Company is prepared for 2011 storm season
Aug 26, 2011
South Boston, VA – Storm season is here and CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE:CTL, news, filings) is ready and committed to protecting its communications services. The company also encourages customers to prepare by creating an emergency communications plan to stay connected when a disaster strikes.
CenturyLink has an internal disaster preparedness plan that puts recovery practices in motion before a storm ever reaches Virginia. The company’s customer care centers have an established disaster recovery plan to handle customer inquiries and repair issues after a disaster strikes.
“CenturyLink has a long history of ensuring the reliability and resiliency of its network under any circumstance,” said Rondi Furgason, CenturyLink’s vice president and general manager for Virginia. “Our National Network Operations organization has a strong tradition of protecting our network and providing quality service to our customers, even in the most adverse of conditions.”
CenturyLink encourages customers to be prepared for severe weather season by keeping at least one telephone in the home that does not need to be plugged into a power outlet. All cordless telephones must be plugged in and will, therefore, not work during power outages. ”When an emergency occurs, the first thing people often reach for is a phone to call their loved ones,” said Furgason. “Phones connected to CenturyLink’s network that do not have to be plugged into a power outlet are often the most reliable source of communication in the case of an emergency.”
Many experts also say a detailed communications plan plays one of the biggest roles in helping families stay connected to each other and emergency contacts during a natural disaster, such as hurricanes and floods.
“Creating an emergency communication plan is vital,” said Furgason. “First, families should discuss how they will communicate during an emergency and then record important information, such as emergency contact numbers, on their emergency communication cards. Making sure every family member has this information at his or her fingertips can be a lifesaver if you’re in different places when disaster strikes.”
Once a communications plan is created, these additional steps are recommended:
- Compile a “Ready-to-Go Kit” in case your family needs to leave your home and a “Ready-to-Stay Kit” in case your family needs to stay inside your home for an extended time. Kits should contain water, canned or non-perishable food items, can opener, flashlight, battery-powered radio, extra batteries, change of clothes, first aid supplies, cash and important prescription medications. Don’t forget glasses and/or contact lens supplies if needed.
- Keep vital documents in a fire and waterproof case so you can take them with you if you have to leave.
- Designate a safe meeting place outside your home and out of harm’s way.
- Designate a safe place to stay in your home in case of severe weather.
- Teach your children how to use the phone to call for help.
- Locate and test your emergency corded landline phone.
- Don’t forget to plan for family pets in case you have to leave home or are shut in for an extended period of time.
Emergencies and disasters can occur any time, anywhere. Some are seasonal and allow for advance preparation, while others occur without warning. Planning ahead and making provisions for your family’s needs can make a difference in your ability to cope with emergencies.
About CenturyLink
CenturyLink is the third largest telecommunications company in the United States. The company provides broadband, voice and wireless services to consumers and businesses across the country and advanced entertainment services under the CenturyLinkTM PrismTM TV and DIRECTV brands. In addition, the company provides data, voice and managed services to business, government and wholesale customers in local, national and select international markets through its high-quality advanced fiber optic network and multiple data centers. CenturyLink also is recognized as a leader in the network services market by key technology industry analyst firms, and is a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for enterprises through Savvis, a CenturyLink company. CenturyLink’s customers range from Fortune 500 companies in some of the country’s largest cities to families living in rural America. Headquartered in Monroe, La., CenturyLink is an S&P 500 company and is included among the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations. For more information, visit www.centurylink.com.
For further information: Simone Alley, 434-971-1064, simone.alley@centurylink.com
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