Verizon Gains Ground In Mid-Atlantic Storm Restoral Efforts

WASHINGTON, July 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon continues to gain ground in restoring services to its wireline customers following the highly destructive June 29 Mid-Atlantic derecho.

"Incoming repair reports are trending downward, and the number of repairs we're now completing each day is more than the number of new repair reports we're receiving," said Chris Childs, Verizon's Potomac region president of consumer and mass-business markets.  "There's certainly more work to be done, but our technicians made great headway on the Fourth of July, and we will continue to devote the necessary resources until service is restored to all our customers."  

Verizon's wireline repair load currently is running two to three times normal levels.  Many customers' voice, Internet and TV services are coming back as commercial power is restored, and Verizon crews are spread across the region to replace poles, re-hang downed lines and repair customers' services.  As of this morning (July 5), field forces are responding to 156 downed utility poles and 897 downed copper or fiber cables in the region. 

Verizon technicians continue to work extended shifts, and the company has brought in technicians from less-affected parts of the region to the hardest-hit areas until the repair load returns to normal levels, which the company anticipates will be early next week.

Customers who have a Verizon service issue should call 800-VERIZON (800-837-4966) or visit www.verizon.com/support.

Verizon has mobilized several assets to help residents in the hardest hit areas.  The company has set up a mobile shelter at the main library at 2315 Memorial Ave. in Lynchburg, Va., to offer assistance to residents without power.  The air conditioned tent, with room for 12 people, includes satellite phone service, laptops with Internet access and charging stations for wireless devices.  

In addition, the company has deployed a 53-foot mobile command center trailer truck at T.C. Williams High School at 3330 King St. in Alexandria.  The mobile command center vehicle, which offers similar services as the mobile shelters, was also deployed in Virginia and several other locations along the East Coast to help citizens and local governments during Hurricane Irene last summer.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 93 million retail customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 192,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon