Major phone companies have made preparations across the Eastern Seaboard to contend with the beating Hurricane Sandy is expected to dole out this week.
Verizon noted in a release this week that employees are on standby to respond to any crisis in the event network equipment is endangered or when emergency first-responder or customer support is required. It also is prepared to deploy employees from unaffected parts of the country to help restore services in hard-hit areas.
"Verizon crisis management teams along the East Coast continue to closely monitor the storm’s path and complete required preparations, such as confirming staff schedules; testing and confirming fuel supplies for backup generators; adding critical inventory such as spare smartphone batteries and car chargers to meet customer demand; moving vehicles and other portable equipment from low-lying areas; and stocking critical supplies in centralized locations for rapid deployment to hard-hit areas," the release said.
Verizon’s disaster recovery fleet, which includs a 51-foot mobile command center, two 53-foot mobile emergency calling centers and satellite trailers, is prepared to deploy to any area affected by the storm. The company has also developed a hazmat response team, the Major Emergency Response Incident Team, which will remain on standby to deploy immediately to manage hazardous materials emergencies.
The company has also created a short video on customer-readiness tips, as well as a complete list of tips for customers to follow.
AT&T is also preparing to take on Hurricane Sandy, ensuring that backup generators and enhanced support are pre-deployed and pre-positioned to serve vulnerable, low-lying areas in Brooklyn.
The company is also topping off fuel at generators positioned at cell sites and deploying portable generators to staging areas for rapid deployments where they then conduct safety and serviceability checks.
AT&T is also staging additional emergency response equipment in strategic locations in areas outside of the predicted landfall, ready to move in rapidly as the storm passed. This equipment includes additional generators and fuel tankers.
