Storms Churn in Atlantic While Claudette Moves Inland; Verizon Wireless Offers Tips...

Storms Churn in Atlantic While Claudette Moves Inland; Verizon Wireless Offers
Tips to Louisiana Residents

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- With Tropical Depression Ana and
Hurricane Bill churning in the Atlantic Ocean, and Tropical Storm Claudette
moving further inland, Louisiana residents are urged to finalize their
emergency communication plans for the 2009 Tropical Hurricane Season.

Verizon Wireless, which operates the nation's largest and most reliable
wireless network, offers residents these tips to be safer during strong
weather and other emergencies:

-- Keep wireless phone batteries fully charged -- in case local power is
lost -- well before warnings are issued.
-- Have additional charged batteries and car-charger adapters available
for
back-up power.
-- Keep phones, batteries, chargers and other equipment in a dry,
accessible location.
-- Keep a list of emergency phone numbers -- police, fire, and rescue
agencies; insurance providers; and family, friends and co-workers --
programmed into your phone.
-- Distribute wireless phone numbers to family members and friends.

-- Forward your home phone calls to your wireless number if you will be
away from your home or have to evacuate.

If a storm already is striking or threatening, Verizon Wireless suggests these
tips:

-- Limit non-emergency calls to conserve battery power and free up
wireless
networks for emergency agencies and operations.
-- Send brief text messages rather than voice calls for the same reasons
as
above.

-- Check weather/news reports available on wireless phone applications
when
power is out.

"Thorough preparation is the key to staying safe and in touch during
emergencies," said Kay Henze, president, Houston/Gulf Coast region, Verizon
Wireless. "Residents should take prudent steps now, just as our teams have
been in preparing the network to provide strong coverage and services to
residents and emergency responders, no matter the situation."

Verizon Wireless has continued the intensive investments and preparations that
proved critical during and after past years' storm seasons. In the aftermath
of even the most devastating hurricanes such as Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav,
the Verizon Wireless network in Louisiana remained strong while many other
wireless communication networks struggled to serve emergency response
officials and residents. Verizon Wireless has invested nearly $59 million in
Louisiana since the start of the 2008 Tropical Hurricane Season -- these new
technologies, facilities and network-strengthening efforts are part of an
overall investment nearing $192 million in south Louisiana since 2006.

Verizon Wireless network technicians traveled nearly 15,000 miles across the
state this past year in vehicles (each valued at $250,000, equipped with
phones, wireless data devices and computers) to measure the quality of voice
and data calls on Verizon Wireless and other carriers. In voice testing
conducted in affected areas just days after Hurricane Gustav, Verizon Wireless
showed a 97 percent success rate in calls versus its competitors, who only had
an average 78 percent success rate.

Additional highlights of the Verizon Wireless 2009 Tropical Hurricane Season
preparation and network enhancement include:

-- A comprehensive emergency response plan, including preparing emergency
command centers across Louisiana in the case of a storm or other
crisis.
-- The company operates a fleet of dozens of Cells on Wheels (COWs),
Cells
on Light Trucks (COLTs), and Generators on Trailers (GOaTs) that can
be
rolled into 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.
-- The completion of the Verizon Wireless 3G high-speed wireless network
throughout the state, allowing customers to access advanced wireless
services more reliably and at even faster broadband speeds.

-- Updating and optimizing technology at regional network switching
facilities throughout the state. All of the company's "super
switches," which are designed to withstand hurricane force winds,
are equipped with large-scale back-up power generation.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless
voice and data network, serving 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in
Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 employees nationwide, Verizon
Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone
(NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To
preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills
of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia
Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless

Gretchen LeJeune, +1-713-219-8028, Gretchen.LeJeune@verizonwireless.com