8.30.23 Morning Update
Network update
As Hurricane Idalia continues inland, it is leaving behind commercial power outages, extensive flooding and significant structural damage throughout the area. Despite the extensive devastation, Verizon’s network remains resilient, and our teams are actively assessing the situation to engage rapidly in recovery efforts when it is safe to do so.
While we are seeing sites out of service in the heaviest hit areas in the Big Bend, sites remaining in service running on generator power allow residents and first responders who remain there to continue to make phone calls/receive phone calls and send/receive texts.
Once the storm subsides and it is safe to do so, our crews will begin site assessments to prioritize repairs, move mobile assets into place as needed, and activate a massive refueling operation to keep sites running until commercial power is restored.
Our mobile cell sites, generators, drones, and satellite links will begin moving into the area from the safe zones where they were pre-staged before the storm. We will prioritize assistance for first responders, emergency operation centers and search and rescue efforts.
Our Network teams and vendor partners are staffing two wireless Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) and we are in contact with federal, state and local emergency management teams and are coordinating communications needs and efforts with them.
Verizon Frontline update
The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team remains in position in areas just outside the storm’s path, ready to move into impacted areas as soon as it is safe to do so. Team members continue close coordination with federal, state and local public safety agencies to ensure they have the mission-critical communications support they need during, and after, the storm. Prior to the storm’s initial impact, the team delivered 70 Verizon Frontline solutions, including smartphones, hotspots and more, to area emergency operations centers and other government agencies.
First responders and public Safety agencies with urgent service requests should contact the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team.
8.29.23 Afternoon Update
Network update
In preparation for landfall overnight, Verizon’s network team has been busily preparing to move people, equipment and critical resources into storm-impacted areas. Two Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) have been activated to manage network impacts and any necessary recovery efforts. Through those EOCs, Verizon engineers have nearly 100 mobile generators on standby. The team has also moved satellite and mobile wireless assets into the area including mobile cell towers.
Propane and diesel gas deliveries have been completed to critical areas in Tampa, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Orlando, and have refueling teams on standby to keep network assets powered in case of commercial power loss. Finally, Verizon has activated the MERIT (Major Emergency Response Incident Team)a specialized part of the Verizon Response Team that protects network assets and facilities during natural disasters and hazardous materials incidents
In Georgia and Florida, temporary assets are in place where previous storms caused long-term damage such as in Boca Grande. These temporary structures are not rated to withstand hurricane force winds, so for safety, those cell sites have been temporarily taken down. As soon as it is safe for engineers to get back to those sites after the storm moves through, they will reactivate those sites.
Verizon teams have been in touch with local and state emergency response teams and will coordinate response and recovery efforts, prioritizing search and rescue and emergency response needs after the storm.
Verizon Frontline update
The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team has been activated and deployed in advance of Hurricane Idalia’s expected landfall and is now positioned in areas just outside the storm’s predicted path, enabling the team to move into potentially impacted areas as soon as it is safe to do so. Team members have begun coordinating with area public safety agencies to ensure they have the mission-critical communications support they need before, during and after the storm.
This year alone, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response team has delivered more than 4,800 Verizon Frontline solutions to more than 500 public safety agencies in 48 states and the District of Columbia to help provide mission-critical voice and data service to first responders on the front lines and stand ready to deliver more to those conducting Hurricane Idalia-related response operations – at no cost to the supported agencies.
Composed primarily of former first responders and military veterans, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team provides on-demand, emergency assistance during crisis situations to public safety agencies and emergency responders. The team is available 24/7 to deliver Verizon Frontline technologies including portable cell sites, drones, charging stations, WiFi hotspots, and other Verizon Frontline devices and solutions that enable communications and/or boost network performance.
Small and Midsize Businesses
Severe weather events and other emergencies can particularly impact small and midsize businesses. In order to minimize the impact such a situation can have, small and midsize businesses should plan for continuity of service as well as building out a disaster recovery plan.
First, you should think about what you need to ensure continuous service to your customers, and what software and equipment your business needs to continue operations. Make a detailed list, including service contracts and warranty information and all pertinent phone numbers for local authorities, utility companies, suppliers and vendors. Speak with your insurance agent and suppliers, and ensure you are protected with the right business insurance policies.
Second, ensure you have the right technology to support your business connectivity needs assuming you might need to move away from your key location. Verizon Business has a wide portfolio of solutions and partners to ensure that small and midsize businesses can ensure continuity of service, from mobile hotspots to fixed-wireless internet for a quick and agile set-up.
Beyond having the right technology solutions, small and midsize businesses can prepare their disaster recovery plans with the following steps:
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Make sure you have contact information updated and readily available for all employees, including at-home information for remote workers and branch information for satellite offices.
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Stress-test primary and backup networks and shore up any weak areas.
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Ensure employees working from home have documented all corporate equipment being used to work from home in case of damage or loss.
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Ensure backup plans are in place to shift work in case work-from-home employees in a storm-impacted area have to evacuate their home or their home loses commercial power.
For a full view of Verizon preparation, please see our recent announcement and check back here regularly for updates on network status, in-market activities, and community support
