AT&T Network Teams Prepare for Hurricane Hilary

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

We are closely monitoring and preparing for Hurricane Hilary. The AT&T Weather Operations Center has a team of degreed meteorologists delivering business-specific weather intelligence, analytics and forecasts. Their expertise helps mitigates our risk of impact to the AT&T network and assets along with helping keep our employees safe.

The storm is expected to impact Southern California over the weekend. 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 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.  And the FirstNet Response Operations Group (ROG)™ – led by a dedicated team of former first responders – is working around the clock to support public safety’s emergency communications and has liaisons engaged with local and federal agencies.

“Customers rely on us, especially during major storms,” said Marc Blakeman, President, AT&T California. “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 California public officials in their storm response efforts.”

The AT&T NDR program is one of the industry’s largest and most advanced disaster response programs.  Our fleet includes more than 15,500 portable generators, 400+ communications solutions, over 2,000 pieces of logistical support equipment including fuel trailers, and amphibious vehicles that can be quickly deployed to support public safety and our customers.

Response equipment readied in the wake of an event includes:

• Mobile cell sites and mobile command centers like COWs (Cell on Wheels), SatCOLTs (Satellite Cell on Light Trucks), CRDs (Compact Rapid Deployables) and ECVs (Emergency communications vehicles)
• Flying COW® (Flying Cell on Wings)
• 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 AT&T Disaster Recovery.