Hurricane Milton

October 10, 2024, 2:29 p.m. EST

We’re here to support communities affected by Hurricane Milton. Our wireless and wireline networks have been impacted since this powerful storm made landfall last night. In the days leading up to the storm, our teams have been busy placing generators at critical cell sites, moving network equipment above anticipated flood levels, and coordinating personnel on standby in strategic areas for rapid response. Where is it safe to do so, we are quickly and safely working to gain access, assess the damage and restore service.

As public safety’s partner, the FirstNet, Built with AT&T team is on the ground to support first responders. So far, they have responded to over a dozen requests for emergency support from public safety on FirstNet, and the FirstNet Response Operations Group™ (ROG) is deploying dedicated FirstNet assets and other solutions to further support their critical communications. Additionally, our FirstNet liaisons are in contact with federal, state and local officials regarding our deployment efforts to support public safety and the communities in impacted areas.

If you are a customer who has been impacted by the storm, please check the Supporting Our Customers section below for details on our latest customer relief offers.

Updates will be posted to this page throughout our recovery work. Our focus remains on keeping our employees safe and our customers, first responders and communities connected.

October 9, 2024, 9:58 a.m. EST

To help support our customers in areas** recently impacted by Hurricane Milton, we are waiving the following charges for residential and business wireline orders placed now through November 8, 2024.

• Service charge for installation of service at the temporary or new permanent location of the customer and again when the customer moves back to the original premises.
• Fee for one jack and associated wiring at the temporary location regardless of whether the customer has the Inside Wire plan.
• Fee for up to five free jacks and associated wiring for Inside Wire Plan customers upon their return to their permanent location.
• Fee for one jack and associated wiring for non-Plan customers upon their return to their permanent location.
• One-time activation fee for establishing Remote Call Forwarding, Remote Access to Call Forwarding, Call Forwarding features and AT&T Unified Messaging services.
• Monthly rate for one month for Remote Call Forwarding, Remote Access to Call Forwarding, Call Forwarding features and AT&T Messaging services.

For assistance, customers in affected areas can call 800-288-2020 (consumer) and 844-429-1875 (small business).

October 9, 2024, 9:16 a.m. EST | Updated October 11, 2024, 4:06 p.m. EST

To help our wireless customers impacted by Hurricane Milton stay connected through this difficult time, we are waiving overage charges to provide unlimited talk, text and data for AT&T Postpaid & Prepaid customers with billing addresses in zip codes* across affected areas.

AT&T Donates $100,000 to Support Communities Affected by Hurricane Milton

AT&T is also supporting its employees affected by the disaster and is matching 100% of employee relief contributions to select organizations

Key Takeaways:

• AT&T is contributing $100,000 to Volunteer Florida in the wake of Hurricane Milton.
• AT&T is matching 100% of contributions to its Employee Relief Fund to assist employees impacted by this disaster.
• We are fully committed to aiding the response and recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton.

AT&T is contributing $100,000 to Volunteer Florida to assist communities impacted by Hurricane Milton.

"Our hearts go out to the communities affected by Hurricane Milton,” said Joe York, President, AT&T Florida. “At AT&T we stand alongside you during this difficult time. We have thousands of team members across Milton’s path working to restore services in the communities where we live and work, and we are proud to support and work alongside the Florida disaster fund as they help rebuild."

In addition to these contributions, AT&T has activated its Employee Relief Fund (ERF), a 501c3 public charity aimed at supporting its employees facing significant personal hardships. This fund helps employees meet essential needs such as food, clothing shelter, or other necessities.

Furthermore, AT&T has launched an employee matching gift program, matching 100% of employee charitable contributions to The Red Cross, SBP (formerly the St. Bernard Project), and the Information Technology Disaster Resource Center.

AT&T has also deployed its Mobile Connectivity Center (MCC) to 5845 General Dougher Pl, Sarasota, FL 34243, with hours of operation from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. EST. The MCC is an air-conditioned mobile unit open to the public, equipped with laptops, charging stations, and Wi-Fi. The public can use the MCC for various needs such as contacting their insurance company, filling out paperwork, or connecting with loved ones. This is the third disaster to which AT&T has deployed the MCC.

We are fully committed to aiding the response and recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton. We have mobilized our Emergency Operations Center to provide round-the-clock support to all AT&T teams, ensuring they have the resources they need to restore vital connectivity to the affected areas.

Our teams are also in continuous coordination with federal, state, and local authorities, and we are grateful for the swift assistance they are offering to aid our restoration efforts. We continue to prioritize public safety's communications needs with FirstNet®, the nation's public safety network. The FirstNet Response Operations Group™ (ROG) is on the ground, having responded to more than 30 requests to support emergency communications, so far. We are focusing on areas we can access immediately to restore connectivity as quickly as possible, however, severely damaged areas will require additional time for repairs.

We will work diligently and safely to re-establish critical communication services and provide additional network status updates until service is restored to all areas.

As Hurricane Milton Approaches, AT&T Prepares Network,
Offers Tips to Help You Stay Connected

Key Takeaways:

• AT&T has initiated its storm preparedness plan as Hurricane Milton tracks toward Florida.
• The AT&T Weather Operations Center has a team of degreed meteorologists delivering business-specific weather intelligence, analytics, and forecasts.
• The FirstNet Response Operations Group™ (ROG) – led by a dedicated team of former first responders – is working around the clock to support public safety’s emergency communications and has liaisons engaged with local and federal agencies.

AT&T has initiated its storm preparedness plan as Hurricane Milton tracks toward Florida. The AT&T Weather Operations Center has a team of degreed meteorologists delivering business-specific weather intelligence, analytics and forecasts. Their expertise aids in mitigating the risk of impact to the AT&T network and assets, and helps to keep our employees safe.

Our network preparations include:

• Topping off generators with fuel at our cell sites and switch facilities.
• Testing back-up batteries at cell sites.
• Protecting our physical facilities against flooding.
• Staging emergency response and network recovery equipment in strategic locations for quick deployment following the storm.
• Prepping dedicated FirstNet® deployable network assets for use by public safety agencies on FirstNet, as requested.

“Customers rely on us, especially during major storms,” said Joe York, president, AT&T Florida. That's why we practice readiness drills and simulations throughout the year. And we do all we can to have our networks prepared when severe weather strikes. We’re working to position equipment and crews and are ready to respond if needed. We’re also closely linked with Florida public officials in their storm response efforts.”

We encourage our customers and residents in areas potentially affected by the storm to prepare as well. Below are communication tips to help you stay connected.

• Utilize satellite communications if cellular coverage is not available. If you have an iPhone 14 or newer that is updated to iOS 16.1 you may be able to connect with emergency services via satellite. If your iPhone 14 or newer is updated to iOS 18 you may be able to send messages and connect with emergency services via satellite. If you have a Google Pixel 9 you may be able to connect with emergency services through text via satellite. For more information on availability and how to use, visit here for iPhone and here for Pixel.
• Save battery life. To save your phone's battery during a power outage, try power-save mode, turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, delete apps, or enable Airplane Mode.
• Keep mobile devices charged. Make sure to fully charge your mobile devices before a weather event and have an alternate way to charge your smartphone in case of power outages. A car charger or backup battery pack can be useful. If you have multiple devices, consider a multi-port backup battery pack to keep them charged.
• Keep your mobile devices dry. Mobile phones can be a critical lifeline during a storm. To protect yours, store it in a water-resistant case, floating waterproof case, or plastic bag.
• Protect vital documents. Back up important info and documents like insurance and medical papers to the cloud or computer for easy access from any device.
• Have a family communications plan. Review the plan with your family and choose someone out of the area as a central point of contact in case your family is separated.
• Update emergency contacts. It is important to store emergency contacts in your mobile phone, including numbers for the police, fire station, hospital, and family members.
• Stay informed with your mobile device. If a storm causes a power outage, you can still access local weather reports using your mobile device.
  
• Take advantage of your smartphone’s features. Use your phone camera to photograph and record any damage before you file an insurance claim. Location-based technology (GPS) can help find evacuation routes or track a family member’s location.
• Be prepared for high call volume and keep non-emergency calls to a minimum. During severe weather, many people may try to call at the same time, which may cause network congestion. If you get a "fast busy" signal on your phone, hang up, wait a few seconds, then try again.
• Try texting vs. calling. Because it requires fewer network resources, text messages may go through faster than voice calls.

AT&T Preparations

AT&T’s Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) program is one of the largest in the industry. Our NDR fleet consists of more than 750 pieces of specialized response equipment readied for quick deployment, including:

• Mobile cell sites and mobile command centers
• Flying COWs® (Cell on Wings)
• Drones for assessing cell site damage
• Emergency communications vehicles
• Basecamp operations with sleeping bunks, bathrooms, showers, kitchen, on-site nurse and meals ready-to-eat (MREs)
• Hazmat equipment and supplies
• Technology and support trailers to provide infrastructure support and mobile heating ventilation and air conditioning
• Internal and external resources for initial assessment and recovery efforts

In addition, FirstNet, Built with AT&T – America’s Public Safety Network – and its dedicated fleet of more than 180 deployable network assets are at the ready. The FirstNet Response Operations Group™  (ROG) – led by a dedicated team of former first responders – is working around the clock to support public safety’s emergency communications and has liaisons engaged with local and federal agencies.