TAMPA, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 10, 2018– With Hurricane Michael potentially impacting Alabama, Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina, Frontier Communications urges customers to be prepared. In addition to arranging food, water and storm supplies, Frontier encourages customers to prepare a communications emergency kit. This includes quick access to important phone numbers, account information, and power charging devices and supplies.
Frontier’s Emergency Response Center (ERC) is activated and will serve as the nerve center for managing the impacts and aftermath of Hurricane Michael. Steps underway include:
Double-checking all safety equipment and supplies used by field technicians.
Planning for the safety and welfare of the company’s operations personnel.
Placing emergency network supplies throughout company facilities.
Securing safe parking for Frontier’s fleet of service trucks.
Ensuring availability of fuel for the fleet and emergency generators throughout the duration of the storm and its aftermath.
Taking inventory of supplies that will be needed in the aftermath of severe weather to restore the network.
Ongoing communications throughout the storm.
“The threat of Hurricane Michael means our Business Continuity Plan is being implemented in preparation for potential impacts from the storm,” said Melanie Williams, Frontier’s Senior Vice President of Operations, South Region. “We are taking the necessary steps to harden our facilities and do everything possible to maintain service for our customers. Being able to connect with loved ones can be a huge relief during a hurricane and planning by our customers will help them to be ready.”
In today’s world of cellphones and quick internet searches, many people no longer memorize the phone numbers or addresses of important contacts, like family, insurance agents or local hospitals. Frontier encourages customers to prepare a FrontierStorm Ready card, which can be easily stored in a pocket or wallet for quick access.
Here are some tips for customers that apply before, during and after a storm:
Prepare a recovery plan that includes batteries, potable water, a communications plan and charging all wireless devices such as cell phones, laptops and tablet devices while power is still available, for example. Battery-powered portable chargers are another option to provide additional power, when needed.
Snap photos of important documents like insurance policies, passports, social security cards, deeds and birth certificates. Store the documents in a watertight container. Photos can help if the originals are damaged or destroyed.
Use a cloud service such as Frontier Secure, which provides 50 GB of data storage, to save contacts and other important data on a secure server in case your phone or tablet is lost or damaged.
Be sure to record important local contact numbers so you have them handy.
Forward your home phone calls to your wireless number in case of emergency and/or evacuation.
Customers who rely on cordless phones should consider having a traditional corded phone that plugs directly into the phone jack on the wall if necessary.
If commercial power is unavailable, generators and batteries in Frontier’s central offices serve as a backup. Phone lines generally have enough power to use a corded phone on the copper network and will still operate; cordless ones will not.
While home answering machines do not work without power, Frontier voice mail service powered by the network will help families communicate.
About Frontier Communications
Frontier Communications Corporation (NYSE:FTR, news, filings) is a leader in providing communications services to urban, suburban, and rural communities in 29 states. Frontier offers a variety of services to residential customers over its fiber-optic and copper networks, including video, high-speed internet, advanced voice, and Frontier Secure® digital protection solutions. Frontier Business offers communications solutions to small, medium, and enterprise businesses. More information about Frontier is available at www.frontier.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181010005682/en/
Source: Frontier Communications
Media:
Frontier Communications
Bob Elek, 813-221-8790 (office)
813-417-1596 (cell)
bob.elek@ftr.com
or
Brigid Smith, 203-614-5042
Brigid.smith@ftr.com’
PR Archives: Latest, By Company, By Date