AT&T Prepared To Keep Mississippi Customers Connected During Hurricane Season

JACKSON, Miss., May 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* is committed to keeping its customers connected during the upcoming hurricane season - before, during and after storms. We have one of the industry's largest and most advanced business continuity and disaster response programs to make sure our networks stay up and running.

No one knows when the next tropical storm or hurricane will hit the coastline. AT&T is prepared with a fleet of equipment ready for deployment, including hundreds of technology recovery and support trailers that can be quickly deployed. AT&T has invested more than $600 million in its Network Disaster Recovery program (NDR), making our disaster response program one of the nation's largest and most advanced.

Plus, we are increasing our NDR fleet with new deployables to support first responders as part of our public-private partnership to deliver FirstNet's nationwide public safety broadband network. AT&T will have more than 700 pieces of equipment, including our Cell on Wheels (COWs), Cell on Light Trucks (COLTs), trailers, generators and more available to maintain our network and benefit the first responders who use it. Our deployables and equipment can help them stay connected during emergencies and operate faster, safer and more effectively when lives are on the line.

The NDR team is also evaluating integrating Flying COWs (Cell on Wings) into the fleet of assets to provide emergency cell coverage for first responders and to the public if our network is damaged during a hurricane. We could one day send a Flying COW into areas where flooded roadways might prevent a traditional COW (Cell on Wheels) from being deployed.

"Staying connected during severe weather events is critically important to consumers, businesses and our emergency management officials," said Mayo Flynt, AT&T Mississippi President. "That's why AT&T is investing tremendous amount of resources in our network reliability and disaster response capabilities."

Our NDR team works to make sure the right people and tools are in place and ready near the storm impact area. They work with our other response teams, our local network personnel, regional Emergency Operations Centers and Local Response Centers to prepare. Teams are ready to restore and maintain service if disaster strikes.

AT&T is the only telecom company to recently become re-certified under new international standards (ISO 22301) by the Department of Homeland Security for its disaster preparedness program.

AT&T conducts readiness drills and simulations year round to keep networks and our people ready to respond at a moment's notice. Our NDR team recently completed its 77th full-field recovery exercise this year. The AT&T Global Network Operations Center monitors our networks 24/7. Since forming in 1991, the NDR has responded to more than 70 events in the U.S.

AT&T standard pre-storm network preparations typically include:

    --  Boosting the wireless network to accommodate increased call volume.
    --  Testing the high-capacity backup batteries located at cell sites.
    --  Staging extended battery life and portable generators, and maintaining
        existing fixed generators.
    --  Topping off generators with fuel at cell sites and switching facilities.
    --  Using natural gas in some of the permanent generators to eliminate the
        need to refuel.
    --  Staging generators in safe locations for immediate deployment once a
        storm has passed.

Response equipment readied in the wake of an event includes:

    --  Mobile cell sites and mobile command centers.
    --  Emergency communications vehicles.
    --  A self-sufficient base camp. This is complete with sleeping tents,
        bathrooms, kitchen, laundry facilities, 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.

As we prepare, so should you.

Consumers and businesses should also have a plan in place. When preparing for an evacuation or shelter-in-place, remember these following tips:

Customer Tips:

    --  Keep your mobile phone battery charged. In case of a power outage, have
        another way to charge your phone like an extra battery, car charger or
        device-charging accessory. Applicable sales tax holidays are a great
        time to stock up on cell phone accessories.
    --  Keep your mobile devices dry. The biggest threat to your device during a
        hurricane is water.  Keep it safe from the elements by storing it in a
        baggie or some other type of protective covering, like an Otterbox phone
        cover.
    --  Have a family communications plan. Choose someone out of the area as a
        central contact.  Make sure all family members know who to contact if
        they get separated. Most importantly, practice your emergency plan in
        advance.
    --  Program all of your emergency contact numbers and e-mail addresses into
        your mobile phone. Numbers should include the police department, fire
        station and hospital, as well as your family members.
    --  Forward your home number to your mobile number in the event of an
        evacuation. Call forwarding is based out of the telephone central
        office. This means you will get calls from your landline phone even if
        your local telephone service is disrupted. If the central office is not
        operational, services such as voicemail and call forwarding may be
        useful.
    --  Track the storm and access weather information on your mobile device.
        Many homes lose power during severe weather. You can stay up to speed as
        a DIRECTV customer, by streaming local weather channels using the
        DIRECTV application on your smartphone. If you subscribe to mobile DVR,
        you can also stream every channel directly to your phone.
    --  Camera phones provide assistance. If you have a camera phone, take,
        store and send photos and video clips of damage to your insurance
        company.
    --  Use location-based technology.  Services like AT&T Navigator and AT&T
        FamilyMap can help you find evacuation routes or avoid traffic from
        downed trees or power lines. They can also track a family member's
        wireless device if you get separated.
    --  Limit social media activity. Keep social media activity to a minimum
        during and after a storm to limit network congestion and allow for
        emergency communications to go through.

Business Tips:

    --  Set up a call-forwarding service to a backup location. Set up a single
        or multiple hotline number(s) for employees, their families, customers
        and partners so they all know about the business situation and emergency
        plan.
    --  Back up data to the Cloud. Routinely back up files to an off-site
        location. Tools like AT&T Enterprise Recovery Services are
        cost-efficient and help ensure your important data is there when you
        need it.
    --  Outline detailed plans for evacuation and shelter-in-place. Practice
        these plans (employee training, etc.). Establish a backup location for
        your business and meeting place for all employees.
    --  Assemble a crisis-management team. Coordinate efforts with neighboring
        businesses and building management. Disasters that affect your suppliers
        also affect your business. Outline a plan for supply chain continuity
        for business needs.
    --  Consider a back-up cellular network. Services like AT&T Remote Mobility
        Zone protect critical communications for businesses. If a disaster
        disables primary communications networks, the back-up cellular network
        can help you stay connected.

Keeping the lines open for emergencies

During evacuations, the storm event and its aftermath, network resources will likely be taxed. To help ensure that emergency personnel have open lines, keep these tips in mind:

    --  Text messaging. During an emergency situation, text messages may go
        through more quickly than voice calls because they require fewer network
        resources. All of AT&T's wireless devices are text messaging capable.
        Depending on your text or data plan, additional charges may apply.
    --  Be prepared for high call volume. During an emergency, many people are
        trying to use their phones at the same time. The increased calling
        volume may create network congestion, leading to "fast busy" signals on
        your wireless phone or a slow dial tone on your landline phone. If this
        happens, hang up, wait several seconds and then try the call again. This
        allows your original call data to clear the network before you try
        again.
    --  Keep non-emergency calls to a minimum, and limit your calls to the most
        important ones. If there is severe weather, chances are many people will
        be attempting to place calls to loved ones, friends and business
        associates.

More information and tips for disaster preparedness can be found at www.att.com/vitalconnections.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, business, mobile and high speed internet services. We offer the nation's best data network* and the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider.** We're one of the world's largest providers of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. Nearly 3.5 million companies, from small to large businesses around the globe, turn to AT&T for our highly secure smart solutions.

Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at facebook.com/att and YouTube at youtube.com/att.
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*Claim based on the Nielsen Certified Data Network Score. Score includes data reported by wireless consumers in the Nielsen Mobile Insights survey, network measurements from Nielsen Mobile Performance and Nielsen Drive Test Benchmarks for Q3+Q4 2016 across 121 markets.
**Global coverage claim based on offering discounted voice and data roaming; LTE roaming; and voice roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier. International service required. Coverage not available in all areas. Coverage may vary per country and be limited/restricted in some countries.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.