Hurricane Helene Updates

10.16.24 Update

Restoration near complete

Verizon engineers have now returned to service 99% of all cell sites that were impacted by Hurricane Helene, with Georgia 100% restored.

For cell sites that have returned to permanent fiber and commercial power, our System Performance engineers are now focused on optimizing and returning the network to pre-storm performance levels. For sites that remain on generator power, non-stop refueling efforts continue to ensure sites remain in service for Verizon customers and first responders until permanent commercial power restoration is complete.

The fiber cables that connect cell sites to the rest of the network were damaged in the storm, so until permanent fiber restoration is complete, our teams continue to provide alternate forms of connectivity for the individual sites that remain out of service, including temporary satellite and microwave solutions. Secondary fiber cuts from debris clean up and power restoration continue to have impacts on our network. Residents can help in restoration efforts by remembering to not touch or cut any cable that may have been displaced during the storm. Debris clean up and property repair are important tasks after a storm, but contacting 811 before any clean up project, large or small, is the easiest step toward reducing the chance of damaging fiber - whether underground or aerial - and keeping customers and first responders connected in critical moments.

Relief for Impacted Customers

To help residents in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene, Verizon waiving postpaid domestic call/text/data usage from Sept. 28-Oct. 27. This will bring relief to the thousands of customers who rely on their mobile devices now more than ever, especially during this challenging time.

Continued support

Customers in need of continued support can contact a member of our team at 800.922.0204 or check our store locator page to find a location near you.

There is a very long road ahead for recovery and rebuilding work in the region and Verizon’s team will be on the ground until that hard work is complete.

10.9.24 Update

Network Restoration

Additional Community Support

Wireless Emergency Communication Centers are generator-powered mobile units that have device charging and computer workstations, along with wireless phones, tablets and other devices to contact friends, family and other important contacts over Verizon’s network. WECCs have been deployed to the following locations:

• Groce United Methodist Church | 954 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC 28805
• Swannanoa Fire Station | 510 Bee Tree Road, Swannanoa, NC 28778

Charging Station Locations:

• J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex | 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd, Holiday, FL 34691
• New Port Richey Recreation & Aquatic Center | 6630 Van Buren St, New Port Richey, FL 346531
• Hudson Regional Library | 8012 Library Rd, Hudson, FL 34667
• YMCA of Western North Carolina | 348 Grace Corpening Dr, Marion, NC 28752
• WNC Agricultural 9237, 761 Boylston Hwy, Fletcher, NC 28732
• A-B Technical Community College | 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, NC 28801
• 203 E Main Street, Old Fort, NC
• 3305 Kellina Lane, Hudson, NC

10.7.24 Update

Network restoration

Our crews continue to see steady progress, with more than 90% of our impacted cell sites back on air. Fiber, the delicate cables that connect cell sites to the rest of the network, is still out in many areas. Our teams are working on alternate forms of connectivity for those sites, such as the deployment of temporary satellite assets, as well as non-stop refueling efforts to ensure sites remain in service for Verizon customers and first responders. We continue to work with power providers and fiber vendors, as well as state and government agencies to coordinate on priority restoration where possible.

In Georgia, we continue to see improvements around Brunswick, Waycross and the Augusta area west of I-20. However, customers may experience service interruptions related to fiber instability and sites bouncing in the Vidalia, and Valdosta areas. In Western North Carolina, the engineers continue to evaluate satellite solutions to bring those towers online until fiber can be restored.

Debris clean up and property repair are important tasks after a storm, but it’s important to not touch or cut any cable that may have been displaced due to high winds or flooding. Before beginning to clean up and make repairs, call 811 or visit call811.com to determine where fiber or other cables are buried. Contacting 811 before any clean up project, large or small, is the easiest step toward reducing the chance of damaging fiber - whether underground or aerial - and keeping customers and first responders connected in critical moments. Fiber is the invisible footprint that moves data throughout Verizon’s network across the country and around the world.

10.6.24 Morning Update

We continue to make steady progress and engineers working around the clock restored 40 additional sites yesterday. With those restorals, we have now recovered 905 of the sites that were impacted by the storm.

Other than a few towers still inaccessible in the Chimney Rock area, Verizon crews have accessed all impacted sites in the Western North Carolina market. All sites have generators and are on fueling plans, although fiber to many sites is still out. Fiber cables connect cell sites to the rest of the network, so until fiber lines are restored, our teams are working on alternate forms of connectivity for those sites. North of Waynesville along the I-40 corridor engineers are working on microwave solutions to recover those sites. In the Burnsville and Bakersville areas of WNC, engineers are evaluating satellite solutions to bring those towers online until fiber can be restored.

In Georgia, crews have made good progress in Brunswick, the I-20 corridor west of Augusta, Statesboro and Vidalia with more sites being restored in all of those areas. With ongoing activity from a variety of response teams, we are experiencing a very dynamic environment, which resulted in fiber cuts and service bouncing in the previously restored areas of Long county and Tattnall County. Verizon teams will be working on those areas this morning. Douglas, Valdosta and Uvalda will also have Verizon team members there today setting up alternative connection solutions until fiber can be restored to those areas. Massive refueling efforts continue throughout Eastern and Southern Georgia to keep permanent and portable generators powering cell sites and mobile assets online.

Debris clean up and property repair are important tasks after a storm, but fiber is extremely delicate. Before beginning to clean up and make repairs, we encourage residents to call 811 or visit call811.com to determine where fiber or other cables are buried. Contacting 811 before any digging project, large or small, is the easiest step toward reducing the chance of damaging underground fiber and keeping customers and first responders connected in critical moments.

Verizon is actively supporting the community and first responders by deploying mobile cell sites and other mobile assets to support emergency operations centers, staging areas, and other critical operations including Tyler County EOC, the National Guard, Blue Ridge Regional Healthcare, Baxter Healthcare, staging areas for response teams at Asheville mall, community outreach areas at Groce United Methodist Church and the Asheville YMCA, and more.

Additional Community Support

Wireless Emergency Communication Centers are generator-powered mobile units that have device charging and computer workstations, along with wireless phones, tablets and other devices to contact friends, family and other important contacts over Verizon’s network. WECCs have been deployed to the following locations:

• Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St, Asheville, NC 28801
• Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC 28805
• Augusta Mall Location 1631 Gordon Hwy Augusta, GA 30906
• Swannanoa Fire Station 510 Bee Tree Rd. Swannanoa 28778

Charging Station Locations:

• J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd, Holiday, FL 34691
• New Port Richey Recreation & Aquatic Center, 6630 Van Buren St, New Port Richey, FL 346531
• Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Rd, Hudson, FL 34667
• 2 Dropped YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr, Marion, NC 28752
• 3 dropped to WNC Agricultural 9237, 761 Boylston Hwy, Fletcher, NC 28732
• 2 -A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, NC 28801

10.5.24 Morning Update

Network Status

Despite still not having power or fiber connectivity, engineers were able to make good progress overnight in the areas of Valdosta, Augusta Metro, Brunswick, Uvalda, St. Simons Island, Swaynesboro and Vidalia, although much work remains to be done in these areas to reach full restoration. Refueling trucks will continue running throughout the day to keep generators online and our engineers will continue working to deploy alternatives to fiber cable connections using both satellite links and microwave transportation to move customer data through the network.

Our teams made good progress in Elizabethton and Johnson City Tennessee overnight restoring sites throughout those communities. Throughout the day yesterday we saw some cell sites lose service in Hendersonville and the Upstate of South Carolina, but overnight we restored stability in those markets and cell sites are back in service. Crews continue work to stabilize fiber connections north of Spartanburg and we expect fiber connections to be restored in that community throughout the day.

In Western North Carolina, our team was able to restore service in the Waynesville area. Today they will be moving portable cell sites and satellite connections to the areas North of Waynesville to provide service for the residents and first responders there. In the hardest hit area of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, engineers are just today able to get access for equipment to move in, so our engineers are on site assessing the extent of the damage and starting repairs.

We have set up a massive compound in Asheville which houses mobile equipment like cell sites and generators ready for deployment, as well as housing facilities, laundry, food and showers for our crews who are working around the clock to restore service. Our MERIT team (Major Emergency Response Incident Team) trained on network repairs in extremely hazardous conditions, is on site and will remain active until service is fully restored to the area.

Community Support

To help victims of Hurricane Helene stay connected to family, friends and other important contacts, Wireless Emergency Communication Centers (WECC) have been deployed by Verizon in areas of Southwestern Florida impacted by the storm.

Wireless Emergency Communication Centers are generator-powered mobile units that have device charging and computer workstations, along with wireless phones, tablets and other devices to contact friends, family and other important contacts over Verizon’s network. WECCs have been deployed to the following locations:

• Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St, Asheville, NC 28801
• Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St, Asheville, NC 28801
• Augusta Mall Location 1631 Gordon Hwy Augusta, GA 30906

Additionally, charging stations can be found at the following locations:

• J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd, Holiday, FL 34691
• New Port Richey Recreation & Aquatic Center, 6630 Van Buren St, New Port Richey, FL 346531
• Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Rd, Hudson, FL 34667
• YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr, Marion, NC 28752
• WNC Agricultural 9237, 761 Boylston Hwy, Fletcher, NC 28732
• Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, NC 28801

10.4.24 Evening Update

Network Status

Our teams have continued to make steady progress throughout the day. Refueling efforts continue on a wide scale to keep generators powered, and our engineers have been aggressively moving additional mobile cell sites, satellite connections and other temporary assets into the hardest hit markets. A significant effort today has focused on restoring fiber connections which tie our cell sites to the rest of the network. Where fiber can not be immediately restored, our engineers are working to connect those towers through microwave or satellite links temporarily.

In the hardest hit areas in the Carolinas, we have over forty cell sites that are still not accessible via land vehicle or on foot. Teams of engineers are preparing a fleet of drones to conduct aerial inspections of those sites which will help us determine the extent of the damage and formulate a plan for rapid repair.

Debris clean up and property repair are important tasks after a storm, and those efforts are in full swing in storm impacted areas. However, our crews have been busy deploying temporary fiber across the region to restore cell service and it has not yet been buried. We encourage people to be extremely careful around all cables laying on the ground, so the temporary fiber keeping cell service up is not accidentally disturbed. Additionally, if clearing trees or other activities that require digging, before beginning to clean up and make repairs, we encourage residents to call 811 or visit call811.com to determine where fiber or other cables are buried. Contacting 811 before any digging project, large or small, is the easiest step toward reducing the chance of damaging underground fiber and keeping customers and first responders connected in critical moments.

Community Support

To help victims of Hurricane Helene stay connected to family, friends and other important contacts, Wireless Emergency Communication Centers (WECC) have been deployed by Verizon in areas of Southwestern Florida impacted by the storm.

Wireless Emergency Communication Centers are generator-powered mobile units that have device charging and computer workstations, along with wireless phones, tablets and other devices to contact friends, family and other important contacts over Verizon’s network. WECCs have been deployed to the following locations:

• Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St, Asheville, NC 28801
• Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St, Asheville, NC 28801
• Augusta Mall Location 1631 Gordon Hwy Augusta, GA 30906

Additionally, charging stations can be found at the following locations:

• J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd, Holiday, FL 34691
• New Port Richey Recreation & Aquatic Center, 6630 Van Buren St, New Port Richey, FL 346531
• Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Rd, Hudson, FL 34667
• YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr, Marion, NC 28752
• WNC Agricultural 9237, 761 Boylston Hwy, Fletcher, NC 28732
• Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, NC 28801

Verizon employees lending a hand:

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Verizon has announced a $325,000 grant ($25,000 to Greater Valdosta United Way) to support the communities hardest hit by the storm. Today, Verizon partnered with Second Harvest of South Georgia and Greater Valdosta United Way in a hands-on relief effort at Second Harvest’s Valdosta location. The organizations packed and sorted donations arriving from Alabama to provide essential supplies to those in need.

In addition to today’s event, Verizon’s grant will continue to fuel long-term recovery efforts in the region, providing essential resources and rebuilding opportunities for residents whose lives were upended by the storm. This initiative underscores Verizon’s role as a local partner dedicated to the well-being of the communities it serves. Through efforts like these, Verizon aims to ensure that South Georgia’s recovery is swift and sustainable, empowering individuals and families to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the storm.

10.4.24 Morning Update

Network Update

In the last 24 hours we recovered nearly 100 cell sites throughout storm impacted areas. In particular, we have seen dramatic improvements in GA and throughout the Upstate of SC. In western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, refueling efforts to keep cell site generators running and mobile assets like portable cell sites and drones that deliver service from the sky are assisting in search, rescue and recovery efforts.

We have seen physical damage to some of our cell sites, so we are moving in Towers on Wheels (TOWs) to the few sites where towers have been destroyed. We are continuing to deploy portable generators for the cell sites that do not have permanent generators or where those permanent generators have been destroyed or impaired. Work also continues throughout storm impacted areas to restore fiber connections which tie our cell sites to the rest of the network. Where fiber can not be immediately restored, our engineers are working to connect those towers through microwave or satellite links temporarily.

In areas where cell service has been restored, customers may see a difference from their pre-storm service. The temporary connection links we have put in place while working on restoration of fiber accommodate smaller amounts of traffic. We encourage our customers to be judicious with how they use the network during this recovery period in the hardest hit areas so that sufficient network capacity is available for first responders and community members who still need to reach help or critical resources. We are also seeing an increase in traffic from support and recovery personnel rushing into storm impacted areas. We are working to add additional capacity to our cell sites and move mobile assets where needed to accommodate the data increases.

Mission-Critical Communications Support for Public Safety

The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team remains deployed in support of first responders conducting response and recovery operations in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. With 10 crisis response managers currently deployed across the Southeast, this team of former first responders and military personnel continues to work hand-in-hand with public safety and government agencies to ensure they have the mission-critical communications capabilities they need - at no cost to the supported agencies. To date, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team has delivered nearly 450 solutions in response to nearly 140 requests for mission-critical communications support from close to 100 different federal, state and local public safety agencies operating in the regions hardest hit by the storm.

Additional Community Support

To help victims of Hurricane Helene stay connected to family, friends and other important contacts, Wireless Emergency Communication Centers (WECC) have been deployed by Verizon in areas of Southwestern Florida impacted by the storm.

Wireless Emergency Communication Centers are generator-powered mobile units that have device charging and computer workstations, along with wireless phones, tablets and other devices to contact friends, family and other important contacts over Verizon’s network. WECCs have been deployed to the following locations:

• Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, NC 28801
• Asheville YMCA 30 Woodfin St, Asheville, NC 28801 (moved from 1st Baptist Church location)
• Augusta Mall Location 1631 Gordon Hwy Augusta, GA 30906

Charging Station Locations:

• J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd, Holiday, FL 34691
• New Port Richey Recreation & Aquatic Center, 6630 Van Buren St, New Port Richey, FL 346531
• Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Rd, Hudson, FL 34667
• 2 Dropped YMCA of Western North Carolina 348 Grace Corpening Dr, Marion, NC 28752
• 3 dropped to WNC Agricultural 9237, 761 Boylston Hwy, Fletcher, NC 28732
• Unicoi County EOC 125 N Industrial Dr Erwin, Tennessee
• 2 -A-B Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, NC 28801

10.3.24 Evening Update

Network restoration

We continue to make steady progress and as of 4pm EST, we have restored over 78% of the sites that were impacted by the storm. While we are seeing progress across the region, there are some areas where recovery is more difficult and will likely take longer. With many mountain roads still impassible, our crews need to find alternate means to assess damage, such as site surveys via drone, and deploy temporary cell sites.

There is still a tremendous amount of work ahead of us, but our teams know how vital connection is, especially at a time like this, and will not stop until all service in the area is restored.

Flying High

Verizon’s HAWKs (High Altitude Wireless Kennewhat) are tethered drone aircraft capable of lifting eFemto or small cells up to 300’ and providing service from the air. The HAWKs provide cellular and data coverage and they are providing critical connectivity to various teams on the ground who are working to restore the community. These drones are capable of staying in the air for up to 400 hours.

Network Assurance Engineers and Verizon Remote pilots Mark Bluteau and Dusty Kelley were deployed in Asheville, North Carolina, an area faced with unprecedented devastation, to deploy our tethered drones. Both Mark and Dusty can attest to the importance of coming together in times like these and cite Southern hospitality, their robust training, and the time and resources put into our drone and Frontline Response programs as making all the difference.

10.3.24 Update

Network restoration

Our crews continue to work 24/7, resulting in an additional 81 returning on air overnight. While permanent repairs are being made, Verizon continues to deploy temporary cell sites to provide communication, as well as non-stop refueling efforts to ensure sites remain in service for Verizon customers and first responders. We continue to work with power providers and fiber vendors, as well as state and government agencies to coordinate on priority restoration where possible.

East Tennessee

For cell sites that do not have significant equipment damage, but are also stranded without power or fiber connections, Verizon engineers are deploying massive numbers of portable generators and are using alternate methods for connecting cell towers to the network including satellite links and microwave links.

North + South Carolina

Overnight, we had 21 sites restored, with many in the Spartanburg area, as well as three critical coverage areas in Asheville.

Georgia

We had 56 sites restored overnight in the counties of Tattnall, Long, and Clinch, as well as one site in Fargo. For today, we remain focused on restoration in Emanuel, Candler, Charlton, Montgomery, Treutlen, and Augusta Metro, as well as working to provide temporary solutions to St. Simons Island.

Customer Relief

To help residents in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene, Verizon has extended its offer to waive postpaid domestic call/text/data usage from Sept. 28-Oct. 27. This will bring relief to the thousands of customers who rely on their mobile devices now more than ever, especially during this challenging time.

And while we're working hard to get things back to normal by using temporary satellite links, they don't have the same capacity as our usual fiber connections to our cell sites. Customers might notice slower speeds and have trouble with data-heavy apps for now. We suggest sticking to calls and texts, and if you're on a metered hotspot plan, don't worry about overages, but you might see slower speeds once you hit your limit.

10.2.24 Evening Update

Network restoration

We continue to make steady progress, with 72 additional sites back on air throughout the region today. However, to reach pre-storm performance, we remain largely dependent on the restoration of commercial power and fiber backhaul.

As we await power and fiber restoration, a massive 24/7 refueling operation continues to ensure those sites remain in service for Verizon customers and first responders. We continue to work with fiber providers, as well as state and government agencies to coordinate on priority restoration where possible. We will not stop until all service in impacted communities is restored.

Supporting the front lines

10.2.24 Update

We continue to make steady progress, as we restored a number of cell sites overnight. As sites come back online , we are able to redeploy resources such as mobile satellite assets and portable generators to support additional areas in need of relief. Massive 24/7 refueling operations continue to ensure those sites without commercial power remain in service for Verizon customers and first responders. We continue to work with fiber providers, as well as state and government agencies to coordinate on priority restoration where possible. We will not stop until all service in impacted communities is restored.

Key updates and focus areas for today:

Community Relief:

In light of Hurricane Helene and the massive devastation it left behind, Verizon is reinforcing its commitment to the communities it serves by donating a total of $325,000 directly to local organizations working in the impacted areas. As so many work to rebuild their homes and livelihoods, this funding is intended to support local relief efforts, not just for the coming days, but in the weeks and months ahead.

10.1.24 Evening Update

We continue to make steady progress and as of 4pm EST, we have restored 60% of the sites that were impacted by the storm. There is still a tremendous amount of work ahead of us, but our teams know how vital connection is, especially at a time like this, and will not stop until all service in the area is restored.

Key progress today includes:

Western North Carolina

While there are still several areas that are not accessible, we are making progress with road clearing and fiber backhaul repair. There is an extensive 24x7 refueling and maintenance operation to ensure our permanent and temporary generators remain fully operational. Verizon continues to move temporary cell sites into the area to provide communication, including drones, which provide the flexibility to access difficult-to-reach places high above thick tree-covered areas, which is a tremendous need in the areas that have been impacted, such as western North Carolina.

Upstate South Carolina

We continue to see progress with power restoration and fiber backhaul repair, leading to more sites resuming normal service. Verizon engineers continue to deploy alternate connection methods including satellite links and microwave links to provide service for customers. Massive refueling operations continue throughout the state to keep permanent and portable generators running.

Eastern Georgia

In east Georgia, we’ve seen more restoration of service, with improvements in Waycross, Hazelhurst, Douglas, and the stretch between Vidalia and Lyons. We have deployed 14 large-capacity satellite solutions across the region to provide interim connectivity until service is permanently restored.

Verizon’s Network engineers, Frontline, DIRT (Dedicated Impact Response Team) and MERIT (Major Emergency Response Incident Team) are all working very closely with local power providers, backhaul fiber vendors, local emergency operation centers, first responders, local and state government agencies to prioritize wireless service and provide our customers with essential connectivity.

Community Relief:

In light of Hurricane Helene and the massive devastation it left behind, Verizon is reinforcing its commitment to the communities it serves by donating a total of $325,000 directly to local organizations working in the impacted areas. As so many work to rebuild their homes and livelihoods, this funding is intended to support local relief efforts, not just for the coming days, but in the weeks and months ahead.

10.1.24 Update

Restoration efforts continue throughout the Southeast where Hurricane Helene caused historic damage and flooding. Verizon Emergency Operations Centers are open 24x7 managing the storm response and field teams are making great progress, though there is still significant work ahead.

Key areas of recovery efforts today include:

WNC

We were able to bring nearly 100 sites up in Western North Carolina overnight, providing critical communications infrastructure for residents and first responders, however there is still tremendous work to do in the area. While conditions slowly improve in western NC, flooding and massive storm damage are still prohibiting engineers from accessing many sites. 

For cell sites that do not have significant equipment damage, but are also stranded without power or fiber connections, Verizon engineers are deploying massive numbers of portable generators and are using alternate methods for connecting cell towers to the network including satellite links and microwave links. With full commercial power restoration still potentially several days out, we will continue to maintain massive refueling and maintenance operations to ensure our permanent and temporary generators remain fully operational. With over 60 dedicated fuelers in the Western North Carolina region alone, Verizon refueling efforts are running 24x7.

While permanent repairs are being made, Verizon is moving temporary cell sites into the area to provide communication and are flying two drones in the market which are providing cellular coverage from the sky.

Upstate of SC

With power restoration accelerating throughout South Carolina, we are starting to see more fiber and cell sites resume normal service, allowing our engineers to focus on the areas hardest hit and still difficult to access including McCormick and rural western South Carolina along the Georgia border. 

For those sites where fiber (the connecting cables between cell sites and the rest of the network) are damaged or without electricity, Verizon engineers continue to deploy alternate connection methods including satellite links and microwave links to provide service for customers.

Massive refueling operations continue throughout the state to keep permanent and portable generators running.

GA

Significant progress was made in Georgia overnight. In particular, Moultrie and Statesville are back on commercial power and we saw sites in those areas restored service overnight.

Engineers will be focusing much of their work today in key areas to restore service in Vidalia, West Augusta, Waycross, Long County and Fargo. With fiber damage, engineers are working to deploy alternative connections to cell towers in those areas including microwave and satellite backhaul. In Wrens, GA, the storm toppled a tower, so engineers today are moving a Tower on Wheels (TOW) to restore service for that community.

Crews continue working to gain access to the final few towers that have not previously been accessible, cutting through dense debris to access damage to equipment, provide temporary power through generators and begin repairs to restore service.

Refueling efforts continue in earnest throughout Georgia to keep permanent and portable generators powering cell sites.

Additional efforts

Verizon has deployed mobile cell sites and equipment to support more than 53 public safety and government agencies providing community support through EOCs, first responders and shelters. Those assets will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Tactical command trailers have been deployed to support public safety in North Carolina. We are in contact with federal, state and local emergency management teams and are coordinating communication needs and efforts with them.

For those without service or power who need to reach loved ones and resources or simply need to charge their devices, resources have been set up throughout the community to do that. Three WECCs (Wireless Emergency Command Center) will be open to any member of the public and are generator-powered mobile units that have device charging and cellular and wifi to contact friends, family and other important contacts over the Verizon network. These services will be operational 24/7 and can be found at:

In addition, charging stations were provided at the following locations in Florida:

As a reminder, Verizon is offering unlimited calling, texting and data for its prepaid and postpaid customers who live in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene from September 26 - October 5,, 2024. This will bring relief to the thousands of consumer and small business customers* who rely on their mobile devices now more than ever.

9.30.24 Evening Update

What you need to know:

• Engineers continue to make progress in network restoration, but a substantial amount of work remains in the hardest hit areas.
• More than 70 temporary assets have been deployed to shore up service until permanent repairs can be completed.
• Verizon is providing free device charging and workstations to customers of any provider at its Wireless Emergency Command Centers stationed throughout the region.
• Residents can help response efforts by utilizing 811 to prevent any fiber cuts.

Restoration efforts continue:

Significant progress has been made in Florida, with only a small number of sites still being addressed. Engineers continue to make progress with network restoration in Upstate South Carolina. In east Georgia we are seeing more restoration of service in Statesboro, Douglas, and the immediate surrounding area west of downtown Augusta, as well as along the I-95 corridor and along I-82 out of Waycross.

However, a substantial amount of work remains in the hardest hit areas. With recent access to South Appalachia, we have been deploying a large number of assets and temporary backhaul units to restore service. We are also working closely with our fiber providers in this area to restore service as quickly as possible and will not stop until all service in the area is restored.

Verizon’s engineers, Frontline Crisis Response, DIRT (Dedicated Impact Response Team) and MERIT (Major Emergency Response Incident Team) are all working very closely with local power providers, telco vendors, local emergency operation centers, first responders, local and state government agencies to prioritize wireless service and provide our customers with essential connectivity.

We have aggressively deployed more than 70 temporary mobile assets including a HAWK (High Altitude Wireless Kennewhat) cell-enabled tethered drone that provides cell service from the air, as well as a number of high-capacity mobile assets including COWs (Cell on Wheels), COLTs (Cell on Light Trucks), STEERs (Satellite Trailer Emitting Equipment Remote), BISON (Business Inclusive Satellite Onboard Nomadic), STUDs (Satellite Trailer Universal Design) and SPOTs (Satellite Pico-cell on Trailer).

Community Relief

For those without service or power who need to reach loved ones and resources or simply need to charge their devices, resources have been set up throughout the community to do that. Three WECCs (Wireless Emergency Command Center) will be open to any member of the public and are generator-powered mobile units that have device charging and cellular and wifi to contact friends, family and other important contacts over the Verizon network. These services will be operational 24/7 and can be found at:

In addition, charging stations were provided at the following locations in Florida:

How you can help

We continue to deploy temporary satellite assets to restore critical connectivity across the region, but satellite links have far less capacity than the fiber typically used for connecting cell sites to the rest of the network. Customers may experience slower speeds and capacity constraints until fiber connections can be permanently restored, so we recommend using text and call and to avoid data-heavy applications.

Debris clean up and property repair are important tasks after a storm, but fiber is extremely delicate. Before beginning to clean up and make repairs, we encourage residents to call 811 or visit call811.com to determine where fiber or other cables are buried. Contacting 811 before any digging project, large or small, is the easiest step toward reducing the chance of damaging underground fiber and keeping customers and first responders connected in critical moments.

9.29.24 Evening Update

Hurricane Helene, one of the most intense storms to make landfall in recent history, brought massive devastation throughout the southeast resulting in extensive power outages, unprecedented flooding and widespread fiber damage.

Restoration efforts continue

Despite widespread power outages and fiber damage, network recovery work continued in earnest throughout the day. Verizon engineers are working with fuel vendors to continue our massive refueling efforts, keeping permanent and portable generators providing power to our cell sites running. Fiber cables, which connect cell sites to the rest of the network, have been broken or are without power in many places throughout the region, and teams are working to restore those connections or move alternative forms of connectivity such as microwave or satellite in place. More than 20 mobile satellite assets have been deployed to provide temporary connection to cellular towers to get them back on air while waiting for permanent fiber restoration to be completed. There are an additional 21 assets being mobilized to provide further support.

Across the region, we are working very closely with local power providers, telco vendors, local emergency operation centers, first responders, local and state government agencies to prioritize wireless service and provide our customers with essential connectivity.

We are also working to support local emergency management efforts with the deployment of a Tactical Command Trailer, as well as three WECCs (Wireless Emergency Command Center), with two stationed in Asheville, NC and the other in Chuckey, TN. The WECCs, which will be placed on Monday, September 30, will be open to the public and are generator-powered mobile units that have device charging and computer workstations, as well as wireless phones, tablets and other devices to contact friends, family and other important contacts over the Verizon network.

Network impact

While we have been successful in restoring service in Florida and parts of Georgia and South Carolina, we continue to experience service impacts in parts of the Southeast due to prolonged power outages, massive flooding, access restrictions, and extensive fiber damage.

Western North Carolina:

We are seeing slow but steady progress, with additional cell sites back on air. Thanks to a close working relationship with the state Department of Transportation, governor’s office and local emergency response leaders, and with the opening of I-26 earlier today, we have been able to move temporary assets into the Asheville area. Earlier today, we deployed a HAWK (High Altitude Wireless Kennewhat) cell-enabled tethered drone that provides cell service from the air, as well as a number of high-capacity mobile assets including COWs (Cell on Wheels), COLTs (Cell on Light Trucks), STEERs (Satellite Trailer Emitting Equipment Remote), and SPOTs (Satellite Pico-cell on Trailer). We continue to work with our backhaul vendors on fiber restoration.

Upstate of South Carolina:

In Upstate of South Carolina, service remains degraded in the counties of Greenville, Spartanburg and Laurens counties. Engineers and crews have completed site surveys for the majority of towers in the Upstate. Massive refueling operations are underway to keep sites in areas without commercial power online. Engineers continue to move in temporary assets to fortify the network and to work with power and fiber providers to determine expected restoration times.

Eastern Georgia:

There have been continued improvements in eastern Georgia, as service was restored from Valdosta to Waycross along SR 84, as well as on Tybee Island. Engineers and crews remain focused on the areas of Douglas, Vidalia, Sparta, Wrens, Swainsboro, and McRae-Helena. There has been aggressive deployment of temporary mobile assets, with 12 satellite-enabled mobile cell sites already deployed, and three more enroute from Florida and as far away as New Hampshire. Crews also continue their massive refueling operation to support the nearly 400 generators that are currently in use due to commercial power restoration delays. We are partnering with power and fiber providers to determine expected restoration times.

Florida:

While much of Florida has been restored, including LongBoat Key, some customers in central north Florida may experience scattered service degradation. Engineers have deployed a SAT-COLT (Satellite Cell on Light Truck) to support connectivity in Madeira beach until commercial power and fiber backhaul are restored.

Verizon Frontline is Keeping First Responders Connected

The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team stands ready to help ensure that public safety agencies on the front lines of any potential disaster have the mission-critical communications capabilities needed to achieve their missions. This team, composed primarily of former first responders and military personnel, is solely dedicated to supporting public safety customers during emergencies at no cost to the supported agencies. In support of Hurricane Helene, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team has responded to requests for mission-critical communications support from more than 43 different public safety agencies in Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina, delivering more than 93 solutions.

Call/Text/Data usage to be waived

Verizon has also announced plans to support customers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene, by waiving postpaid domestic call/text/data usage from Sept. 26-Oct. 5. This will bring relief to the thousands of customers who are relying on their mobile devices now more than ever, especially during this challenging time.

**Editor’s Note: To access images and b-roll of past storms, Verizon equipment, recovery efforts and more, please visit Verizon’s Emergency Resource Hub at https://www.verizon.com/about/news/emergency-resource-center

9.29.24 Update

Hurricane Helene, one of the most intense storms to make landfall in recent history, brought massive devastation throughout the southeast resulting in extensive power outages, unprecedented flooding and widespread fiber damage.

Restoration efforts continue

Verizon is committed to keeping our customers and public safety partners connected and our crews will be out working until connectivity is fully restored to all, but there is still a tremendous amount of work ahead of us. Network restoration work continues this morning, as many of the cables that connect cell sites to the rest of the network have been damaged or are without power; crews are working to restore those connections to cell sites as quickly as possible. In addition, massive refueling operations to ensure those sites without commercial power remain in service for Verizon customers and first responders. We have aggressively deployed mobile assets to assist in providing connectivity until full restoration of commercial power and fiber repair. There are a large number of additional mobile assets en route from across the country to aid recovery efforts, with more crews and resources on the way to help support restoration.

Across the region, we are working very closely with local power providers, telco vendors, local emergency operation centers, first responders, local and state government agencies to prioritize wireless service and provide our customers with essential connectivity.

Network impact

While we have been successful in restoring service to much of the region, we continue to experience service impacts in parts of the Southeast due to prolonged power outages and extensive fiber damage.

Western North Carolina:

The unprecedented floods in the western North Carolina area caused massive devastation and extremely hazardous conditions. Access into the region, as well as moving within the area, have been an insurmountable challenge the last few days. We are working closely with the state Department of Transportation, governor’s office and local emergency response leaders to find and create ways to move our engineers and critical equipment into the area to restore connectivity to the area as quickly as possible. We have deployed a mobile asset to support an evacuation zone in Hendersonville, NC, deployed satellite assets to support key emergency operations centers, as well as a cell-enabled tethered drone. With the opening of I-26 earlier this morning, we will be aggressively deploying a number of high-capacity mobile assets including COWs (Cell on Wheels), COLTs (Cell on Light Trucks), STEERs (Satellite Trailer Emitting Equipment Remote), and SPOTs (Satellite Pico-cell on Trailer). In addition, overnight, we had a number of cell sites restored on the corridor between Greenville, SC and Asheville, NC. We are also working with our backhaul vendors to begin fiber restoration.

Upstate of South Carolina:

In Upstate of South Carolina, service remains degraded in the counties of Greenville, Spartanburg and Laurens counties. Engineers and crews have completed site surveys for the majority of towers in the Upstate, are undergoing massive refueling operations to keep sites in areas without commercial power online, and are moving in temporary assets to fortify the network.

Eastern Georgia:

There have been significant improvements in eastern Georgia, however, Echols County straight up through just north of Jefferson County continues to experience service impacts. Engineers and crews are currently focused on the areas of Douglas, Vidalia, West Augusta, Sparta, Wrens, Swainsboro, McRae-Helena. There has been aggressive deployment of satellite assets, including a HAWK (High Altitude Wireless Kennewhat) on Tybee Island, which will continue due to delays in fiber restoration in more rural areas. There is also a massive refueling operation to support generators due to commercial power restoration delays.

Florida:

While much of Florida has been restored, customers continue to be impacted from Redington Beach down to Mitchell Beach, as well Horseshoe Beach up North Central Florida to the Georgia border. Engineers have deployed mobile assets, including SAT-COLTs (Satellite Cell on Light Truck) and a STEER (Satellite Trailer Emitting Equipment Remote) to support connectivity until commercial power and fiber backhaul are restored. Site surveys have been completed and crews are currently working on a refuel operation to keep sites in areas without commercial power online.

Verizon Frontline is Keeping First Responders Connected

The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team stands ready to help ensure that public safety agencies on the front lines of any potential disaster have the mission-critical communications capabilities needed to achieve their missions. This team, composed primarily of former first responders and military personnel, is solely dedicated to supporting public safety customers during emergencies at no cost to the supported agencies. In support of Hurricane Helene, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team has responded to requests for mission-critical communications support from more than 30 different public safety agencies in Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina, delivering more than 80 solutions.

Call/Text/Data usage to be waived

Verizon has also announced plans to support customers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene, by waiving postpaid domestic call/text/data usage from Sept. 26-Oct. 5. This will bring relief to the thousands of customers who are relying on their mobile devices now more than ever, especially during this challenging time.

**Editor’s Note: To access images and b-roll of past storms, Verizon equipment, recovery efforts and more, please visit Verizon’s Emergency Resource Hub at https://www.verizon.com/about/news/emergency-resource-center

9.28.24 Update

Hurricane Helene, one of the most intense storms to make landfall in recent history, brought massive devastation throughout the southeast resulting in extensive power outages, unprecedented flooding and widespread fiber damage.

Impact to the network and restoration efforts

While the redundancies and fortification built into the network withstood much of Helene’s fury, we are experiencing service impacts in parts of north Florida, eastern Georgia, the Upstate of South Carolina, Western North Carolina and the Eastern portion of Tennessee. We have seen improvements in Florida, although we continue to see network impacts due to flooding and commercial power loss along the coastline near Tampa, as well as a few areas in the northern part of the state between Tallahassee and Jacksonville. The core of key population centers in the eastern part of Georgia, such as Valdosta, Savannah, and Augusta, are beginning to see some recovery, thanks to restoration efforts and with existing overlapping coverage, customers who were impacted are beginning to see limited service available. In the Western Carolinas, we continue to see significant impact to the network, with historic flooding and damage in the area making access and recovery difficult.

Our teams are committed to keeping our customers and public safety partners connected and they will be out working until connectivity is fully restored to all, but there is still a tremendous amount of work ahead of us. Network restoration work continues this morning. With power outages widespread throughout Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, many cell sites are running on backup power as designed, and massive refueling operations are underway to ensure those sites without commercial power remain in service for Verizon customers and first responders. Many fiber cables, the cables that connect cell sites to the rest of the network, have been damaged or are without power, so we are working to restore connections to cell sites as quickly as possible. We have already deployed several alternate connections to bring those sites back online. Additional mobile assets being deployed throughout the impacted area include:

STEER | Satellite trailers which support the restoration of macro cells when fiber is unavailable..

COLT | Mobile cell site equipment with onboard masts contained on a truck.

SPOT | Mobile, satellite-based connectivity trailer supporting first responders.

BISON | Multipurpose trailer that can be deployed as a temporary satellite connection or full mobile cell site.

HAWK | Tethered drone capable of providing service from the air.

STUD | Trailer-based satellite dish capable of functioning as a temporary satellite connection or full mobile cell site.

Hundreds of crews are in the field, and we are expecting dozens more today from across the county. Verizon engineers will continue working non-stop, however, our crews continue to be challenged by hazardous road conditions and the massive devastation as a result of the storm. Those in the areas of impact understand the massive devastation, with downed trees, debris and flooding creating extremely hazardous conditions for Verizon’s crews and vendors.

Verizon Frontline is Keeping First Responders Connected

The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team stands ready to help ensure that public safety agencies on the front lines of any potential disaster have the mission-critical communications capabilities needed to achieve their missions. This team, composed primarily of former first responders and military personnel, is solely dedicated to supporting public safety customers during emergencies at no cost to the supported agencies. In support of Hurricane Helene, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team has responded to requests for mission-critical communications support from more than 20 different public safety agencies in Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina.

9.27.24 Update

Hurricane Helene, one of the most intense storms to make landfall in recent history, brought massive devastation throughout the area resulting in power outages and fiber damage.

Impact to the network

With power outages widespread throughout Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina many cell sites are running on backup power as designed, and massive refueling operations are underway to ensure those sites without commercial power remain in service for Verizon customers and first responders. Customers in Florida are seeing network impacts along the coastline near Tampa, as well as the northern part of the state from Tallahassee to Jacksonville. Eastern Georgia was impacted by the storm, with customers in and around Savannah, Valdosta, and Augusta, seeing outages. In the Carolinas, customers are experiencing service impacts from Greenville, SC up through Western North Carolina.

The fiber infrastructure, needed to carry data traffic from cell sites to the core command centers of the network, was damaged in some areas with a number of cuts from the high winds, debris and flooding caused by the storm. Teams are evaluating alternate connections to bring those sites back online. For sites which are currently not in service across the impacted communities, site assessments and repairs will begin as soon as it is safe to do so, and Verizon crews and vendors will be working around the clock to restore service as quickly as possible.

Asistencia adicional

Ahead of the storm, Verizon's engineers undertook steadfast preparation measures to ensure resources were in place for rapid response. An extensive fleet of portable network assets were staged across the region. These include generator-powered cell sites, drones, satellite-based portable network assets, and mobile generators to assist communities in maintaining or restoring connectivity. Additionally, members of Verizon’s highly specialized DIRT (Dedicated Impact Response Team) and MERIT (Major Incident Response Incident Team) were deployed to the region to aid in response efforts.

How you can help

Debris clean up and property repair are important tasks after a storm. Before beginning to clean up and make repairs, call 811 or visit call811.com to determine where fiber or other cables are buried. Contacting 811 before any digging project, large or small, is the easiest step toward reducing the chance of damaging underground fiber and keeping customers and first responders connected in critical moments. Fiber is the invisible footprint that moves data throughout Verizon’s network across the country and around the world. Cutting those cables when digging can result in customers losing service and data connections being lost. So before storm clean up begins, call 811.

**Editor’s Note: To access images and b-roll of past storms, Verizon equipment, recovery efforts and more, please visit Verizon’s Emergency Resource Hub at https://www.verizon.com/about/news/emergency-resource-center

ALPHARETTA, GA – As potential Hurricane Helene approaches the Florida coast, Verizon remains committed to keeping communities and first responders connected. Verizon's Response Team has prepared year-round to respond to extreme weather situations, like hurricanes, by taking part in emergency drills, fortifying the network infrastructure, and ensuring resources are mobilized for rapid response.

“Verizon is committed to keeping communities connected. From consumers, to businesses, to first responders, Verizon offers the dependable service they need to face Hurricane Helene and the days to come,” said Atlantic South Market President, Leigh Anne Lanier. “Our dedicated team is working around the clock to ensure our customers stay informed, stay in touch with loved ones, and access critical services when they need them most.”

Verizon’s networks are primed

Verizon's networks are primed to maintain connectivity even in the face of extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes. With redundancy built into critical paths and components, Verizon's network is engineered to withstand severe weather. Verizon engineers have prepared by conducting thorough checks, as well as ensuring backup systems, like batteries and generators, are operational and refueled.

In preparation for potential network recovery operations, Verizon has bolstered its arsenal with:

• A fleet of over 550 portable network assets, including generator-powered cell sites, drones, and a fixed-wing aircraft for aerial support.
• An industry-leading nearly 300 satellite-based portable network assets, providing crucial connectivity in scenarios where fiber connections are compromised.
• More than 1,000 mobile generators to assist communities in maintaining or restoring connectivity, and rapid recovery efforts.

Verizon Frontline stands at the ready, prepared to assist first responders in any capacity needed

The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team stands ready to help ensure that public safety agencies on the front line of any potential disaster have the mission-critical communications capabilities needed to achieve their missions. This team, composed primarily of former first responders and military personnel, is solely dedicated to supporting public safety customers during emergencies at no cost to the supported agencies.

In the first nine months of 2024, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team has responded to more than 1,000 requests for mission-critical communications support from more than 500 different agencies in 46 states.

Being prepared is essential to support local businesses and communities

Recognizing the critical role of connectivity in business continuity, Verizon Business provides a suite of solutions tailored for seamless operations during emergencies. Businesses and government organizations need the right game plan. Suggested actions include:

Are you hurricane ready?

Verizon’s team works year-round to ensure customers remain connected to their loved ones and the activities that provide comfort during a disaster. As residents prepare to stay connected and entertained, consider these tips:

• Stock Up on power supplies like batteries for flashlights and radios or device chargers. Take it a step further by charging your devices that can act as chargers for other devices like laptops and party box speakers. Don’t forget to ensure you have the cables!
• Download Movies, Books, Apps and Games or gather board games, card games and puzzles to go device-free.
• Locate materials for hobbies like knitting or drawing, and get creative.
• Plan activities like cooking easy-to-make meals and even no-bake treats. Keep a few non-perishable ingredients, a manual can opener and other kitchen tools on hand.
• Grab some candles, blankets, pillows or anything that makes your space cozy.
• Read up on the American Red Cross’ hurricane preparedness tips.

**Editor’s Note: To access images and b-roll of past storms, Verizon equipment, recovery efforts and more, please visit Verizon’s Emergency Resource Hub at https://www.verizon.com/about/news/emergency-resource-center