One suggestion: instead of voice calls, send text messages. They'll most likely go through faster than voice calls and will help keep networks free for emergency personnel.

Elena Malykhina, Technology Journalist

September 23, 2005

1 Min Read

After witnessing the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, Gulf Coast residents are preparing for the worst with Hurricane Rita. Traffic jams have turned Houston's outbound highways into parking lots, and for many of those that stay in the area, power loss is almost inevitable.

Many people may be left with a single means of communication—their cell phones. That's why the major cellular carriers, including Cingular, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint, plan to provide cell-phone users with the resources they might need during an emergency.

Both Cingular and Verizon Wireless have fleets of mobile cellular sites that can be driven to locations that need extra network capacity. Cingular also has trailers ready to dispense that can provide antenna back-up if a tower is out of service.

Verizon says it will set up wireless emergency communication centers to serve residents and rescue workers in need. Sprint Nextel's Emergency Response Team also is standing by to help. It can be reached 24 hours-a-day at 888-639-0200. Sprint Nextel has staged backup generators and personnel in Texas Gulf Coast areas to deal with service disruptions.

These carriers collectively suggest that Gulf Coast residents take the following precautions:

About the Author(s)

Elena Malykhina

Technology Journalist

Elena Malykhina began her career at The Wall Street Journal, and her writing has appeared in various news media outlets, including Scientific American, Newsday, and the Associated Press. For several years, she was the online editor at Brandweek and later Adweek, where she followed the world of advertising. Having earned the nickname of "gadget girl," she is excited to be writing about technology again for InformationWeek, where she worked in the past as an associate editor covering the mobile and wireless space. She now writes about the federal government and NASA’s space missions on occasion.

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