C Spire gears up for Tropical Storm Cindy; offers consumers and businesses reminders and tips on how to weather expected heavy rains and gusty winds

Weather forecasters and emergency responders are predicting the bulk of the storm will impact areas west of the company's primary footprint in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida, but coastal areas not in the forecast path are expected to receive heavy rains and winds, which could cause life-threatening flash flooding.

"Our footprint has been inundated with rain and heavy winds in the last several weeks, so it's important for everyone to be prepared to evacuate flooded areas or seek higher ground from overflowing creeks, streams and rivers, which could impact roads, bridges and even homes and businesses," said C Spire Chief Network Officer Keith Paglusch.

As a precaution, C Spire has readied its extensive wireless and wireline networks and workforce for a wide range of potential problems associated with the storm, including commercial power outages, fuel storages and flooded roads.

Earlier this week, the company put restoration teams on standby and prepared to mass equipment and material to protect critical network facilities and cell sites, including back up batteries, diesel generators at mobile sites and switching centers and replacement fuel supplies.

"Our preparations are designed to give customers maximum reliability at the time of greatest need," Paglusch said.  "Whether it's a hurricane, tornado or flash flood, people depend on telecommunications as a lifeline to the outside world.  We are committed to providing our customers with the best network coverage possible in every situation."

Paglusch said all residents should prepare an emergency supply kit with critical items, including a flashlight and battery-powered radio with extra batteries, canned and non-perishable food, bottled water, toiletry items, pet food and supplies, medicine and prescription medication and copies of important family papers and documents.

Residents also should limit travel in storm-impacted areas and heed warnings and closures from local authorities.  "It's important to be cautious and careful in high water areas and not drive through flooded roadways or attempt to cross flowing streams," Paglusch said.  "Follow your emergency plan and rely on your emergency supply kit."

In cooperation with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, C Spire is making a limited supply of free hurricane preparedness guides available to customers who visit one of their nine retail stores in South Mississippi, and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  Guides are limited to one per family and available first-come- first serve.

For more information about emergency planning and communications, visit the National Hurricane Center (NHC) or Ready.gov. To access the free hurricane preparedness guide, go to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

About C Spire
C Spire is a diversified telecommunications and technology services company that provides world-class, customer-inspired wireless communications, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access as well as a full suite of dedicated Internet, wireless, IP Voice, data and cloud services for businesses.  This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire.

SOURCE C Spire

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