Recently in disasters Category

T- Mobile SideKick owners can breathe a sigh of relief, Microsoft was able to retrieve most of the lost data.

They plan to begin restoring users' personal data as soon as possible, starting with personal contact. Then they will continue to work around the clock to restore data to all affected users, including calendar, notes, tasks, photographs and high scores, as quickly as possible.

They believe that data loss affected a minority of Sidekick users.

The outraged T-Mobile SideKick customers who complained that $20 and one month credit wasn't enough to compensate for their lost data in the Danger data outage have been granted a little more.

Customers who lost significant permanent data loss will receive a $100 customer appreciation card, in addition to the $50 customer data credit

The latest T-Mobile Announcement States:

"the card can be used towards T-Mobile products and services, or a customer's T-Mobile bill. For those who fall into this category, details will be sent out in the next 14 days - there is no action needed on the part of these customers. We however remain hopeful that for the majority of our customers, personal content can be recovered."

Customers can check back at the T-Mobile SideKick forum for updates. The good news for the future of all data outages is there has been an outcry in the industry, and backup plans for data of customers will surely be instituted.

Whew, T-Mobile SideKick users got kicked in the data butt for two weeks. The Microsoft/Danger server outage caused SideKick users to be without email, IM and contact information .  They were able to make phone calls, but without contacts that was difficult. The outage is still out-to-lunch. 

T-Mobile has apologized while Perez Hilton bemoaned the fact that she didn't get a BlackBerry or iPhone. There is some minor help and hope. You can import VCard contacts from Outlook or other email programs. SideKick outage sufferers will get one month of free data service.

Prez Hilton, used many expletives to show her feelings about the T-Mobile SideKick outage.

"What is going on, T-Mobile????? We have been kidnapped by you this whole week! We would have dumped your (&^#$^#*^$ already but we can't even access our address book from your @#$% website!!!!!!!

To add insult to injury, the ONLY thing T-Mobile is offering their customers, whom they obviously don't value or respect, is one month of free data service. That's @#$%!"

Yesterday, T-Mobile apologized and stated:

"Regrettably, based on Microsoft/Danger's latest recovery assessment of their systems, we must now inform you that personal information stored on your device - such as contacts, calendar entries, to-do lists or photos - that is no longer on your Sidekick almost certainly has been lost as a result of a server failure at Microsoft/Danger."

The likelihood of a successful outcome is extremely low. T-Mobile will inform users on Monday (Oct. 12) the status of the remaining issues.  Apparently Danger data that was stored and reproduced over a number of services and only one server was used and there was no backup.

In response to the wildfires burning in parts of California, AT&T is making available free services to support residential customers displaced by the fires to help them contact family members, friends and insurance agencies.

More information is available by calling 1-888-338-3291.

From published reports and calls to the major wireless carriers we have determined that most wireless calls in the areas affected by the La Canada, Pasadena, La Cresenta, Tujunga station fires should be going through without a glitch besides the small T-Mobile dropped call area by the foothills, Glendale freeway and the 5 freeway.

An AT&T spokesperson said that at  AT&T there is has been no major impact to the the network in the Los Angeles area. Sprint and Verizon were reported to be up and running during one of the largest fires in Los Angeles history.

Verizon is offering free call forwarding to landlines of evacuated residents. AT&T is offering call-forwarding and voicemail without connection charges. We also have been told by some carriers that customers are welcome to come into their retail stores to charge their phones.  We are waiting for official confirmation.

T-Mobile communications equipment was damaged in the Station Fire, Monday. It should only cause minor reception issues for customers, reported the Pasadena Stars News

The repeater site equipment on Mt. Lukens that provides service to other local cell sites is down. Four local towers won't work without the repeater site functioning.

Customers in areas close to fire by the foothills around the Glendale and 5 freeways may have their T-Mobile calls drop out.

The problem appears to be minor and T-Mobile is working on fixing it.

As we told you earlier today, as smoke fills the hills around us, wireless carriers are prepared for emergencies and act quickly.

Verizon is providing wired phones, wireless broadband modems and mobile phones to help firefighters coordinate their attacks on the wildfires in Rancho Palos Verdes, the Angeles National Forest and the San Jacinto Mountains in California.

Verizon technicians are ready if needed to repair any damage to its networks. Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless technicians have ensured sufficient capacity in area cell sites to keep customers connected as mandatory evacuations of residential and commercial neighborhoods generate spikes in call volume. Backup batteries and generators have powered several wired sites during intermittent commercial power interruptions caused by the fires.

Verizon home phone customers who have left their home because of the wildfires can stay in touch with friends and family by forwarding their calls to another number at no charge. Home customers who want to set up call forwarding should call Verizon at 1-800-483-1000; business customers should call 1-800-483-2000.

Luis Cruz, Verizon Wireless regional president, said, "The devastation caused by these wildfires is heartbreaking. It's affecting our customers, communities and employees. We are committed to making a difference for those who've been affected by these fires."

During previous fires in California with evacuations, Verizon set up call centers.  They also set up portable store service and charging centers.

Those of us who are affected by the Station Fire in La Canada, Pasadena, and other areas, may need to remember some safety tips and other information about cell phones, smartphones, and wireless services during a disaster.

The view from our office is truly horrifying, the mountains that usually set a green jagged frame to the sky, are aflame with smoke so thick the air smells like we are in a fireplace.

The first time, we'd like to remember from the "Hitch Hikers Guide to Universe is "Don't Panic" and instead of "bring your towel," we'd like to add, "bring your charger, car charger and extra battery."  If you are relocated, and running out of the house quickly, you may forget essential communication tools, you will need while away form your home.

The Black Hawk Consolidated Public Safety Communications Center In Black Hawk Iowa can receive now text messages from select wireless subscribers in the county.

The call center successfully completed the text trial this past June and is now the first 9-1-1 Call Center in the country able to receive text messages directly into 9-1-1. This groundbreaking effort allows those individuals with speech and hearing impairments, or callers otherwise unable to place a voice call, to use text messaging to communicate directly with a 9-1-1 telecommunicator in an emergency.

"We are pleased that our county has become the first in the nation to successfully deploy text to 9-1-1," said Chief Thomas Jennings, chairman, Black Hawk 9-1-1 Board. "This solution not only helps better protect our speech and hearing impaired citizens but it proves how important it is for public safety to support all forms of communication."

"The state of Iowa has a long history of pioneering advancements in 9-1-1 technology as a way to enhance the safety of all of our citizens," said David Miller, administrator, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division. "We are proud to be part of this initiative to assist the speech and hearing impaired."

Their News Release Warns: It is important to note that this solution is currently only available to select wireless subscribers in Black Hawk County. Please remember that a voice call remains the best way to contact 9-1-1. Texting to 9-1-1 should only be used in situations where a voice call is not possible.

Unfortunately, we need to remind you again as wildfires rage over Santa Barbara, tips to have your cell phone, phones and information ready in case of fire.

• Be sure to keep your cell phone charged.
• Send text messages to save bandwidth - frequently during a disaster the cell tower traffic can get overloaded.  Sending text takes far less bandwidth and can notify your loved ones without tying up resources.
• Keep your cell phone away from extreme heat such as the dashboard of your car, or fires.
• Don't let your cell phone be exposed to water. 
• A car charger, battery booster or other form of charger such as a the fuel cell Medis 24-7 is good to have  Solio also makes a solar phone charger. During a power outage it is important to have another way to charge your cell phone.

Firefighters in the field and evacuees at shelters in Santa Barbara County are relying on the Verizon Wireless and wireline networks to stay connected during the Jesusita wildfire.

Verizon landline customers who have lost their homes or who have been evacuated because of the Jesusita wildfire in Santa Barbara County can add call forwarding to their account at no charge as part of the company's efforts to help those in need cope with the disaster.

Verizon donated wireless modems for Internet access, and mobile phones with airtime to help fire fighters battle wildfires and evacuees to contact loved ones and get updates on their homes and communities. Verizon has also installed extra landline phones and high-speed Internet connections at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's (CAL FIRE) command center.

Verizon Foundation has contributed $10,000 to the Santa Barbara County chapter of the American Red Cross to further its relief efforts for the wildfire evacuees.

Cellular South's wireless communications network sustained minimal damage as a result of the severe storms and at least one tornado that swept through central Mississippi late Wednesday and early Thursday.

Most of the Mississippi-based company's 500 cell sites in central Mississippi were operating without any problems, although five are on back up generators and three are experiencing call completion problems caused by heavy rains and winds that knocked out landline telecommunications facilities, according to Trey Howard, director of Network Operations for Cellular South.

Here are some storm reminders for cell phone users:

• Be sure to keep your cell phone charged.
• A car charger, battery booster or other form of charger such as the fuel cell Medis 24-7 is good to have.  During a power outage its important to have another way to charge your cell phone.
• Send text messages to save bandwidth - frequently during a disaster the cell tower traffic can get overloaded.  Sending text takes far less bandwidth and can notify your loved ones without tying up resources.
• Store important numbers in your cell phone, you won't have time to look them up.
• If your primary phone number is a landline, make sure you have phone that does not require power, a simple dial phone. 
  
• Water can damage phones, try to keep them out of the rain as well in something waterproof.
  

Because you may not be able to carry a lot with you if you are evacuated, you can store your important documents on a USB drive or microSD card.  You should always store files off site by some method, in case water damages your computer.

While the fires burn in SoCal, Verizon Wireless' network is delivering reliable wireless coverage and service to keep emergency responders and customers connected. They deployed Cells on Wheels and other methods to keep the network up and running.

During peak hours of usage in the areas directly affected by the wildfires, traffic on the Verizon Wireless network was up 75 percent over a typical day. All cell sites in the affected areas have continued to process calls and data transmissions during the crisis. Generators from the company's emergency fleet are providing power where commercial power is still out.

As wild fires rage over Los Angeles, it is a good time to think about how to have your cell phone, phones and information ready in case of fire.

• Be sure to keep your cell phone charged.
• A car charger, battery booster or other form of charger such as a the fuel cell Medis 24-7 is good to have.  During a power outage its important to have another way to charge your cell phone.
• Send text messages to save bandwidth - frequently during a disaster the cell tower traffic can get overloaded.  Sending text takes far less bandwidth and can notify your loved ones without tying up resources.
• Store important numbers in your cell phone, you won't have time to look them up.
• If your primary phone number is a landline, make sure you have phone that does not require power, a simple dial phone.  

Because you may not be able to carry a lot with you if you are evacuated, you can store your important documents on a USB drive or microSD card.  You should always store files off site by some method, in case a fire burns your computer.

AT&T today announced that 50 of its 54 stores in Houston and southeast Texas are open for business. Two of the open stores are being supplemented by Mobile Sales Units, vehicles with displays and computers for transactions inside.

In the wake of Hurricane Ike, items in top demand by customers are car chargers and LaptopConnect cards, which allow a laptop computer to access the mobile broadband-speed Internet over AT&T's wireless network.

All AT&T stores are offering free local and long distance calling. The AT&T store in Port Arthur is set to open Friday. Stores that remain closed are Galveston and Parkdale Mall in Beaumont and the AT&T store in the downtown Houston tunnel system.

Although widespread power outages brought down cellular and Internet service in parts of the region, Cellular South customers experienced only minimal service interruptions. Because of a multimillion dollar infrastructure investment and intense preparation, Cellular South’s network successfully logged 62.2 million minutes of customer use in the impacted areas over the long weekend and through the storm and its aftermath Tuesday. That total represented a 20 percent increase over normal call volumes for a holiday weekend.

On Tuesday, Cellular South opened all of its retail locations and is currently offering the opportunity for people to charge their mobile phones and make free calls from these locations. The company also established an online website (www.cellularsouth.com/hurricane) and a mobile website (www.cellularsouth.com/storm) with timely information and resources to help customers and the general public recover from Hurricane Gustav and its aftermath.

For updates, call #STORM (78676) from a Cellular South phone or call toll-free 1-CSOUTH5 (1-888-276-8845) for information about the status of wireless service and retail store schedules