Hurricane Sandy Service Update: Verizon Technicians Out in Force This Weekend to Restore Services, Serve Customers

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Nov. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Tens of thousands of Verizon engineers, technicians and customer-service employees are working this weekend as they continue to restore voice and data communications, Internet and TV service to consumers, business and government clients.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121103/NY05742-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121103/NY05742-b )

• Verizon employees are out in force across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, working round-the-clock in the hardest-hit New Jersey and New York region to restore services.  (NOTE: To view or embed a video of Verizon crews restoring service in Rhode Island, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvdIxS6PakI&feature=plcp.  To view or embed a video of restoration efforts in lower Manhattan, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r5dckem9DE&feature=relmfu.)
• As the company completes restoration in less-severely affected parts of the region, it will redeploy employees and other resources to New Jersey and the New York metro area.  For example, Verizon has sent dozens of portable generators from Virginia and Maryland to the areas where service is most affected.
• Verizon technical support will help customers determine if their equipment such as set-top boxes or home broadband routers is operable or needs replacement.  The company will repair or replace any Verizon equipment damaged by Sandy, without charge.
• Many Verizon FiOS and Verizon Wireless stores in the affected region are open to people who need to charge their wireless devices.  Several Verizon Wireless mobile stores-on-wheels that have been moved into the hard-hit New Jersey and New York areas are also providing this service. 
• Fuel availability is a daily concern.  Verizon's command center continues to work with fuel suppliers and federal, state and local government officials to secure the fuel essential to keep generators and service vehicles running so Internet access and voice and data communications can continue to flow.
• To aid in Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts, the Verizon Foundation is matching customer text-to-donate contributions to American Red Cross relief efforts up to $1 million.  Customers can make a $10 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999, and those who would like to give more can donate up to $50 via text.   For more on the Verizon Foundation's Sandy support, click here.

Customers can contact Verizon online at www.verizon.com/outage to report any wireline service-related issues; or call 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966).  Please note that hold times will be longer than normal due to higher calling volumes.  For prior Hurricane Sandy updates, click here.

For more information on Verizon Wireless efforts related to Hurricane Sandy, visit the Emergency Information Center. 

Verizon Enterprise Solutions updates are available at www.verizonbusiness.com/info/hurricane.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with nearly 96 million retail customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 184,500.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news.  To receive news releases by email, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon