The 2019 hurricane season officially starts June 1 and we’re ready to respond!
Preparation is Key
We’ve been preparing for hurricane season for the past several months by testing our network’s backup systems and developing plans that will allow us to quickly mobilize to support our T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers and their communities.
We work closely with several weather services, including the National Weather Service, to monitor all potential storm activity and plan for our potential response. This includes local and national command centers and advanced logistical preparation that enables rapid response in the immediate aftermath of a storm.
Other ways we prepare ahead of a storm:
- Our Network Operation Centers (NOCs) monitor demand on our network and manage traffic as needed.
- We deploy engineers, field technicians and community relief teams to make sure we have the right people in the places they’re needed most.
- T-Mobile relief trucks are loaded with emergency equipment and supplies and placed as close as possible to impact zones to enable rapid response.
We also encourage T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers to prepare ahead of a storm and help themselves stay connected:
- Update your family, friends and emergency services contact numbers. Make sure they’re saved and backed up.
- If you’re planning to evacuate, let your family and friends know your evacuation plan, where you’re going and how to reach you.
- Connect with local authorities’ social networks to learn about new developments before, during and after a disaster.
- Have charging cables handy and consider investing in a charging device like an external battery that doesn’t need a power outlet.
- Make sure your phone supports Wireless Emergency Alerts and that you have enabled notifications on your device. Visit www.t-mobile.com/wea for details on how to set up alerts on T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile devices.
- Set up Wi-Fi Calling on your phone. For Apple phones, go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling; and for Android phones, go to Settings > More Connection Settings > Wi-Fi Calling.
Recovery Efforts
No matter how much T-Mobile prepares ahead of a storm, power outages and other communication service interruptions could still happen. We work closely with emergency response authorities in affected locations and, as soon as it is safe to do so, deploy teams to begin any network restoration, generator refueling and community support.
T-Mobile uses a wide array of technology solutions to quickly restore service to our customers, including portable generators, refueling services, Cells on Wheels (COWs), Cells on Light Trucks (CoLTS) and temporary backhaul solutions in the event that fiber connectivity is damaged.
In the immediate aftermath of a hurricane, mobile service might be interrupted or patchy. We suggest T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers try the following to stay connected:
- If you have home broadband and power but no mobile service, try Wi-Fi calling, which allows T-Mobile customers with capable devices to text and make and receive voice calls via any capable Wi-Fi connection. IMPORTANT: If you have to call 911 using Wi-Fi, be sure to give your address to the operator.
- If you have a connection to the T-Mobile network, keep calls to a minimum and as short as possible. This helps reduce the load on our network so others can get through.
- Send a text instead of making a call. Text messages get through easier during times of congestion.
More Information
There are many options for customers and the community to stay up to date on response and recovery efforts:
- Check the T-Mobile Newsroom.
- Follow T-Mobile Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray on Twitter.
- Call 611 from your T-Mobile or Metro by T-Mobile handset.
- Get the latest storm forecasts online from NOAA’s National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center.
- Read more about how T-Mobile prepares for and responds to disaster events at the T-Mobile website.