Verizon Finalizes Hurricane Sandy Preparations!

Posted by Jacob Krol on October 28, 2012 7:29 pm in Communication, Network | 0 comments

Verizon has finalized preparations for Hurricane Sandy! Many of Verizon Wireless’s stores were open today, depending on local conditions and safety evacuations. All of their company owned stores have increased stocks of car phone chargers and portable universal charging devices, which will help customers stay connected if there power goes out.  Verizon has stopped and suspended all non-emergency activity in the East, this way they can have as many resources as possible to focus on serving there customers for the rest of the storm. They have activated regional and national command  and control centers. This way they can monitor the companies operations, network performance, the storms progress, and more. Verizon has been brining in poles, fiber-optic and copper cable, portable cell sites, mobile emergency generator, and they are being staged in and around the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Dan Mead, president and CEO of Verizon Wireless has said “Verizon Wireless stands ready to serve our customers, and I urge everyone first and foremost to stay safe.” As you may have noticed Verizon’s has been communicating with you the customers via their website and different social media websites throughout the day, giving tips and information regarding Hurricane Sandy. As soon as Verizon’s receive approval from town authorities and it is safe they will begin the restoration of the network. Verizon is also making sure that they are taking care of their employees throughout the storm. Customers can report any wire line service-related issue to Verizon by calling them at 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966) or visiting them online at www.verizon.com/outage.  For more information please read the press release below! Stay Safe! 

Press Release

As Hurricane Sandy Nears East Coast Landfall, Verizon Finalizes Storm Preparations

Company Leaders Stress Commitment to Customer Needs, Employee Safety 

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – With Hurricane Sandy’s landfall imminent along the Eastern Seaboard, Verizon continues to finalize its emergency plans to serve consumers, businesses and government agencies, and keep them connected and online at work, at home and on the road.

Verizon Wireless Communications Stores along the East Coast plan to be open Sunday (Oct. 28), with store hours subject to change throughout the day, based upon local conditions and safety evacuations.  Customers are advised to check by calling ahead to their local store.

Company-owned and -operated communications stores, which offer the latest 4G LTE smartphones, tablets and mobile broadband devices for laptops, have increased stocks of car phone chargers and portable universal charging devices which are essential to staying connected should commercial power become unavailable.  Stores in Midwestern states threatened with an unusually early winter storm also plan to remain open, weather permitting.

The company has suspended most non-emergency activity in the East, such as non-essential construction projects and internal training programs, to ensure resources are focused on serving customers for the duration of the storm.

Verizon wireline and wireless business units have activated national and regional command and control centers, enabling Verizon operations teams to monitor the storm’s progress and company operations, including network performance.  Verizon has established communications with power and other service providers to ensure proper coordination in the event of storm damage. The company also has contacted vendors and other outside partners so that critical communications equipment and supplies can be prioritized, stocked and shipped expeditiously.

Company equipment — including poles, fiber-optic and copper cable, portable cell sites that can replace a damaged cell tower and mobile emergency generators that can be used when local electrical power fails — is being staged in and around the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.

In addition, Verizon managers are communicating the company’s storm preparation efforts and coordinating pre-planned response activities with the public-safety community, as well as state, county and municipal agencies along the East Coast and the Midwest.

“Verizon Wireless stands ready to serve our customers, and I urge everyone first and foremost to stay safe,” said Dan Mead, president and CEO of Verizon Wireless.  “We live and work in the towns and cities in the storm’s path, and we are dedicated to keeping our friends, families and neighbors connected in times like these. We prepare for situations like this year-round, and pride ourselves in our ability to be there for our customers when they count on us most.”

As Sandy’s track came more into focus, the company began communicating with its customers on Friday (Oct. 26), posting consumer tips on various company websites, issuing a news release to media outlets in the threatened region and nationally, engaging customers through social media such as Twitter and Facebook, and sending emails to consumers, with key links for troubleshooting and reporting service problems.

Bob Mudge, president of Verizon’s Consumer and Mass Business division, said: “In addition to communicating with customers and ensuring that we will be working to keep the network operating and responding quickly to issues as they arise, we have reminded our employees of the need to work safely, be alert, and help our customers in any way they can.  But our people know this well and are at their best in these critical situations when our customers depend on us the most.”

Mudge noted that, even though Verizon technicians may be ready to repair storm-damaged Verizon facilities, they may have to wait for approval from local power companies, first-responders or law enforcement before beginning restoration work.

John Stratton, president of Verizon Enterprise Solutions, said: “We appreciate being a trusted adviser to many of the businesses and government agencies that are now preparing to protect citizens and ensure speedy recovery in the storm’s aftermath.   Our government clients at the state, local and federal levels are already playing crucial pre-storm roles, and we will provide ongoing support for the many businesses and government agencies that are now deploying.  Our clients depend on us to support their global technology and communications needs 24/7, and we are ready.”

The executives stressed that in addition to serving customers, the safety of Verizon employees is equally important.  Many steps have and will be taken to prevent or minimize problems on the company’s communications networks.  Planning for crises takes place year- round.  Verizon has invested $30.5 billion over the past two years to build, maintain and fortify its wireless and wireline infrastructure for such events.

Customers may contact Verizon online at www.verizon.com/outage to report any wireline service-related issues; or call 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966).  Business customers are advised to contact their regular customer service centers or account teams as needed.

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