Verizon Business to Participate in the 'Great Southern California ShakeOut' -- the Largest State-Sponsored Emergency Drill in the U.S.
LOS ANGELES -- Verizon Business is playing a key role in the Great Southern California ShakeOut, the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history. The event, spearheaded by the U.S. Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) and the Caltech seismology department, is one of several emergency exercises planned in California during the week of Nov. 10, when the company will demonstrate its business-continuity and disaster-recovery services.
Verizon Business has an extensive portfolio of business-continuity services that help government agencies and businesses plan for, manage and recover from events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, explosions and accidents.
Since 1992, Verizon Business also has deployed its mobile communications command center fleet in business and humanitarian roles to serve communities affected by natural and manmade disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, New York City on 9-11, California wildfires, the Oklahoma City bombing and Georgia floods.
On Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. PST, millions of Californians will "drop, cover and hold on" for the Great ShakeOut Drill, a full-scale scenario that simulates a catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake occurring along the southern portion of the San Andres Fault. More than 4 million citizens have registered to participate in the exercise, which will test California's ability to respond and recover during a major earthquake.
During The Great Southern ShakeOut, Verizon Business will participate in several events:
Riverside County Drill --Verizon Business will deploy one of its 53-foot self-contained, self-sufficient mobile communications command centers to provide business-continuity services for Riverside County. Opting to conduct a full-scale exercise, the Riverside County Emergency Operations Center will relocate to the mobile command center, which supports voice, data and Internet services.
Approximately 20 Riverside County employees will connect their laptops with the command center's Ethernet ports to access the Internet and conduct emergency-response activities. The mobile command center is outfitted with standard communications features such as wired and wireless VoIP phones and wired and wireless Ethernet access as well as fax service.
There is a 2.4-meter VSAT (very small aperture terminal) satellite ground station to uplink to satellite capabilities that send and receive communication signals.
Operation Disaster University -- In conjunction with the Great ShakeOut, Verizon Business will host Operation Disaster University in Bloomington, Calif. on Nov. 10. Representatives from more than 40 local, state and federal government agencies will attend seminars on a variety of business-continuity and disaster-recovery subjects including security, optical and data storage, and IT solutions.
A series of demonstrations also will highlight the capabilities of the company's mobile communications command centers and satellite communication trailers.
The City of Los Angeles Technology and Education Summit -- Verizon Business will showcase its 40-foot state-of-the-art executive coach at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Nov. 12. While the company has several mobile command centers to provide emergency communications, this vehicle is designed for top emergency personnel. It has a well-equipped work area as well as a separate conference room, both of which offer wired and wireless IP phones and wired and wireless Ethernet ports for satellite-based Internet service.
During the summit, which targets senior-level IT leaders who represent government, education, economic development and corporate interests, Rick Doten, managing principal for Verizon Business Security Solutions, will present a session on cybercrime.
L.A. Earthquake: Get Ready Rally -- At the invitation of The Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Verizon Business will participate on Nov. 14 at the Nokia Plaza. The company's mobile communications command center will be on site from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. PST.
About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), operates the world's most connected public IP network and uses its industry-leading global-network capabilities to offer large-business and government customers an unmatched combination of security, reliability and speed. The company integrates advanced IP communications and information technology (IT) products and services to deliver leading enterprise solutions including managed services, security, mobility, collaboration and professional services. These solutions power innovation and enable the company's customers to do business better. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.
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