ATLANTA, May 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* is
committed to keeping its customers connected during the upcoming
hurricane season - before, during and after storms. We have one of
the industry's largest and most advanced business continuity and
disaster response programs to make sure our networks stay up and
running.
No one knows when the next tropical storm or hurricane will hit
the coastline. AT&T is prepared with a fleet of equipment ready
for deployment, including hundreds of technology recovery and
support trailers that can be quickly deployed. AT&T has
invested more than $600 million in
its Network Disaster Recovery program (NDR), making our disaster
response program one of the nation's largest and most advanced.
Plus, we are increasing our NDR fleet with new deployables to
support first responders as part of our public-private partnership
to deliver FirstNet's nationwide public safety broadband network.
When states opt into the FirstNet network, their first responders
will have access to more than 700 pieces of equipment, including
our Cell on Wheels (COWs), Cell on Light Trucks (COLTs), trailers,
generators and more. Our deployables and equipment can help them
stay connected during emergencies and operate faster, safer and
more effectively when lives are on the line.
The NDR team is also evaluating integrating Flying COWs (Cell on
Wings) into the fleet of assets to provide emergency cell coverage
for first responders and to the public if our network is damaged
during a hurricane. We could one day send a Flying COW into areas
where flooded roadways might prevent a traditional COW (Cell on
Wheels) from being deployed.
"Staying connected during severe weather events is critically
important to consumers, businesses and our emergency management
officials," said Bill Leahy,
President of AT&T Georgia. "That's why AT&T is investing
tremendous amount of resources in our network reliability and
disaster response capabilities."
Our NDR team works to make sure the right people and tools are
in place and ready near the storm impact area. They work with our
other response teams, our local network personnel, regional
Emergency Operations Centers and Local Response Centers to
prepare. Teams are ready to restore and maintain service if
disaster strikes.
AT&T is the only telecom company to recently become
re-certified under new international standards (ISO 22301) by the
Department of Homeland Security for its disaster preparedness program.
AT&T conducts readiness drills and simulations year round to
keep networks and our people ready to respond at a moment's notice.
Our NDR team recently completed its 77th full-field recovery
exercise this year. The AT&T Global Network Operations Center
monitors our networks 24/7. Since forming in 1991, the NDR has
responded to more than 70 events in the U.S.
AT&T standard pre-storm network preparations typically
include:
- Boosting the wireless network to accommodate increased call
volume.
- Testing the high-capacity backup batteries located at cell
sites.
- Staging extended battery life and portable generators, and
maintaining existing fixed generators.
- Topping off generators with fuel at cell sites and switching
facilities.
- Using natural gas in some of the permanent generators to
eliminate the need to refuel.
- Staging generators in safe locations for immediate deployment
once a storm has passed.
Response equipment readied in the wake of an event includes:
- Mobile cell sites and mobile command centers
- Emergency communications vehicles
- A self-sufficient base camp. This is complete with sleeping
tents, bathrooms, kitchen, laundry facilities, on-site nurse and
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.
As we prepare, so should you.
Consumers and businesses should also have a plan in place. When
preparing for an evacuation or shelter-in-place, remember these
following tips:
Customer Tips:
- Keep your mobile phone battery charged. In case of a
power outage, have another way to charge your phone like an extra
battery, car charger or device-charging accessory. Applicable sales
tax holidays are a great time to stock up on cell phone
accessories.
- Keep your mobile devices dry. The biggest threat to your
device during a hurricane is water. Keep it safe from the
elements by storing it in a baggie or some other type of protective
covering, like an Otterbox phone cover.
- Have a family communications plan. Choose someone out of
the area as a central contact. Make sure all family
members know who to contact if they get separated. Most
importantly, 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.
- Forward your home number to your mobile number in the event
of an evacuation. Call forwarding is based out of the telephone
central office. This means you will get calls from your landline
phone even if your local telephone service is disrupted. If the
central office is not operational, services such as voicemail and
call forwarding may be useful.
- Track the storm and access weather information on your
mobile device. Many homes lose power during severe weather. You
can stay up to speed as a DIRECTV customer, by streaming local
weather channels using the DIRECTV application on your smartphone.
If you subscribe to mobile DVR, you can also stream every channel
directly to your phone.
- Camera phones provide assistance. If you have a camera
phone, take, store and send photos and video clips of damage to
your insurance company.
- Use location-based technology. Services like
AT&T Navigator and AT&T FamilyMap can help you find
evacuation routes or avoid traffic from downed trees or power
lines. They can also track a family member's wireless device if you
get separated.
- Limit social media activity. Keep social media activity
to a minimum during and after a storm to limit network congestion
and allow for emergency communications to go through.
Business Tips:
- Set up a call-forwarding service to a backup location.
Set up a single or multiple hotline number(s) for employees, their
families, customers and partners so they all know about the
business situation and emergency plan.
- Back up data to the Cloud. Routinely back up files to an
off-site location. Tools like AT&T Enterprise Recovery Services
are cost-efficient and help ensure your important data is there
when you need it.
- Outline detailed plans for evacuation and
shelter-in-place. Practice these plans (employee training,
etc.). Establish a backup location for your business and meeting
place for all employees.
- Assemble a crisis-management team. Coordinate efforts with
neighboring businesses and building management. Disasters that
affect your suppliers also affect your business. Outline a plan for
supply chain continuity for business needs.
- Consider a back-up cellular network. Services like
AT&T Remote Mobility Zone protect critical communications for
businesses. If a disaster disables primary communications networks,
the back-up cellular network can help you stay connected.
Keeping the lines open for emergencies
During evacuations, the storm event and its aftermath, network
resources will likely be taxed. To help ensure that emergency
personnel have open lines, keep these tips in mind:
- 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.
- Be prepared for high call volume. 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.
- 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.
More information and tips for disaster preparedness can be found
at www.att.com/vitalconnections.
*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) helps millions around the globe connect
with leading entertainment, business, mobile and high speed
internet services. We offer the nation's best data network* and the
best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider.** We're one of
the world's largest providers of pay TV. We have TV customers in
the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. Nearly 3.5 million
companies, from small to large businesses around the globe, turn to
AT&T for our highly secure smart solutions.
Additional information about AT&T products and services is
available at about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on
Facebook at facebook.com/att and YouTube at youtube.com/att.
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*Claim based on the Nielsen Certified Data Network Score. Score
includes data reported by wireless consumers in the Nielsen Mobile
Insights survey, network measurements from Nielsen Mobile
Performance and Nielsen Drive Test Benchmarks for Q3+Q4 2016 across
121 markets.
**Global coverage claim based on offering discounted voice and
data roaming; LTE roaming; and voice roaming in more countries than
any other U.S. based carrier. International service required.
Coverage not available in all areas. Coverage may vary per country
and be limited/restricted in some countries.
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SOURCE AT&T