Verizon Says It's Ready for Irene

Verizon has issued assurances that its wireless and land line operations teams are prepared to deal with Hurricane Irene. In a press release from its Basking Ridge headquarters, the company said Thursday that it has activated a “National Emergency Coordination Center” so that its managers can respond to any disruptions of service resulting from the storm.

According to the release: “the company is preparing for possible flooding, power outages and downed trees and wires from Irene’s aftermath.  Verizon teams are reviewing the inventory of supplies like utility poles, cable and other equipment and are staffing essential positions to meet recovery needs.”

“The Verizon communications networks require power to function properly.  If commercial power goes out, backup batteries and generators in Verizon’s central switching offices, mobile units and field facilities keep power flowing so customers’ phones ring even when the lights go out.  The company is pre-arranging fuel delivery for these critical facilities to ensure they continue to function during possible extended power outages.”

“In addition, trucks and other portable equipment are being moved from low-lying areas, where possible.  Building sump pumps are also being tested, and drains and gutters cleared.”

Residential customers should contact Verizon at 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966) or online at www.verizon.com/support to report any service-related issue.  Business customers should contact their regular customer service centers or account teams as needed. 

Verizon Wireless customers can call *611 form their wireless device or 1-800-922-0204 to report any service-related issue.  For more information on the Verizon Wireless network, products and services, visit www.verizonwireless.com.

Verizon also issued the following tips for customers:

• Keep phones, batteries, chargers and other equipment in a dry, accessible location.  Consider waterproof accessories or simple zip-lock storage bags to protect devices.
• Keep wireless phone batteries fully charged – in case local power is lost – well before warnings are issued.
• Have additional charged batteries and car-charger adapters available for backup power.
• Maintain a list of emergency numbers – police and fire agencies; power and insurance companies; family, friends and co-workers; etc. – and program them into your phone.
• Distribute wireless phone numbers to family members and friends.
• Download applications from a wide variety of weather- and safety-related apps for smartphones, tablets and other devices.  Many of these apps are free.
• Use a service such as Backup Assistant, the free Verizon Wireless application that stores a phone’s address book on a secure server in case the phone is lost or damaged.
• Limit non-emergency calls to conserve battery power and free-up wireless networks for emergency agencies and operations.
• Send brief text messages rather than voice calls for the same reasons as above.
• Forward your home phone calls to your wireless number if you evacuate.
• Check weather and news reports on wireless phone applications when power is out.

Verizon recommends that land line customers consider the following tips:

• Customers who rely solely on cordless phones in their home should consider purchasing an inexpensive hard-wired phone that plugs directly into a wall jack.  Cordless phones will not function without commercial power.
• While home answering machines do not work without power, Verizon voice mail service powered by the network will help families communicate.