Verizon Wireless Urges South Carolinians To Prepare For Severe Weather

Network Preparations Continue for Storms Churning in the Atlantic.

GREENVILLE, SC — With tropical storms churning in the Atlantic Ocean, South Carolinians are urged to finalize their emergency communication plans as the 2009 Tropical Hurricane Season heats up in the Southeast. Verizon Wireless, which operates the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless network, offers residents these tips to be safer during strong weather and other emergencies:

* 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 back-up power. • Keep phones, batteries, chargers and other equipment in a dry, accessible location.
* Keep a list of emergency phone numbers, including police, fire, and rescue agencies; insurance providers; and family, friends and co-workers, programmed into your phone.
* Distribute wireless phone numbers to family members and friends.
* Forward your home phone calls to your wireless number if you will be away from your home or have to evacuate.

If a storm already is striking or threatening, Verizon Wireless suggests these tips:

* 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.
* Check weather/news reports available on wireless phone applications when power is out.

“Thorough preparation is the key to staying safe and in touch during emergencies,” said Jerry Fountain, Carolinas/Tennessee region president for Verizon Wireless. “Residents should take prudent steps now, just as our teams have been in preparing the network to provide strong coverage and services to residents and emergency responders, no matter the situation.”

Verizon Wireless has continued the intensive investments and preparations that proved critical during and after past years’ storm seasons. In the aftermath of devastating severe weather, the Verizon Wireless network in South Carolina remained strong while many other wireless communication networks struggled to serve emergency response officials and residents.

Additional highlights of the Verizon Wireless 2009 Tropical Hurricane Season preparation and network enhancement include:

* A comprehensive emergency response plan, including preparing emergency command centers across South Carolina in the case of a storm or other crisis.
* Verizon Wireless network technicians traveled more than 11,225 miles across the state this past year in six vehicles (valued at $250,000 each, equipped with phones, wireless data devices and computers) to measure the quality of calls on Verizon Wireless and other carriers.
* The company has a fleet of dozens of Cells on Wheels (COWs), Cells on Light Trucks (COLTs), and Generators on Trailers (GOaTs) that can be rolled into hard-hit locations or areas that need extra network capacity.
* Pre-arranging fuel delivery to mobile units and generators to keep the network operating at full strength even if power is lost for an extended period of time.
* Erecting during the past year numerous new digital cell sites, of which about 100 percent have their own on-site generators and new expanded fuel tanks to extend their power-generating capacity.
* Verizon Wireless 3G high-speed wireless network throughout the state, allowing customers to access advanced wireless services more reliably and at even faster broadband speeds.

These new technologies, facilities and network-strengthening efforts are part of an investment of more than $683 million in South Carolina since the company was formed in 2000.