Sprint Prepares for Winter Storm Jonas

Sprint’s network, emergency response and disaster recovery teams are closely monitoring the potential threat of impacts from Winter Storm Jonas and have been conducting storm preparation activities in advance of the storm.

This storm has the potential to cause power and network outages, so Sprint’s network teams are:

• On alert to prepare for immediate response to any network impact.
• Ready to transport, fuel and maintain hundreds of permanent and/or portable generators if network restoral is needed.
• Ready to mobilize Satellite Cell on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs) and Cell Sites on Wheels (COWs) within less than two hours
• Verifying operational readiness of generators and emergency equipment at all mobile switching centers and network Points of Presence (POP) – the facilities where traffic enters and leaves the company’s global IP network, which facilitate dedicated data services for Sprint’s corporate and government customers, as well as other critical communications.
• Mobilizing Network Disaster Recovery teams and Sprint Emergency Response Team (ERT) personnel and resources to serve customers and mitigate storm impact.
• Committed to serving the emergency response community by providing immediate restoration of wireless voice, data and IP service, and communications coordination among disaster relief and emergency response agencies, public safety officials and medical personnel.

Sprint also wants to encourage customers in the path of the winter storm to use the following tips for their wireless device to prepare and stay connected:

• Keep your wireless phone and backup batteries fully charged, and be aware that an interruption of wireline and commercial power could affect wireless calls.
• If possible, get extra batteries and charge them.
• In times of commercial power outages, a car adapter for your wireless phone should enable you to recharge the battery.
• Keep phones and necessary accessories in a sealed plastic bag to avoid water damage.
• Load family and emergency numbers into your wireless phone.
• Use your Sprint camera phone to take digital pictures or video of your property and valuables before the storm hits, so you have “before” pictures in the event of any storm damage. Don’t forget to send them to your email account for safe record keeping.
• Wireless networks sometimes experience heavy traffic during emergency events, so rather than call, remember to send a text message.

For more information about Sprint’s storm preparation efforts, retail store closings, and to learn what you can do to prepare for a major storm, CLICK HERE.