Ready for the 2006 Hurricane Season

With predictions of four to six major hurricanes for the 2006 North Atlantic hurricane season, Verizon Wireless wants you to know that the nation's most reliable wireless network stands ready.

Year Round Network Preparations

Verizon Wireless has invested significantly in network cell sites, switches and infrastructure throughout the years.

Today, about 90 percent of the company’s cell sites in hurricane-prone regions have on-site back-up generators, which are routinely tested to ensure they are ready in the event the local electrical power source is knocked out.

Verizon Wireless also maintains a fleet of mobile generators and Cells on Wheels (COWs) - self-powered call transmitters that can be rolled into hard-hit locations or areas that need extra network capacity to provide additional service. The company's fleet of portable generators are kept fueled and placed on standby in areas prone to sudden natural disasters, and fuel supplies are secured in advance of storms to assist in keeping generators running.

In addition, the Verizon Wireless team of real-life test men and women, backed by the company’s Network Operations team, test and retest the network’s performance and durability all year round.

Results of Verizon Wireless' Network Commitment

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina last year, Verizon Wireless drive tests found the company's network averaged an impressive 90% call completion rate in impacted areas after the storm, compared to rates of 79% and lower among competitors.

In 2004, within the first days after Florida’s Hurricane Frances, Verizon Wireless' call completion rate was 96% along the Florida Turnpike and I-95 in Palm Beach, Saint Martin, Saint Lucie and Indian River Counties, compared to other carriers with call completion rates at 84% and lower.

Ready to Keep You Safe in Times of Emergencies

In addition to the company's network readiness, Verizon Wireless is also prepared to set up Wireless Emergency Communications Centers in critical areas in the event of an emergency, providing a safe place to make free local and long distance calls, charge batteries and troubleshoot problems on the spot.

  • More than 10 Wireless Emergency Communications Centers were set up soon after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year providing thousands of free calls to residents in the affected areas.
  • Last year, thousands of hurricane victims and emergency workers turned to Verizon Wireless, which distributed wireless phones to disaster relief agencies and other community groups and provided free calling and other emergency services to customers and others at its Wireless Emergency Calling Centers.