-- Keep phones, batteries, chargers and other equipment in a dry, accessible location.
-- Maintain a list of emergency numbers - police and fire agencies; power and insurance companies; family, friends and co-workers; etc. - and program them into your phone.
-- Distribute wireless phone numbers to family members and friends.
-- ICE - store the number of a person to contact in your phone under ICE - In Case of Emergency, so authorities know who to call.
-- Forward your home phone calls to your wireless number if you evacuate.
-- Check weather and news reports on wireless phone applications when power is out. Free apps for iPhone and Android include The Weather Channel, Weather Bug, Weather HD, AccuWeather, GO Weather, Red Cross, plus many more.
Maintaining battery power is a key issue in cases of emergency, and the following tips will help keep your wireless devices available:
-- Keep wireless phone batteries fully charged and have additional charged batteries, car-charger adapters and universal USB power packs available for back-up power.
-- 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.
-- Establish an "on air" time for your family members to power up phone or other device to take calls or messages; then leave your device off in between those times.
-- Turn off data services and WIFI when not using these functions.
To ensure Florida customers have access to the most reliable wireless services in the event of severe weather and other emergencies, Verizon Wireless has enhanced its industry-leading network with numerous initiatives. These include new cell sites and the rapid expansion of the company's most advanced 4G LTE network throughout the state; contingency planning with state and local emergency officials; a fleet of mobile communication units to respond to hard-hit areas; new in-building network systems at hospitals, government and emergency facilities, airports, high-traffic venues and other key public safety locations; and enhancing the company's five "super-switch" network processing centers across the state which are designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes.
For more safety information, visit www.verizonwireless.com.
(Editor's Note: For more information on emergency preparation, contact Chuck Hamby at 813-404-6029).About Verizon Wireless
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 94.2 million retail customers, including 88.8 million retail postpaid customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 78,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: 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.