Katrina's Impact on Cell Service

[BradQue]

Does anyone know of a link to news concerning how the various cell services fared (are faring) during Hurricane Katrina? I've searched several sites (Howard Forums, Phonescoop, WirelessAdvisor) and not found any posts specific to this subject.

I am guessing that service is pretty much abysmal in that area but am interested in some comparisons if they exist.

Thanks,

Brad

[wgray8231]

You missed this thread. It may not be exactly what you're looking for, though. Any news related to wireless will be in the wireless news forum.

http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/sh...ad.php?t=10963 (Katrina hampers long-distance, cell services)

[ShoresGuy]

Here's some minor info:

http://www.cellular-news.com/story/13928.php

[LouisianaMom]

Cell phone services is not working for most of Southeast Louisiana. I have Alltel and it is not working. Land based lines are your best bet although many lines down. Just got electricity in my area. Some calls coming in on land lines but calls going out are very spotty.

[Matt]

Here is t-Mobile's statement from this morning:

September 02, 2005 01:46 AM US Eastern Timezone

Important Gulf Coast Update from T-Mobile

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 2, 2005--T-Mobile USA today issued an update on its efforts to restore its wireless network in the north Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Following is updated information from T-Mobile as of Sept. 2:

-- More than 80 percent of T-Mobile market coverage is now operational in the Mobile, Ala. area.

-- More than 40 percent of T-Mobile market coverage is now operational in the Hattiesburg, Miss. and Mississippi Gulf Coast areas.

-- Fifty percent of T-Mobile wireless coverage is now operational in the greater New Orleans area. Downtown New Orleans is still experiencing limited service, although T-Mobile crews are making progress in their efforts to restore service as emergency personnel allow access to some of the hardest hit areas.

-- T-Mobile has mobilized resources from across the country to support the recovery efforts. Specifically, T-Mobile offices in Atlanta, Dallas and Houston have sent significant numbers of engineers and technicians to conduct onsite recovery efforts.

-- T-Mobile is employing several hundred generators and dozens of cells-on-wheels (COWs); and has access to enough fuel to keep the generators powering cell sites up and running, and to bring new sites online.

T-Mobile personnel on the north Gulf Coast rode out the storm at its switching facility in New Orleans in an effort to keep its network functioning at the highest service levels possible. Additional engineers were on the ground within hours in the hardest-hit areas to begin the process of restoring wireless service to residents and public safety agencies throughout the affected areas.

Historical Data:

-- The T-Mobile New Orleans Switching facility, which serves New Orleans and Baton Rouge, remained operational throughout Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

-- In order to keep the switch operational following the storm, T-Mobile immediately began airlifting supplies, technicians and diesel fuel into the facility to keep the switch supplied with generator power (Editor's Note: video footage available to the media upon request). This would not have been possible without the exceptional aid of local law enforcement agencies, which have been instrumental in assisting T-Mobile in keeping this vital communications link operational.

-- On 8/29, T-Mobile processed 600,000 wireless calls into
and out of New Orleans

-- On 8/30, T-Mobile processed 1.1 million wireless calls
into and out of New Orleans

-- On 8/31, T-Mobile processed 1.4 million wireless calls
into and out of New Orleans

-- The T-Mobile switches which serve Alabama and Mississippi
also remained in operation throughout Hurricane Katrina
despite the fact that the switch buildings sustained heavy
damage due to rain and wind.

Relief Efforts:

Following highlights some of the efforts that T-Mobile has initiated to help in recovery efforts:

-- Beginning Saturday, Sept. 3: T-Mobile plans to offer those displaced by the storm and evacuated to the San Antonio Alamodome free phone calls to family and loved ones.

-- Currently: T-Mobile is providing free phone calls and phone charging services to those affected by the storm at open retail locations in the hardest-hit areas, including Baton Rouge, La., and Gulfport, Miss., which was the first business of any type to re-open in downtown Gulfport.

-- Currently: T-Mobile is offering free Wi-Fi service at all open T-Mobile HotSpot locations in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

-- Additional relief efforts will be announced as the situation progresses.

Helpful Consumer Tip:

Where T-Mobile has operable service in the severely impacted areas, customers should consider text messaging or Instant Messaging to connect with family or loved ones, since data is transmitted more efficiently than voice calls, and has a higher success rate of getting through during network congestion compared to voice calls.

[LouisianaMom]

Text Messaging:

I did receive one text message from my son in Memphis informing us that our parish would not let us back in till Tuesday afternoon if then and that we would be out of electricity for perhaps a month. Thank God we got it back yesterday on my street, but many are still out. The linesmen are working their way in as roads are cleared and water goes down. The metro New Orleans area is still in pretty bad shape. I tried to text messaging a couple of time and have not been able to get them out. I know MANY have had cell phone trouble. I did hear some companies were getting text messages in and out. A comment by a radio announcer said cell phones were obsolete here. Without electricity computers could not be used except by those with generators. Some stores have not been able to re-open. We are lucky to be dry in my area. We can drive a hundred miles to Baton Rouge for food and water. The situation down here is not good; many are still without power and cannot get out on phones. Help is suppose to be on it's way, but we have not seen it yet.

[Dogma]

According to a friend of mine Cellular South has been working hard at getting their network back up 100%. They have even been helped by other wireless carrier's technicians, including some from fellow Tier 2 carrier Midwest Wireless.

Cellular South Partially Restores Service in Major Coast Counties
Mississippi-based carrier helping customers establish contact with friends and families, encourages text messaging to maximize system


JACKSON, Miss. - (August 30, 2005) – Cellular South began Monday to restore wireless service across the three most populated areas along the Mississippi Gulf Coast hard hit by Hurricane Katrina: Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties.

Cellular South's network maintained a signal in some of these areas following Monday's storm and never lost service in parts of Biloxi and Hattiesburg – areas that suffered major hurricane damage.

Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, Cellular South Emergency Task force deployed Monday evening and has made significant progress in restoration of service. Cellular South increased service to areas of Jackson County ( Pascagoula , Ocean Springs) by Tuesday morning and Harrison County ( Biloxi , Gulfport ) by Tuesday afternoon. Service to parts of Hancock County (Bay St. Louis-area) was available by Wednesday morning. Privately held Cellular South's network stretches from Memphis , throughout Mississippi and along the Alabama Coast and into the Florida Panhandle. The company serves more wireless customers than any other provider in some of the most stricken areas in Mississippi .

“Keeping people in touch with family and friends in bad times and good times is what Cellular South does best,” said Hu Meena, Cellular South president. “We know the last few days have been emotionally trying for hundreds of thousands. Our technicians and engineers – some who have also suffered personal losses – are feverishly working to restore our network to capacity as quickly as possible.”

Cellular South began Monday to restore wireless service across the three most populated areas along the Mississippi Gulf Coast hard hit by Hurricane Katrina: Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties.

Cellular South's network maintained a signal in some of these areas following Monday's storm and never lost service in parts of Biloxi and Hattiesburg – areas that suffered major hurricane damage.

Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, Cellular South Emergency Task force deployed Monday evening and has made significant progress in restoration of service. Cellular South increased service to areas of Jackson County ( Pascagoula , Ocean Springs) by Tuesday morning and Harrison County ( Biloxi , Gulfport ) by Tuesday afternoon. Service to parts of Hancock County (Bay St. Louis-area) was available by Wednesday morning. Privately held Cellular South's network stretches from Memphis , throughout Mississippi and along the Alabama Coast and into the Florida Panhandle. The company serves more wireless customers than any other provider in some of the most stricken areas in Mississippi .

“Keeping people in touch with family and friends in bad times and good times is what Cellular South does best,” said Hu Meena, Cellular South president. “We know the last few days have been emotionally trying for hundreds of thousands. Our technicians and engineers – some who have also suffered personal losses – are feverishly working to restore our network to capacity as quickly as possible.”

[jones]

satellie phones are not affected.

[ShoresGuy]

Those are a couple interesting damage assessments. I just find it odd to read that both Cellular South and T-Mobile find it important to mention that some of their equipment didn't fail in some of the hardest-hit areas. It's good to see that at least there is the ability to stay in touch to some degree.

[Cailiff04]

Brad,
I wouls assume that everything is out. Unless those providers put antennas on top of buildings..which is possible then some people might get a signal out and might be able to make calls. My aunt lives near Kenner and her cell was out for a while but has been back up..hope this helps!! I couldn't fina any sites showing what you asked for!!

[Matt]

T-Mobile update, Saturday.

September 03, 2005 08:12 PM US Eastern Timezone

T-Mobile Confirms Its Wireless Service Now Restored to Many Areas of Downtown New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 3, 2005--T-Mobile USA, Inc. (NYSET) announced the company has restored its wireless service to a significant level Saturday in the hardest-hit areas of New Orleans. T-Mobile engineers successfully repaired, and are operating, several sites in the area including a high-capacity cell site now running on generator power on top of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Astor on Canal Street.

The wireless service is now accessible from many areas across downtown New Orleans -- including the French Quarter, Convention Center and the Superdome -- as well as Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. In an effort to keep as many people connected as possible, T-Mobile is enabling virtually all users of GSM/GPRS phones, whether or not they are T-Mobile subscribers, roaming access to the network in the area.

T-Mobile also continues to provide priority network access in the area and throughout the Gulf Coast to public safety officials, emergency first responders, and others in need.

T-Mobile's network switch in New Orleans -- key to enabling service in the area -- was maintained through the storm and continues to operate well. T-Mobile is able to restore wireless service to downtown New Orleans under the escort and assistance of the U.S. National Guard.

T-Mobile expects heavy call volumes and some call congestion in the area due to the anticipated high demand for service; and many parts of Louisiana still remain without wireless coverage. As conditions on the ground continue to be uncertain, T-Mobile engineers are working to maintain the highest level of service possible, and further enhance service levels in the area and the north Gulf Coast.

[ShoresGuy]

Out of sheer curiosity, what companies make the so-called COWs? Are these the classical names such as Nortel, Lucent or Nokia?

[jones]

Cingular Wireless Reports Improved Coverage in Areas Hit Hard by Hurricane Katrina
Service Fully Restored in Many Areas



ATLANTA, Sept. 5, Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), today reported cell phone coverage continues to improve in those areas hit hard by Hurricane Katrina.

Service in Mobile, Ala. and Jackson, Miss. is fully restored, and the majority of coverage capacity has been reestablished in and around Biloxi, Miss.

Cingular crews are on the ground in New Orleans. Some calls are going through in the city and surrounding areas, including Hammond and Houma, La., but at reduced levels. New Orleans remains the company's top priority, and more than 800 network technicians are deployed across the Gulf States to support full service restoration as soon as possible. Cingular also is using microwave and satellite connections to restore service in parts of New Orleans, and is re-rerouting calls outside of New Orleans as needed.

The company also continues to make substantial progress in restoring service in Meridian, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport, Miss. Customers can send and receive calls in those cities, but at reduced levels. Since many of the remaining service outages are primarily due to power and T1 lines, we are working closely with power and wireline companies and have deployed generators where possible in affected areas.

Supporting Cingular's service restoration efforts are more than 500 generators and 240,000 gallons of fuel and more than 30 COWs (cell sites on wheels).

Cingular continues to offer free phone calls at its retail stores throughout Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana for any customer needing to get in touch with family or friends. The company has also provided more than 1,000 phones to emergency agencies throughout the Gulf States

[Dogma]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

Out of sheer curiosity, what companies make the so-called COWs? Are these the classical names such as Nortel, Lucent or Nokia?

COW = Cell on Wheels. Basically its a cell site that is able to be brought in on a trailer for emergency use.

[wgray8231]

Originally Posted by Dogma

COW = Cell on Wheels. Basically its a cell site that is able to be brought in on a trailer for emergency use.

Good definition, but that didn't answer the question.

I find it amusing that the wireless companies are working so hard on NO now that they've got almost everyone out. I guess it will be beneficial to the rescue & recovery teams and everyone else working in the area. But what about MS and AL?

[Dogma]

Originally Posted by Dogma

COW = Cell on Wheels. Basically its a cell site that is able to be brought in on a trailer for emergency use.

yes vendors make COW's, such as NORTEL, Lucent, etc....Most wireless companies are capable of making their own COW if they choose to do so.

I know some vendors even have a "switch on wheels" for the worst case scenario's.

[LouisianaMom]

Originally Posted by wgray8231

Good definition, but that didn't answer the question.

I find it amusing that the wireless companies are working so hard on NO now that they've got almost everyone out. I guess it will be beneficial to the rescue & recovery teams and everyone else working in the area. But what about MS and AL?

I don't find it amusing as much as it is well I guess I can't use that language. I wonder if there is going to be any press releases from these companies with how many dead bodies they found clutching their cell phones.

I have been trying to get a hold of Alltel to cancel my service because we don’t have any jobs anymore. I keep getting their office is closed. We have companies working all weekend 24/7 down here and I can’t get a hold of anyone to cancel bills. I guess you can tell I am starting to lose it!

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by wgray8231

Good definition, but that didn't answer the question.

I find it amusing that the wireless companies are working so hard on NO now that they've got almost everyone out. I guess it will be beneficial to the rescue & recovery teams and everyone else working in the area. But what about MS and AL?

Yes the Emergency personnel are going to be needing the networks for the search & recovery efforts as well as on going police, fire & ambulance duties especially with so many different agencies and departments working down there, and Nextel will be the main way of communicating between these agencies.

As for MS & AL the article jones posted by Cingular states:

Service in Mobile, Ala. and Jackson, Miss. is fully restored, and the majority of coverage capacity has been reestablished in and around Biloxi, Miss.
The company also continues to make substantial progress in restoring service in Meridian, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport, Miss. Customers can send and receive calls in those cities, but at reduced levels. Since many of the remaining service outages are primarily due to power and T1 lines, we are working closely with power and wireline companies and have deployed generators where possible in affected areas.

I can't say about other carriers, but I know the people from our Dept. that are headed down were told Nextel is up & running with COW's and towers since that is what a bunch of the guys will be using along with our radio's.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by LouisianaMom

I don't find it amusing as much as it is well I guess I can't use that language. I wonder if there is going to be any press releases from these companies with how many dead bodies they found clutching their cell phones.

I have been trying to get a hold of Alltel to cancel my service because we don’t have any jobs anymore. I keep getting their office is closed. We have companies working all weekend 24/7 down here and I can’t get a hold of anyone to cancel bills. I guess you can tell I am starting to lose it!

I am really sorry to hear about the whole tragedy down there and the loss of lives and the turn of events to make it worst, and the loss of jobs as well.

I am suprised that you can't get in touch with Alltel, but I am sure they will give you some time to do this and if you can't get thru for another week or 2 you won't have a problem.
I know some carriers are even waiving the ETF and giving unlimited mins for those in the area's affected.

My prayers go out to you and everyone down there & wish I could do more.

[ShoresGuy]

Originally Posted by Fire14

Yes the Emergency personnel are going to be needing the networks for the search & recovery efforts as well as on going police, fire & ambulance duties especially with so many different agencies and departments working down there, and Nextel will be the main way of communicating between these agencies.

As for MS & AL the article jones posted by Cingular states:



I can't say about other carriers, but I know the people from our Dept. that are headed down were told Nextel is up & running with COW's and towers since that is what a bunch of the guys will be using along with our radio's.

No doubt you can't really use anything but SMR radios at the moment down in LA. I doubt that the regular systems are running at full capacity and New Orleans' trunked public safety radio system is down to a single channel. In a way, trunked systems are good since they provide more frequencies for local users but anytime you have mutual aid assignments, the fire and police departments have to fall back on White 1, White 2 or White 3 (all VHF frequencies) or other state/national fire and police mutual aid channels since adjacent departments may not have access to the trunked radio systems.

Here's a Yahoo News article on how the trunked radio system is doing in New Orleans:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...atrina_telecom

[LouisianaMom]

Originally Posted by Fire14

I am really sorry to hear about the whole tragedy down there and the loss of lives and the turn of events to make it worst, and the loss of jobs as well.

I am suprised that you can't get in touch with Alltel, but I am sure they will give you some time to do this and if you can't get thru for another week or 2 you won't have a problem.
I know some carriers are even waiving the ETF and giving unlimited mins for those in the area's affected.

My prayers go out to you and everyone down there & wish I could do more.

Fire 14,

Thank you. Your kind words were much appreciated. People’s nerves are a little frayed here. You see my family evacuated Sunday to North Louisiana where we found a hotel with one room left, but only for one night. We took it, because we were too tired to try and go towards Texas or Arkansas to look for another room. Thankfully the hotel managed to give us the room for a second night. The hotel was filled with evacuees many with pets. We were asking each other for information since most of our cell phones didn’t work.

We came home Tuesday and of course we didn’t have any electricity. I laid in a dark room with the window open listening to a battery-powered radio. It broke my heart to hear the emergency broadcast station pleading for help for people.

Days later I listened as helicopters flew over my house from sunup to sundown. It sounded like a war zone. They still fly over, but not nearly as much, which must mean they aren’t founding many more survivors.

We don’t even have mail service here and I am in one of the parishes outside N.O. Phones are unreliable even now. You get busy signals, all circuits busy, or dropped calls. But, life still must go on. My oldest son who went to the University of New Orleans has to find another school. Other high school kids will be starting next week in some areas and are trying to take in the kids from N.O. or as many as they can. Then we are having trouble finding a gas station that has gas or a store that has food.

People looking for missing persons are adding email addresses to their phone number pleads, because the phones are still at a hit and miss level. The police I have seen in N.O. looked like they are using the old fashion walkie-talkie type phones. I am sure that if the cell phone companies can get them service first that will be a top priority. The national guards must have their own communication systems. I think as the water is going down they are starting a body recovery mission.

Your prayers are very welcomed. I guess I just wanted someone to know what it was really like down here. It is nice that the cell phone companies are helping out those they can help with free phone calls. I didn’t mean to sound so ungrateful. But, like the first newspaper I have seen in days said today, “7th Day Of Hell”.

[Andy]

LouisianaMom, I can only imagine what you and thousands of other people are going through and my thoughts are also with all of you. I find it heartbraking watching the images broadcasted from the affected areas, it's terrible, and I wish you and everybody else down there the best of luck.

[Andy]

Mobile Communications Much Improved In Gulf Coast Area, Verizon Wireless Reports
Wireless Service Returning To Normal in Many Areas; Improvements Continue in Hardest Hit Areas Wireless Phone Banks Set Up to Help Evacuees Contact Family



Media Contact Info


In Gulf Coast:
Patrick Kimball
Verizon Wireless
281.686.1937 (mobile)
patrick.kimball@verizonwireless.com


In Houston:
Macy Bodenhamer
Verizon Wireless
917.597.9955 (mobile)
macy.bodenhamer@verizonwireless.com


In Atlanta:
Sheryl Sellaway
678.339.5564 (office)
404.695.5564 (mobile)
Sheryl.Sellaway@VerizonWireless.com


All Other Calls:
Tom Pica
908.306.4385 (office)
Thomas.Pica@VerizonWireless.com




09/05/2005

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Working round-the-clock, Verizon Wireless is making more headway today to restore wireless service in the New Orleans and Gulf Coast regions in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The company’s teams of network technicians made more progress in strengthening communications in many of the affected areas. As of Monday, September 5, 2005, conditions are as follows:

Louisiana

The surrounding areas of New Orleans to the southwest, particularly the Houma area, have good service with a few pockets of limited coverage. Slidell, Hammond, Mandeville, Lacombe, Covington, Metairie and Kenner also have good coverage with a few pockets of limited coverage. The areas approximately 20 miles north of Lake Pontchartrain, particularly the Independence, Loranger and Folsom areas have good coverage, although service may not be available in all areas. Coverage has been restored at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
The central New Orleans area is experiencing wide spread outages with limited coverage.
In the Baton Rouge area, customers should not experience any problems except for a very few select areas.
Mississippi

Verizon Wireless’ cell site is operational on the roof of the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino in Biloxi - the site of FEMAs base of operations in the area.
Verizon Wireless’ cell site is operational at the Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport, a major base of operations for the National Guard. The Biloxi / Gulfport area has limited coverage.
COWs (Cell on Wheels) have been deployed to boost coverage at the following locations:
Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi FEMA’s relief distribution center in Gulfport The Ocean Springs area
The Jackson area has normal coverage with no sites down.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast continues to experience outages with a few areas with limited service.
Alabama

The Alabama Gulf Coast now has the majority of service restored with a few areas of spotty coverage. The Mobile area has service restored to the majority of the area.
Florida

The Florida Gulf Coast has the majority of service restored.
“Our technicians are preparing to be escorted into the city of New Orleans to repair cell towers and other equipment that knocked out operations when Hurricane Katrina and the resulting flooding cut off much of the communications to the city,” said Verizon Wireless South Area President Jack Plating, who is leading the company’s recovery efforts. “In areas where communication has not returned to normal, Verizon Wireless is using text messaging to help reunite many families that have been separated as they were evacuated from New Orleans and other areas. We’ve sent hundreds of text messages from the Verizon Wireless Emergency Communication Centers in Houston after people could not reach their family in the 504 area code. We received both reply text messages and phone calls – one of the text replies simply said ‘Thank God. And thank you.’”

Verizon Wireless support staff and equipment, including Cells on Wheels and thousands of wireless phones to be used and distributed to emergency personnel, from throughout the country are being brought in to support the restoration effort. Verizon Wireless hurricane response and recovery efforts include:

Network Reinforcement and Support

Nearly 20 COWs (Cell on Wheels) are staged and ready to be deployed to help increase wireless coverage in the hardest hit areas in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, once state and federal emergency officials give the go-ahead.
Even though approximately 80 percent of Verizon Wireless’ cell sites in the impacted area are equipped with permanent generators to provide power in the event of power loss, Verizon Wireless has also deployed dozens of portable electrical generators from across the country to the area. These are now in place to provide emergency power to cell sites without permanent generators.
Verizon Wireless Disaster Recovery teams are coordinating with wireline and power companies to reestablish connectivity to cell phone towers in the area.
Continuous monitoring of cell sites and switches in the affected areas has been under way from the company’s national Network Operations Control Centers located in New Jersey and Texas, assisting recovery teams on the ground in identifying service status and conditions.
Customer Service

Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in Baton Rouge, Hammond, Mobile and Pensacola and other areas across the affected area have been re-opened and are providing residents free local and long-distance calls, battery charging and technical support to anyone in need of these services due to Hurricane Katrina.
Community Outreach

More than 300 calls per hour are being made by evacuees from Verizon Wireless Emergency Communication Centers (WECCs) in Houston at the Astrodome and Reliant Arena. The WECCs have been established to help evacuees place calls, re-charge their phones and will provide technical support and customer service, free of charge. Verizon Wireless employees from other states have volunteered their assistance to the WECCs.
As evacuees arrive at the Astrodome and other sites, Verizon Wireless is providing them with the means to reach out to people around the country who are desperate to know that they’re safe. Communicating via text messaging, Verizon Wireless has helped reunite many families that have been separated as they were transported to Houston, as well as help evacuees reach family members that have been displaced. Verizon Wireless is also handing out 10,000 Verizon long-distance calling cards at these locations.
Verizon Wireless is working with the American Red Cross to distribute phones to shelters in Louisiana, Texas and areas across the South where evacuees have been transported to help them connect with family and friends.
Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO high-speed data service is being used in areas in Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, by relief agencies for e-mail, Internet blogging and access to Web sites that help reunite displaced people.
Verizon Wireless is enabling its customers to donate to the American Red Cross to support the relief efforts directly from their wireless phones. Customers simply send the message “2HELP” via a text message to the address 2HELP or 24357 using the key word “help.” They will receive a reply message asking them to confirm a donation to the American Red Cross of $5.00 – customers wishing to donate more than once can send up to four additional text messages to 2HELP, for a total contribution of $25.00.
The Verizon Foundation has established a special disaster relief program to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina that has raised nearly $3.3 million to date. The Foundation is matching 2-to-1 Verizon Wireless and Verizon Communications employee contributions to support relief efforts by the Red Cross through September 30, 2005.
While Verizon Wireless continues to work to restore service in all areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina, the company also offers the following tips to wireless users in affected areas: Communicate through TXT Messaging. Using less bandwidth than voice calls, TXT Messaging has a higher success rate of getting through in many areas where service has not returned to normal.

Limit wireless phone usage whenever possible by calling an out of town contact to let them know you are safe and asking them to spread the word to your family and friends. This will help keep the network from being overloaded –emergency workers are depending on wireless communications in their rescue and restoration operations.
When possible, keep a back-up wireless phone battery on hand. With a back-up power source, wireless customers can continue to communicate by swapping out the battery with the charged battery once the power has drained.

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

No doubt you can't really use anything but SMR radios at the moment down in LA. I doubt that the regular systems are running at full capacity and New Orleans' trunked public safety radio system is down to a single channel. In a way, trunked systems are good since they provide more frequencies for local users but anytime you have mutual aid assignments, the fire and police departments have to fall back on White 1, White 2 or White 3 (all VHF frequencies) or other state/national fire and police mutual aid channels since adjacent departments may not have access to the trunked radio systems.

Here's a Yahoo News article on how the trunked radio system is doing in New Orleans:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...atrina_telecom

For the different agencies down there to try & communicate, the main problem comes from the many different bands and frequencies being used, some are on VHF, some on UHF, some Trunked and like our department EDACS, then some are still using Low bands, this was part of the problem with 9-11, too many different frequencies and no way to use them to talk to each other, I know for us we use SPEN channels here in NJ on the VHF bands, but out of state it may not work with there departments.
That is one of the reason's they want interoperatabilities between all agencies including the Fed. Govt during big event's like this.

I think Motorola or Ericsson has come up with something, but it's too new right now & believe it or not Nextel's are the best option, since everyone that has 1 can communicate between each other, once you add there ID.

[BradQue]

Thanks everyone for all the great input regarding the status of cell service in the areas affected by Katrina. It is very informative and hopefully, things will continue to get better for those folks throughout the region.

I guess we see time and time again how important communications is when something like this happens.

[LouisianaMom]

Originally Posted by BradQue

Thanks everyone for all the great input regarding the status of cell service in the areas affected by Katrina. It is very informative and hopefully, things will continue to get better for those folks throughout the region.

I guess we see time and time again how important communications is when something like this happens.

Thanks to all who are helping us get back on our feet. May God Bless each and every one

Brad,

I have copied and pasted some comments form a nola website (The Times-Picayune) about the problems with communications in this area immediately after the storm….

From The Times-Picayune

As the sun rose over Jefferson Parish's Emergency Operations Center in Marrero this morning, a haggard-looking Broussard quipped that since Katrina struck, his use of cutting-edge technology to run parish government has been replaced by a communications vacuum reminiscent of the Stone Age.

Broussard, who typically carries a cell phone, Blackberry device and has dozens of telephone and fax lines to keep in touch with his own employees and officials from other parishes and the state, said he "used to be a Jetson," recalling the 1960s-era futuristic cartoon.

"Now I'm a Flintstone," he said. "Now I"m a yabba-dabba-do."
*********************


New Orleans police lost all communications when the Category 4 storm struck the Gulf Coast, Compass said. After the storm died down, "we had no juice to charge the batteries. We had to physically stay on the street to keep in touch."
************************

After giving President Bush a first-hand glimpse of the devastated New Orleans-area on Friday, Gov. Kathleen Blanco handed him a laundry list of specific requests desperately needed to help restore order, get needed supplies of food and water to people and restore the fractured communications grid that prevented various agency officials from exchanging information.
*********************************

Maestri said the communications problem has occurred despite the funneling of millions of dollars of Homeland Security grant money into parishes and state coffers, much to upgrade communications equipment. Jefferson Parish used that money successfully for an internal radio system that worked well during the storm, he said. But the state assigned those dollars to the Louisiana State Police, which he said hadn’t completed connecting it to the parish communications system
********************************

She (Governor) also asked for communications assistance for governmental agencies, including radios with higher capacity, 25 more frequencies and 1,000 additional portable radios.
***************************************

When the President's travel details stop us from putting the helicopters in the air that will deliver help, we've got problems. When, after an hour and a half of waiting at the instructed location without information to greet the President today in New Orleans, logistical and communications problems prevented me from reaching the meeting - we've got problems. The poor communication here is indicative of the larger communication problems that are hindering all of the life saving efforts."
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"I'm tired of empty promises, delayed promises. I'm on the ground in St. Bernard Parish, Plaquemines Parish, and other parishes I represent...today, we may have seen progress in New Orleans but one thing is for sure -- tomorrow we needs tons more in the rest of the affected areas."
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"We must work immediately to create a permanent cabinet level position - just like the Homeland Security post - to make sure these inefficiencies and logistical failures never again prevent desperately needed relief."
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The 270-foot Coast Guard Cutter Spencer arrived in the New Orleans area last night to provide communications and logistical support to Coast Guard rescue personnel. Twenty-four other cutters are operating in the Gulf of Mexico, with eight more en route.
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[ShoresGuy]

Originally Posted by Fire14

For the different agencies down there to try & communicate, the main problem comes from the many different bands and frequencies being used, some are on VHF, some on UHF, some Trunked and like our department EDACS, then some are still using Low bands, this was part of the problem with 9-11, too many different frequencies and no way to use them to talk to each other, I know for us we use SPEN channels here in NJ on the VHF bands, but out of state it may not work with there departments.
That is one of the reason's they want interoperatabilities between all agencies including the Fed. Govt during big event's like this.

I think Motorola or Ericsson has come up with something, but it's too new right now & believe it or not Nextel's are the best option, since everyone that has 1 can communicate between each other, once you add there ID.

This is what I was hinting at , the main problem remains the lack of mutual aid/fireground/disaster coordination frequencies.

[LouisianaMom]

Originally Posted by Fire14

I am really sorry to hear about the whole tragedy down there and the loss of lives and the turn of events to make it worst, and the loss of jobs as well.

I am suprised that you can't get in touch with Alltel, but I am sure they will give you some time to do this and if you can't get thru for another week or 2 you won't have a problem.
I know some carriers are even waiving the ETF and giving unlimited mins for those in the area's affected.

My prayers go out to you and everyone down there & wish I could do more.

I just received this email from Alltel. I broke down when I read it, but I would like to thank Alltel on behave of my family and the many others it effects.

"Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for your response. We appreciate your patience and at this time there is no reason to worry about your billing. We here at Alltel will provide free nationwide roaming and long distance over the next two bill cycles to customers in the New Orleans area.

If you have question or concerns about anything please feel free to respond to this email or give us a call 24 hours a day 7 days a week at 1/800-255-8351.We hope this information is beneficial to you.

Thank you,"

[Andy]

Alltel sure is doing the right thing, along with many other carriers who are offering their customers free airtime and roaming. That's someting we can expect, after all.

Glad they were able to help you out! Again, all the best!

[LouisianaMom]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

Alltel sure is doing the right thing, along with many other carriers who are offering their customers free airtime and roaming. That's someting we can expect, after all.

Glad they were able to help you out! Again, all the best!

Thank you, Andy. And please forgive my horrible grammar and spelling on my posts. I think I am just now coming out of survivor mode and shock.

I heard on WWL TV this evening a story about some Cingular workers wading in chest high water that is polluted in N.O. to get to a cell tower they were trying to repair. Everyone is doing so much to help us that it can be overwhelming. Thanks to all.