Communications Companies Prepare for Hurricane Irene

Area communications companies are preparing for Hurricane Irene this weekend.

Cox Communications has a business continuity plan for situations such as hurricanes. The company has initiated pre-storm preparation, which includes ensuring its employees safety while continuing to serve area residents and businesses.

Cox has decided to close its Solutions Stores in the Fairfax and Fredericksburg areas this weekend. The stores will reopen on Monday, Aug. 29 after the storm has passed. This includes the Herndon location, the Fair Oaks Mall location, the Kingstowne Town Center location and the Fredericksburg store.

The company is fully staffed with field technicians and maintenance crews, and will adjust its operational plans based on the strength and severity of the storm. Additional crews are on standby and and are ready to execute Cox's recovery plan following the storm.

Cox's recovery efforts are coordinated with Dominion Power and area emergency management agencies to ensure the safest and most effective operations following the storm. For information on Cox services before, during and after the storm, visit the Cox Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/coxnova. Updates will be posted at the site periodically.

AT&T says they are preparing to respond quickly to customers needs during and after the hurricane. The company’s global network operations command center is monitoring and maintaining the communications provider’s networks. AT&T is also working with its network disaster recovery team and emergency operations centers to ensure the company is prepared for emergencies.

AT&T is currently working to add capacity to the wireless network to accommodate increased call volumes; testing high-capacity backup batteries at cell sites; distributing extended batteries and portable generators to cell sites; and topping off generators with fuels at cell sites, among other preparations. 

Communications emergency tips:
• Have a communications plan in place, and an out-of-area contact person that all family members should reach out to in an emergency.
• Program your emergency contact numbers and email addresses into your cell phone.
• Keep your cell phone battery charged at all times. If you have them, keep extra batteries charged.
• Keep your phone dry—store it in a baggie or other place where water won’t get to it during a storm.
• Forward your home number to your wireless number in case of evacuation.
• Track the storm and emergency updates from your phone. Use local email and text services such as Fairfax County’s CEAN service, or mobile apps such as The Weather Channel's to keep track of the storm.
• Take photos on your camera phone of damaged property to send to your insurance company.