AT&T Networks Prepare for Hurricane Dorian

AT&T* is ready for Hurricane Dorian with a fleet of disaster response equipment and personnel if needed.

AT&T* is ready for Hurricane Dorian with a fleet of disaster response equipment and personnel if needed.

We are closely monitoring and preparing for Hurricane Dorian as it moves towards Florida and Georgia. Over the last few days our preparation has included:

• Topping off fuel generators.
• Testing high-capacity back-up batteries at cell sites.
• Protecting physical facilities against flooding.
• Moving electronics essential to network operations above expected flood levels. 

Our local and regional Network support teams and the Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) team, in partnership with the FirstNet team at AT&T, continue to stage network assets along the Southeast coast for quick deployment if needed. These assets include:

• Nearly 40 COWs (Cell on Wheels) and COLTs (Cell on Light Trucks)
• 2 Emergency Communications Vehicles (ECVs) and Emergency Communications Portables (ECPs)
• 2 Flying COWs™ (Cell on Wings)

In the last few years, we have worked to enhance our network redundancy in Florida. We have improved the resiliency of our network by moving fiber underground and increasing the number of fixed generators and installing additional backup infrastructure at cell sites and facilities.

“Customers rely on us, especially during major storms,” said Joe York, president, AT&T Southeast. “That’s why we practice readiness drills and simulations throughout the year and do all we can to have our networks prepared when severe weather strikes. At this point, we are actively working to position equipment and crews, and are ready to respond to support our customers if needed.”

The AT&T Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) program is one of the industry’s largest and most advanced disaster response programs. Our fleet includes hundreds of technology recovery and support trailers that can be quickly deployed to support customers and first responders.

Our teams and FirstNet liaisons are in contact with federal and state officials to prioritize our deployment efforts to better support public safety and the communities most impacted. If necessary, we are prepared to deploy additional equipment and personnel from surrounding states to support any recovery efforts.

This response equipment may include:

• Mobile cell sites and mobile command centers like Cell on Wheels (COWs) and Cell on Light Trucks (COLTs)
• Emergency communications vehicles (ECVs)
• Flying Cell on Wings (Flying COWs)
• Drones
• A self-sufficient base camp: This is complete with sleeping tents, 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 customers to do the same. Additional information on our efforts and tips for disaster preparedness can be found at att.com/stormdorian.  

We are closely monitoring and preparing for Tropical Storm Dorian as it moves towards Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Florida Coastline. Our preparation includes:

Topping off fuel generators.
Testing high-capacity back-up batteries at cell sites.
Protecting physical facilities against flooding.
Preparing emergency response and network recovery equipment for possible deployment following the storm.
Identifying dedicated FirstNet deployable network assets to be used by public safety agencies on FirstNet to request as needed.
We continually work to enhance the resiliency of our network in storm-prone areas. We have installed more generators at critical cell towers and switching facilities, and moved electronics essential to network operations above expected flood levels.

In the last few years alone, we have improved the redundancy of our network throughout Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Florida by increasing the number of fixed generators and installing additional backup infrastructure at cell sites.

Additional investments to our infrastructure in these areas have boosted reliability, coverage, speed and performance for all of our customers, including Public Safety FirstNet customers.

“Customers rely on us, especially during major storms,” said Joe York, president, AT&T Southeast. “That’s why we practice readiness drills and simulations throughout the year and do all we can to have our networks prepared when severe weather strikes. At this point, we are actively working to position equipment and crews, and are ready to respond to support our customers if needed.”

The AT&T Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) program is one of the industry’s largest and most advanced disaster response programs. Our fleet includes hundreds of technology recovery and support trailers that can be quickly deployed to support customers and first responders.

Response equipment readied in the wake of an event may include:

Mobile cell sites and mobile command centers like Cell on Wheels (COWs) and Cell on Light Trucks (COLTs)
Emergency communications vehicles (ECVs)
Flying Cell on Wings (Flying COWs)
Drones
A self-sufficient base camp: This is complete with sleeping tents, 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 customers to do the same. Additional information and tips for disaster preparedness can be found at about.att.com/pages/disaster_relief