Verizon stands ready to respond during severe weather season and beyond

Year-round preparations, network infrastructure enhancements and resource staging demonstrate commitment to reliability and safety

NEW YORK, April 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the arrival of the spring season, communities across the country are urging residents to make preparations for the possibility of severe weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. Verizon stands ready to respond to any event as a result of year-round preparations including emergency drill exercises, network infrastructure enhancements and resource staging for rapid response. Verizon’s readiness is a demonstration of its commitment to reliability and maintaining the safety and connectivity of communities, businesses and first responders.

“We know our customers rely on us to connect with loved ones or request help when extreme weather strikes which is why we’ve built and designed our network with industry leading resiliency and reliability,” said Julie Slattery, Senior Vice President of Core Engineering & Operations at Verizon. “Our team invests considerable time and money to prepare for, and test our ability to respond to emergency situations so our people and assets are ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice to assist with rapid recovery efforts to keep customers connected.”

Verizon’s networks are primed
Verizon's extreme network is built with industry leading resiliency and reliability to withstand severe weather. In preparation for severe weather events:

• Verizon engineers conduct thorough checks year-round, ensuring backup systems like batteries and generators are operational across all of its macro cell sites, with 79% equipped with backup generators.
• Verizon has a fleet of over 550 portable network assets spread out across the country for rapid deployment, including generator-powered cell sites, drones, and a fixed-wing aircraft for aerial support.
• Additionally, Verizon boasts an industry leading 200 satellite-based portable network assets, providing crucial connectivity in scenarios where fiber connections are compromised.
  

Verizon’s Response Team is trained to run to a crisis
Verizon’s Response Team is made up of various groups of specialized engineers and technicians which include former first responders and military personnel who are trained to run to a crisis. The Verizon Response Team includes:

• Verizon’s Major Emergency Response Incident Team (MERIT), a specialized team of hazardous material-certified Verizon technicians and engineers.
• Verizon’s Dedicated Impact Response Team (DIRT), technicians and engineers with specialty training in mobile satellite asset deployment, basic generator repair, and cable/connector making.
• Verizon’s Emergency Response Team (ERT), technicians and engineers supporting wireline operations specialized in restoring fiber connections.
• Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team dedicated to providing on-demand, emergency communication assistance during crisis situations to government agencies and emergency responders, on a 24/7 basis.

First responders are empowered with Verizon Frontline