HURRICANE RITA
T-Mobile is preparing for the potential impact of Hurricane Rita. The
T-Mobile Disaster Recovery Team stands ready at several command
centers within close proximity of the areas expected to be hit hardest
-- enabling teams of technicians to mobilize, as soon as conditions
permit, to work to restore service to cell sites that may be affected
by the storm.
In the event of widespread power outages throughout the Texas and
Louisiana Gulf Coast, T-Mobile has more than 10,000 gallons of fuel
accessible and ready-to-roll into the affected areas to power cell
site generators and company repair/transport vehicles, and for other
emergency circumstances. T-Mobile also has on-demand access to
thousands of gallons of additional fuel from suppliers.
To help protect its core network, T-Mobile has fortified its network
switch operations serving the greater Houston market, and continues to
reinforce its switch in New Orleans, which remained operable through
Hurricane Katrina.
Microwave equipment has been trucked into the region to facilitate
data communication from the cell sites to T-Mobile's network switches,
as backup, in the event T1 fixed line service fails.
T-Mobile has dozens of generators and several Cells-On-Wheels (COWs)
on standby to support wireless communications to areas hardest hit by
the storm.
The company also is coordinating recovery efforts with local and state
officials, as well as with U.S. Homeland Security and the FCC.n
T-Mobile Customer Tips
In order to better facilitate communication between families and loved
ones, and to alleviate anticipated network congestion before, during
and after the storm, T-Mobile recommends its customers follow these
important tips:
Utilize text messaging to communicate instead of voice calls. Text
messaging has a greater success rate in getting through the network
during high-usage periods versus voice calls.
Keep your voice calls short in duration.
Make sure your phone is fully charged prior to the storm. Consider
obtaining a vehicle charger in the event of power loss.
For T-Mobile Customer Care assistance, please visit
http://my.t-mobile.com, call 611 from your T-Mobile handset, or dial
1-800-937-8997.
HURRICANE KATRINA
T-Mobile has restored its wireless coverage in the Gulf Coast areas
hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina to either normal service levels or
near normal service levels. T-Mobile's Disaster Recovery Team, working
around the clock following Katrina's devastation, has repaired or
restored service to many of its existing cell sites in Louisiana,
Mississippi and Alabama damaged by the hurricane.
If you are a T-Mobile customer in a FEMA-designated disaster area of
Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama, click here for a summary of relief
steps T-Mobile has taken to support its impacted customers. For
questions, please visit a local T-Mobile retail store (click here for
the retail store locator), call 611 from your T-Mobile handset, or
dial 1-800-937-8997.
Deutsche Telekom AG, parent company of T-Mobile, plans to donate
approximately $2 million to assist in supporting the educational needs
of children affected by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The
company said it is exploring the specific form its donation will take
and plans to announce those details as they become available.
T-Mobile customers who wish to donate to the American Red Cross can
easily do so by Text Messaging 2HELP. Through the Text 2HELP campaign,
customers of participating wireless carriers can send a text message
to 2HELP (24357) containing the message HELP and a $5 tax-deductible
donation will be made to relief efforts. Donations will appear on
customers monthly bills or be debited from prepaid account
balances. The Text 2HELP campaign will continue through October 31,
2005.
Contacts Information
For Customers:
From your T-Mobile phone, dial 611 free of charge.
You may also call us toll free at 1-800-937-8997.
Joseph (JoeOfSeattle@yahoo.com)