Preparedness and Rapid Response
Our commitment is to ensure Georgians stay connected through every phase of severe weather. Over the years, Georgia has faced hundreds of tornadoes and dozens of hurricanes, including Michael, Debby, and Helene. These storms disrupt lives and communities, making reliable communication essential for residents, first responders, and emergency crews.
Our experience of more than three decades in disaster response, backed by more than $1 billion invested in our Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) program, ensures we can quickly restore service when disasters impact the network. The NDR warehouse in Georgia houses an extensive fleet of deployable assets, which includes:
- Mobile cell sites, such as Cell on Wheels® (COWs), Satellite Cell on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs) and LEO Cell Trailers (LCTs).
- Mobile Command Centers and Emergency Communications Vehicles (ECVs).
- Flying COWs (Cell on Wings) and drones for rapid wireless service and site assessments.
- Basecamp operations equipped with sleeping bunks, bathrooms, and self-sustaining kitchens.
- Technology and support trailers for infrastructure needs.
- Internal and external resources for assessment, logistics, and real-time data on network impacts.
Staying Storm Ready
As hurricane season peaks, our team of more than 400 trained recovery members is prepared to deploy at a moment’s notice. We maintain thousands of portable generators, fuel trailers, and logistical equipment to support our network. Our preparation includes:
- Boosting network capacity to accommodate increased call volume.
- Testing backup batteries located at cell sites.
- Refueling generators at cell sites and switching facilities.
- Staging additional generators in strategic locations for immediate deployment once a storm has passed.
- Embedding FirstNet®, Built with AT&T personnel in state and federal emergency operations centers to help ensure first responders have the mobile connectivity and devices they need.
Additionally, our AT&T Weather Operations Center team of degreed meteorologists deliver business-specific weather intelligence, analytics, and forecasts long before the storm makes landfall. Their expertise aids in mitigating the risk of impact to the AT&T network and assets and helps keep our employees safe.
Supporting Public Safety with FirstNet, Built with AT&T
Reliable communication is a lifeline in emergencies. That’s why we partnered with the federal government to deliver FirstNet – America’s dedicated communications platform providing first responders always-on priority and preemption access to the connectivity they need to save lives and protect communities.
Our FirstNet ROG, led by a team of former first responders, works in tandem with our NDR team and local and federal agencies to maintain critical communications for public safety. FirstNet subscribers have access to a dedicated nationwide fleet of 180+ land-based and airborne portable cell sites that link to FirstNet via satellite and do not rely on commercial power availability. At no additional charge, public safety agencies on FirstNet can request the equipment for added support during disasters.
Driving Innovation to Strengthen Disaster Response
Every disaster response is an opportunity for innovation. We conduct regular equipment and readiness drills, monitor our network around the clock, every day of the year, and evolve our deployable asset fleet with advanced solutions like LEO Cell Trailers (LCTs) and LEO Emergency Communication Portables (LECPs). After Hurricane Ian, we even introduced a custom-built 45-foot landing craft to transport trucks and network assets where needed most.
Staying Connected
At AT&T, we know that connectivity is vital — especially during a crisis. This hurricane season, we remain committed to keeping Georgians connected and safe.
To learn more about how we are supporting public safety through FirstNet, please visit FirstNet.com.
For more on our disaster preparedness program and how customers can prepare, please visit https://about.att.com/pages/disaster-recovery.
FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners
