Firefighters in the field and evacuees at shelters in Santa Barbara
County are relying on the Verizon Wireless and wireline networks to
stay connected during the Jesusita wildfire.
Verizon landline customers who have lost their homes or who have been
evacuated because of the Jesusita wildfire in Santa Barbara County can
add call forwarding to their account at no charge as part of the
company's efforts to help those in need cope with the disaster.
Verizon donated wireless modems for Internet access,
and mobile phones with airtime to help fire fighters battle wildfires
and evacuees to contact loved ones and get updates on their homes and
communities. Verizon has also installed extra landline phones and
high-speed Internet connections at the California Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection's (CAL FIRE) command center.
Verizon Foundation has contributed $10,000 to the Santa
Barbara County chapter of the American Red Cross to further its relief
efforts for the wildfire evacuees.
Support for emergency responders
Verizon has donated equipment and service to CAL FIRE and the American Red Cross. To date, the company has donated:
- 300 cell phones to help battle fires and to keep in touch with family members
- 80 wireless USB modems with Mobile Broadband service for Internet access
- 20 BlackBerry smartphones to make phone calls and provide Internet and e-mail access
- 10 netbooks to provide Internet and e-mail access
- 50 landlines and eight high-speed Internet connections at the firefighters' command center
Support for relief efforts
To assist residents
displaced by mandatory evacuations, Verizon Wireless volunteers have
staffed a communications booth at the Red Cross Emergency Shelter
located at Dos Pueblos High School at 7266 Alameda Avenue in Goleta.
Resources for the booth include:
- 50 cell phones to make free phone calls
- 15 wireless USB modems with free Mobile Broadband service to access the Internet
Volunteers are also placing a wireless phone bank at a second
emergency shelter, being opened at the University of California Santa
Barbara Multi Activity Center on the UCSB campus. Information about
emergency shelter is available at www.sbredcross.org.
"The devastation caused by the Jesusita Fire is heartbreaking.
It's affecting our customers, communities and employees," said Kevin
Zavaglia, Verizon Wireless regional president. "We are committed to
making a difference for those who've been affected by this crisis."
Keeping customers connected
Verizon
technicians are waiting for permission from fire officials to enter the
burned area and assess any damage to its networks from the fire, which
has been burning in Santa Barbara County since Tuesday. Verizon
Wireless technicians have added capacity to area cell sites to keep
customers connected as mandatory evacuations of residential and
commercial neighborhoods generate spikes in call volume. Backup
batteries and generators have powered several sites during intermittent
commercial power interruptions caused by the fire
Excellent photographs.