Mobile Cell Site Assists Emergency Workers After Naches, Washington, Landslide
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What:
Verizon Wireless' responded to calls for network support from the Washington Department of Transportation after Sunday's landslide buried a quarter-mile section of the roadway along Highway 410 in Naches, Washington in Yakima County.
The company deployed a temporary mobile cell site or COW (Cell on Wheels) to the stricken area. A COW is a self-contained mobile cell site designed for rapid and short-term network response. It enhances wireless coverage so that Verizon Wireless customers and emergency personnel can make more calls, send more messages and download information.
When:
A Cell On Wheels (COW) mobile cell site was dispatched on October 13, 2009
Where:
In Naches, Washington, near the Oak Creek Wildlife area and the community of Nile.
Why:
Verizon Wireless deploys COWs to enhance its network when there is a natural disaster or power outage. In the past year, Verizon Wireless has deployed COWs and other equipment to more than a dozen western wildfire incidents. The company also provided more than 750 wireless phones with service to aid public safety officials and other emergency responders.
Network Investment:
Verizon Wireless invested more than $106 million in its Washington network in 2008. The company's total network investment is more than $785 million in Washington and $50 billion nationally since the company was formed nine years ago.
Reliability:
In addition to its fleet of mobile equipment, Verizon Wireless' reputation as the nation's most reliable network is supported by industry-leading redundancy and maintenance measures. This is particularly valuable during natural disasters and other emergencies. Verizon Wireless network-reliability features include battery back-up power at all facilities as well as generators installed at all switching facilities and many cell site locations.
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.
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