As we told you earlier today, as smoke fills the hills around us, wireless carriers are prepared for emergencies and act quickly.
Verizon is providing wired phones, wireless broadband modems and mobile phones to help firefighters coordinate their attacks on the wildfires in Rancho Palos Verdes, the Angeles National Forest and the San Jacinto Mountains in California.
Verizon technicians are ready if needed to repair any damage to its networks. Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless technicians have ensured sufficient capacity in 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 wired sites during intermittent commercial power interruptions caused by the fires.
Verizon home phone customers who have left their home because of the wildfires can stay in touch with friends and family by forwarding their calls to another number at no charge. Home customers who want to set up call forwarding should call Verizon at 1-800-483-1000; business customers should call 1-800-483-2000.
Luis Cruz, Verizon Wireless regional president, said, "The devastation caused by these wildfires is heartbreaking. It's affecting our customers, communities and employees. We are committed to making a difference for those who've been affected by these fires."
During previous fires in California with evacuations, Verizon set up call centers. They also set up portable store service and charging centers.
Verizon has provided:
- Twenty-five wireless phones, 15 Mobile Broadband cards and nine wired phone connections for the firefighters' command center for the Morris Fire in San Gabriel Canyon.
- Fifteen wireless phones, three Mobile Broadband cards, 25 wired phone connections and two High Speed Internet connections for the firefighters' command center for the Station Fire near La Canada.
- Four Mobile Broadband cards for the command center at the Cottonwood fire in the San Jacinto Mountains.
The Verizon Foundation has contributed $5,000 to the Los Angeles chapter of the American Red Cross to further its relief efforts for the wildfire evacuees.