Hurricane Danielle, Hurricane Earl Roam Atlantic; Carolinians Urged To Refresh Emergency Communication Plans

WILMINGTON, NC — With Hurricane Danielle and Hurricane Earl roaming the Atlantic Ocean and signaling the start of the most active period of the 2010 storm season, North Carolinians are urged to prepare and/or refresh their emergency communication plans. Verizon Wireless, which operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, offers residents these tips to keep themselves safe, in touch and in charge as this year’s storm season heats up:

• Keep wireless phone batteries fully charged – in case local power is lost – well before warnings are issued.
• Have additional charged batteries and car-charger adapters available for back-up power.
• Keep phones, batteries, chargers and other equipment in a dry, accessible location.
• Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers – police, fire, and rescue agencies; power companies; insurance providers; family, friends and co-workers; etc. – and program them into your phone.
• Distribute wireless phone numbers to family members and friends.
• Forward your home phone calls to your wireless number if you evacuate.

Once a storm begins to hit, the company also urges the following actions:

• Limit non-emergency calls to conserve battery power and free-up wireless networks for emergency agencies and operations.
• Send brief text messages rather than voice calls for the same reasons as above.
• Check weather and news reports on wireless phone applications when power is out.

“The key is to be prepared and ready for a quick response to every storm as the hurricane season heats up,” said Jerry Fountain, Carolinas and Tennessee region president for Verizon Wireless. “Our network teams are watching Danielle and Earl closely. We have prepared all year to ensure our customers have the communications support they need before, during and after a storm.”

Verizon Wireless, which operates the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless voice and 3G data network, invested over $104 million in 2009 to enhance North Carolina’s voice and data services and improve wireless coverage throughout South Carolina, bringing the total statewide network investment to more than $1.1 billion since 2000. Highlights of this investment include erecting new digital cell sites, maintaining a fleet of dozens of Cells on Wheels (COWs), Cells on Light Trucks (COLTs), and generators on trailers (GOaTs) and installing advanced in-building systems at key public and private buildings across the state.

This year, Verizon Wireless plans to launch its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless services in 25 to 30 markets nationally. LTE will offer customers significantly greater speed and capabilities than even today’s most advanced 3G coverage.

For more information on the Verizon Wireless network, products and services, visit www.verizonwireless.com.

Editor’s Note: To accompany a Verizon Wireless test team, tour a network facility or emergency command center, or obtain broadcast-quality video B-roll and still images of network operations/emergency preparations, contact Karen Schulz at 864-987-2006.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 92 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 79,000 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.

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