Verizon Crews in Ohio to Work Extended Hours to Restore Local Phone Service Hampered By Inclement Weather

MARION, Ohio -- Verizon technicians will work 12-hour shifts over the next week to restore local telephone service that was disrupted as a result of the heavy rain and tornados that have swept through multiple parts of the state.

In some areas, Verizon telephone poles have snapped in half due to falling trees and heavy winds. In addition, heavy rains have saturated Verizon phone lines and switching equipment.

Verizon residential and business customers should call 1-800-483-1000 to report local phone trouble.

Verizon provides local phone service to roughly 850,000 phone lines in the state. As of mid-afternoon Friday, nearly 3,500 phone lines in the northern, central and southern part of Verizon's Ohio service territory were out of service. Among the areas more significantly affected are Ashland, Bellevue, Huron, New Philadelphia, Norwalk and Port Clinton, plus adjacent communities.

In addition to working extended hours to fix and replace copper phone lines and cable sheaths containing thousands of strands of copper, nearly 40 Verizon construction workers will shift their focus to repair work in support of the company's existing installation and repair technicians represented by the Communication Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Verizon officials credited union leaders and front-line employees for their 'customer-first' attitude amid the challenging working conditions. In many cases, Verizon employees have to wait for water to recede before entering a work area, for safety reasons.

Despite the bad weather, Verizon's robust switching and transmission network has performed very well.

Verizon appreciates the patience exhibited by affected customers. Verizon technicians will remain focused on restoring service as quickly and safely as possible.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 53 million customers nationwide. Verizon Business operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks. Verizon Telecom is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 250,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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