Verizon Wireless Readies Its Resources to Support North Carolina Residents This Hurricane Season

WILMINGTON, N.C., May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With hurricane season just around the corner, Verizon Wireless has prepared its North Carolina network and emergency response teams to serve customers in the event of major storms and other emergencies. With year-round intensive investments and preparations, Verizon ensures customers can rely on the nation's largest wireless network to keep them connected during severe weather and throughout the year.

"In the event of severe weather or an emergency, we want our customers and communities to feel secure and confident in our network's coverage and strength," said Jerry Fountain, Verizon Wireless Carolinas/Tennessee region president. "We have extensive, behind-the-scenes emergency response plans to ensure that our customers maintain maximum connectivity in unexpected situations."    

Verizon Wireless' ongoing investments and preparations have proven critical during emergency situations in previous years. The company guarantees its position as the nation's most reliable wireless network through several proactive initiatives including:

• Constructing new cell sites with on-site back-up power.
• Arranging Cells on Wheels (COWS), Cells on Light Trucks (COLTS), and generators on trailers (GOaTS) for immediate deployment to hard-hit locations or areas that need extra network capacity.
• Prearranging fuel delivery to mobile units and generators to keep the network operating at full strength even if power is lost.
• Ensuring residents of impacted areas can reach loved ones and start personal recovery by readying mobile stores and charging stations for deployment, as well as collaborating with local response agencies to prepare emergency equipment.

These initiatives are part of a network investment exceeding $1.5 billion in North Carolina since the company formed in 2000, which includes launching the advanced 4G LTE network in the cities of Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, High Point, Lumberton, Raleigh, Washington, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem.

In addition to extensive preparation efforts, Verizon Wireless offers several smartphone apps to help customers protect themselves and stay connected in the case of a storm or other crisis. Smartphones can be a valuable tool during or after severe weather events with apps allowing consumers to track storms, receive the latest weather forecasts and obtain severe weather alerts. Some of these apps include the Hurricane HD app, the ultimate hurricane tracking app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and the iMap Weather Radio app, a mobile radio service with the most recent weather information for iPad, iPhone and Android devices.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 93.0 million retail customers, including 88.0 million retail postpaid customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 80,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless