.
-- 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 who to contact if they become separated. Most important,
practice your emergency plan in advance.
-- 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 voicemail, 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 AT&T Mobile TV or keep updated with local
radar and severe weather alerts through My-Cast® Weather, if you
subscribe to those services.
-- Camera phones provide assistance. 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. Services such as
AT&T Navigator and AT&T FamilyMap can help you seek evacuation routes
or avoid traffic congestion from downed trees or power lines, as well
as track a family member's wireless device in case you get separated.
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, many 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 text messaging. During an emergency situation, text messages may
go through more quickly than voice calls because they require fewer
network resources. All of AT&T's wireless devices are text messaging
capable. Depending on your text or data 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: Klotzback, Philip, and William Gray. "Extended Range Forecast for Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Activity and Landfall Strike Probability for 2010." Colorado State University. Web. April 2010
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATTNews. Find us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at http://www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.
© 2010 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 3G service not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.
Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.
Source: AT&T Inc.
CONTACT: Gretchen Schultz, Office, +1-407-237-3324, Mobile,
+1-407-324-6009, gretchen.schultz@att.com, for AT&T
Web Site: http://www.att.com/