Verizon Prepared To Weather The Storm This Hurricane Season

HOUSTON, June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- With the 10^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina looming and a total of nine named storms expected this season by The Weather Channel, Verizon is prepared to help consumers weather any storm and stay connected.

Significant Network Investment

During the last year, Verizon has invested more than $173 million dollars in the region to strengthen and enhance the wireless network, ensuring that residents have comprehensive and reliable coverage in the event of severe weather.

"We place a strong emphasis on maintaining and providing customers with the best, most reliable network, and this hurricane season is no different," said Krista Bourne, president of the Houston/Gulf Coast region for Verizon Wireless. "Whether a storm is forming or has just passed, you can count on Verizon to stay in touch with family and friends. Our continued network investment in Houston and the Gulf Coast ensure you are accessible in the fastest way possible."

Standing Ready to Deliver Strong, Fast and Reliable Coverage

Verizon Wireless maintains "super-switch" network processing centers across Texas that are specially designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes. With hardened shells and double-reinforced exterior walls that are effective against strong winds and blowing debris, these facilities feature large-scale on-site power generation for use in the event of a commercial power outage, multiple redundant operations and technologies, and other back-up systems to ensure the company's Texas network remains strong, running and relable.

Other ongoing efforts to ensure a reliable network during the storm season and year-round include:

• A comprehensive emergency response plan, including preparing emergency command centers across Texas in the case of a storm or other crisis.
• Network technicians travel hundreds of thousands of miles across Texas in high-tech vehicles to measure the quality of Verizon Wireless voice and data service calls all across the state.
• The company has a fleet of dozens of Cells on Wheels (COWS), Cells on Light Trucks (COLTS), and generators on trailers (GOaTS) that will be deployed to hard-hit locations or areas that need extra network capacity.
• Pre-arranging fuel delivery to mobile units and generators to keep the network operating at full strength, even if power is lost for an extended period of time.
• Erecting new digital cell sites that have their own on-site generators to extend capacity in the event of a commercial power outage.

These initiatives are part of a national network investment to increase the coverage and capacity of Verizon's premier nationwide network, and to add new services.  For more information on the Verizon Wireless network, products and services, visit www.verizonwireless.com.

For Verizon Wireless Updates on Twitter
Stay in the know about Verizon Wireless news in Houston, Beaumont, Bryan College Station and Lufkin by following @GretchenLeJeune on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GretchenLeJeune. For the latest on products, corporate initiatives and perspectives, follow @VZWNews at http://twitter.com/VZWnews.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network.  As the largest wireless company in the U.S., Verizon Wireless serves 108.2 million retail customers, including 102.1 million retail postpaid customers.  Verizon Wireless is wholly owned by Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com.  For the latest news and updates about Verizon Wireless, visit our News Center at http://www.verizonwireless.com/news or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWNews. 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Gretchen Whitaker
713.219.8028
[email protected]

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SOURCE Verizon

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