Year-round preparedness, network infrastructure and mobile assets are the foundation of Verizon’s Tropical Storm Francine response plan
NEW ORLEANS, LA – As Tropical Storm Francine approaches Louisiana, Verizon remains committed to keeping communities and first responders connected. Verizon’s Response Team has prepared year-round to respond to extreme weather situations, like hurricanes, by taking part in emergency drills, fortifying the network infrastructure, and ensuring resources are mobilized for rapid response.
“Verizon is ready to keep Louisiana residents connected, providing them with reliability that empowers them to navigate Tropical Storm Francine and the days ahead,” said Michelle R. Miller, Senior Vice President and Coastal Plains Market President of Verizon. “Our team is working tirelessly to ensure our customers can remain informed, communicate with loved ones, and access essential services.”
Verizon’s networks are primed
Verizon’s networks are primed to maintain connectivity even in the face of extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes. With redundancy built into critical paths and components, Verizon’s network is engineered to withstand severe weather. Verizon engineers have prepared by conducting thorough checks, as well as ensuring backup systems, like batteries and generators, are operational and refueled.
In preparation for potential network recovery operations, Verizon has bolstered its arsenal with:
- A fleet of over 550 portable network assets, including generator-powered cell sites, drones, and a fixed-wing aircraft for aerial support.
- An industry-leading nearly 300 satellite-based portable network assets, providing crucial connectivity in scenarios where fiber connections are compromised.
- More than 1,000 mobile generators to assist communities in maintaining or restoring connectivity, and rapid recovery efforts.
Verizon Frontline stands at the ready, prepared to assist first responders in any capacity needed
The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team stands ready to help ensure that public safety agencies on the front line of any potential disaster have the mission-critical communications capabilities needed to achieve their missions. This team, composed primarily of former first responders and military personnel, is solely dedicated to supporting public safety customers during emergencies at no cost to the supported agencies.
In the first eight months of 2024, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team has responded to more than 1,000 requests for mission-critical communications support from nearly 500 different agencies in 46 states.
This past July, in the days leading up to Hurricane Beryl, this specialized team moved into the expected area of impact ahead of the storm and, in the hours following landfall, deployed across the Houston area to provide mission-critical communications support to public safety agencies and Emergency Operation Centers. The team worked hand-in-hand with 20 different federal, state, and local emergency management teams operating in the region to deploy dozens of Verizon Frontline solutions including drones, smartphones, routers, mobile hotspots, and portable satellite assets in support of emergency response and recovery operations.
Floodwater Sensors are transmitting data to help with response efforts
In July, we launched the Verizon Climate Resilience: Flood Sensor Initiative to help detect stormwater that could put the community at risk of flooding. Powered by Verizon 5G, the sensors transmit data to help the City of New Orleans make the necessary decisions as they prepare for response efforts.
Being prepared is essential to support local businesses and communities
Recognizing the critical role of connectivity in business continuity, Verizon Business provides a suite of solutions tailored for seamless operations during emergencies. Additionally, businesses and government organizations can prepare by having the right game plan. Suggested actions include:
- Mitigate customer disruption: Think about what you need to ensure continuous service to your customers, and what software and equipment your business needs to continue operations. Make a detailed list, including service contracts and warranty information and all pertinent phone numbers for local authorities, utility companies, suppliers, and vendors. Speak with your insurance agent and suppliers, and ensure you are protected with the right business insurance policies.
- The right tech makes an impact: Ensure you have the right technology to support your business connectivity needs assuming you might need to move away from your primary location.
- Contacts and documents are key: Make sure you have contact information updated and readily available for all employees, including at-home information for remote workers and branch information for satellite offices. Make copies of insurance documents, review insurance coverages, and update as appropriate.
- Test, test, and test again: Stress-test primary and backup networks and shore up any weak areas.
- Keep track of equipment: Ensure employees working from home have documented all corporate equipment being used to work from home in case of damage or loss.
- Have a backup plan: Ensure backup plans are in place to shift work in case work-from-home employees in a storm-impacted area have to evacuate their home or their home loses commercial power.
Are you ready for Tropical Storm Francine?
Verizon’s team works year-round to ensure customers remain connected to their loved ones and the activities that provide comfort during a disaster. As residents prepare to stay connected and entertained, consider these tips:
- Stock Up on power supplies like batteries for flashlights and radios or device chargers. Take it a step further by charging your devices that can act as chargers for other devices like laptops and party box speakers. Don’t forget to ensure you have the cables!
- Download Movies, Books, Apps and Games or gather board games, card games and puzzles to go device-free.
- Locate materials for hobbies like knitting or drawing and get creative.
- Plan activities like cooking easy-to-make meals and even no-bake treats. Keep a few non-perishable ingredients, a manual can opener and other kitchen tools on hand.
- Grab some candles, blankets, pillows or anything that makes your space cozy.
**Editor’s Note: To access images and b-roll of past storms, Verizon equipment, recovery efforts and more, please visit Verizon’s Emergency Resource Hub at https://www.verizon.com/about/news/emergency-resource-center
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