News

September 7, 2021 | From City of New Orleans

Wireless Carriers Restore Networks, Partner with City of New Orleans to Assist with Hurricane Ida Response

NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans today announced that following Hurricane Ida, wireless carriers AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon have focused on restoring their wireless communications networks for residents, businesses and first responders.

 

In addition, these carriers are working closely with the City of New Orleans and NOHSEP to provide critical assistance on the ground including mobile charging stations public WiFi, and customer support.

 

"Keeping communities connected is essential in our everyday lives, and even more critical in times of disaster," said Jonathan Rhodes, Director of the Mayor's Office of Utilities. "We thank companies like AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon for stepping up to provide the necessary charging resources, cell phones and customer support so that our residents can connect with information and each other as we recover from the storm."

Mobile Charging, Cell Phones and Public WiFi at NORD Cooling Centers

To help meet the demand for phone and device charging during a citywide power outage, carriers have supplied mobile charging stations at all 8 of the City’s NORD Cooling Centers.

  • AT&T has delivered tabletop charging stations and mobile charging trucks and has also provided free cell phones and phone calling cards to residents.
  • T-Mobile/Sprint has provided over 2,000 portable charging devices for residents and first responders and has donated more than 600 pre-lit cell phones, in addition to providing mobile charging stations.
  • Verizon has also supported the recovery with mobile charging stations at all NORD cooling centers. Both T-Mobile and Verizon have supplemented the City’s WiFi coverage at these NORD sites to ensure all residents can have a place to connect to the internet.

Please visit the NOLA Ready website for a list of NORD Cooling Centers, locations and hours of operation.

 

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Offer Customer Assistance

To further assist customers impacted by Hurricane Ida, wireless providers are helping residents communicate by opening access to talk, text and data.

  • AT&T is waiving overage charges to provide unlimited talk, text and data for AT&T Postpaid & PREPAID customers in New Orleans through Sept. 14, 2021. Please note that customers in these areas may still receive alerts during these dates, but accounts will reflect the credits and/or waived data, voice and text charges.
  • T-Mobile and Sprint are offering free talk, text, and unlimited data through Sept. 10 in select Louisiana Parishes. This applies to T-Mobile, Sprint consumers and business customers (except Enterprise and Government accounts), and T-Mobile Pre-Paid customers who are not already on unlimited plans. As a reminder, Metro by T-Mobile customers always have unlimited talk and text on all plans.
  • Verizon is providing its New Orleans customers with unlimited talk, text and data through Sept. 10, 2021.

Support for First Responders

  • AT&T’s FirstNet One remains deployed in Raceland. This aerostat blimp functions as an LTE tower in the sky to support first responders and the extended public safety community by providing up to 100 square miles of coverage in the area.

  • T-Mobile has deployed their mobile satellite communications equipment to strategic locations in New Orleans. This service supplements the City’s wireless connectivity to ensure government and first responders have internet connections.

  • Verizon has also provided essential deliveries of water to the NOHSEP warehouse.

To receive more post-storm updates, text NOLAREADY to 77295.

 

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