AT&T is ready for Hurricane Ian with an arsenal of disaster response equipment and personnel on standby.

We are closely monitoring and preparing for Hurricane Ian. The storm is expected to impact the Southeast over the next few days. Our preparation includes: 

• Topping off fuel generators.

• Testing high-capacity back-up batteries at cell sites.

• Protecting physical facilities against flooding.

• Staging other emergency response and network recovery equipment in strategic locations for quick deployment following the storm.

• Staging dedicated FirstNet deployable network assets (photos attached) for use by public safety agencies on FirstNet to request as needed.

As we have in the past, we have installed more generators at critical cell towers and switching facilities, and moved electronics essential to network operations above expected flood levels. Additionally, our Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) team is on standby and prepared to deploy assets if needed. 

“Customers rely on us, especially during major storms," said Venessa Harrison, president, AT&T Georgia.  “That's why we practice readiness drills and simulations throughout the year. And we do all we can to have our networks prepared when severe weather strikes. We’ve worked for the past few days to position equipment and crews, and are ready to respond if needed. We’re also closely linked with Georgia public officials in their storm response efforts.” 

The AT&T Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) program is one of the industry’s largest and most advanced disaster response programs. Our fleet includes hundreds of technology recovery and support trailers that can be quickly deployed to support customers and first responders. 

Response equipment readied in the wake of an event includes:

• Mobile cell sites and mobile command centers like Cell on Wheels (COWs) and Cell on Light Trucks (COLTs)

• Emergency communications vehicles (ECVs)

• Flying Cell on Wings (Flying COWs)

• Drones for assessing cell site damage

• A self-sufficient base camp: This is complete with sleeping bunks, bathrooms, kitchen, laundry facilities, an 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

Just as we prepare, we encourage residents to do the same. Additional information and tips for disaster preparedness can be found at https://about.att.com/pages/disaster_recovery. Key tips include:

• Save your smartphone’s battery life. In case of a power outage, extend your device’s battery life by putting it in power-save mode, turning off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, deleting apps, or putting your phone in Airplane Mode. This may prevent you from using certain features, but will ultimately save battery power.

• Keep your mobile devices charged. Be sure to have another way to charge your smartphone if the power goes out. 

• Keep your mobile devices dry. Mobile phones can be a critical lifeline during a storm. To protect yours, store it in a water-resistant case, floating waterproof case or plastic bag. A car charger or back-up battery pack can come in handy. If you have multiple devices to keep charged, consider a multi-port back-up battery pack.

• Back up important information and protect vital documents. Back up insurance papers, medical information and the like to the Cloud or your computer. With cloud storage, you can access your data from any connected device. 

• Have a family communications plan. Choose someone out of the area as a central contact in case your family is separated. Most importantly, practice your emergency plan in advance.

• Store emergency contacts in your mobile phone. Numbers should include the police department, fire station, hospital, and family members.

• Forward your home number to your mobile number in the event of an evacuation. Because call forwarding is based out of the telephone central office, you will get calls from your landline phone even if your local telephone service is down. If the central office is not operational, services like voicemail and call forwarding may be useful. 

• Track the storm on your mobile device. If you lose power at your home during a storm, you can use your mobile device to access local weather reports. 

• Take advantage of the camera on your smartphone. Be sure to use the camera on your phone to take, store and send photos and video clips of damage to your insurance company.

• Use location-based technology. These services can help you find evacuation routes and track a lost family member’s mobile phone.

• Be prepared for high call volume and keep non-emergency calls to a minimum. If there is severe weather, chances are many people will be attempting to place calls at the same time. The increased calling volume may create network congestion. If you get a “fast busy” signal on your wireless phone or a slow dial tone on your landline phone, hang up, wait several seconds and then try again.

• Try texting vs. calling. Because it requires fewer network resources, text messages may go through more quickly than voice calls.