The following statement is from Jonathan LeCompte, president – Pacific Market:
12.5.17 Southern California wildfires: Update from Pacific Market President Jonathan LeCompte
Our customers rely on Verizon to connect where and when they need it most – especially during a crisis.
To ease concerns of data overages in the hardest hit areas, Verizon is offering customers in those locations unlimited talk, text and data from December 7-10. Click here for more information.
Our wireless network is running at close to 99% of normal performance within the Thomas and Creek Fire coverage areas for customers and first responders. In other parts of Southern California, our network has not been impacted by the fires.
As conditions change, our engineers are working 24×7 to monitor, reinforce and maintain our network.
We’ve added capacity to cell sites covering the CAL FIRE incident command center and evacuation shelters in Ventura County.
We’re working to install microwave transport (connectivity) where fiber has been lost or damaged.
In areas experiencing commercial power outages, several of our cell sites are running on backup power.
We have mobile equipment – such as cells on wheels (COWs), cells on light trucks (COLTs), satellite picocells on trailers (SPOTs) and repeaters on trailers (RATs) – on standby to increase capacity if it becomes necessary.
The Verizon Response Team is on the ground, providing first responders and relief organizations with wireless communications support.
Our Disaster Recovery Trailer (DRT) is located at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The DRT serves the community with free cell phone charging and internet-connected laptops that displaced residents can use to keep in touch with loved ones, employers and friends while they are away from home.
Verizon response teams have been dispatched to other local evacuation shelters to assist relief organizations and dispatched with wireless communications needs.
Verizon retail stores in Southern California are open and staffed to assist customers with their needs during this difficult time. Click here to find the nearest location.
Our next update will be posted tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. Pacific.
PR Archives: Latest, By Company, By Date