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Throughout the year, communities across the country may face a number of natural disasters — hurricanes, tornados, wildfires and earthquakes — all of which can bring life-threatening conditions and cause devastation. In the face of any one of these natural events, major concerns center around the safety and well-being of people in impacted communities, from residents to first responders helping the community in the aftermath.

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<a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/">T-Mobile</a> knows how important maintaining connectivity is for evacuation coordination, rescue efforts, calling a loved one to check in and more. We are committed to doing as much as we can for our customers by ensuring our network is ready and our emergency teams are prepared with the tools, equipment and gear they need to keep our customers connected.

Preparing for a Natural Disaster T-Mobile works hard to prepare for emergencies and natural disasters that may impact our network, however in the lead up to North America’s 'disaster season,’ marked by the start of hurricane season around June 1, we make a number of <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/preparing-for-the-2020-hurricane-season">preparations</a> to ready our network and emergency response. This includes moving our extensive fleet of equipment from warehouse locations and strategically placing them in U.S. regions that are traditionally most vulnerable to severe storm conditions.

Once in the thick of disaster season, the T-Mobile Emergency Management Team (EMT) partners closely with the <a href="https://www.weather.gov/">National Weather Service</a> and other partners, like <a href="https://www.stormgeo.com/">StormGeo</a>, to track storms’ paths and projected areas of impact. We use this information to inform preparations and decide if and where our equipment and teams are needed, and we proceed to proactively send people, supplies and equipment to locations close to the projected areas of impact so that we can quickly and conveniently deploy in the aftermath of a storm, as needed.

First Response After a storm passes through, our teams immediately get to work assessing the network remotely to determine any impacts to cell sites in the area. At the same time, field teams survey conditions on the ground and work with local authorities to ensure safe access into the area from their pre-event locations.

As our EMT assesses their response to best keep our customers connected, they also work very closely with local authorities to determine when it is safe to enter the impacted areas to carry out any repairs, or deploy a number of solutions that can keep cell sites operational, or provide coverage in the event sites are damaged in the storm.

Equipment The T-Mobile EMT utilizes a variety of high-end technology and devices because we know that having the right equipment is critical. To that effect, we’ve specially designed and built some of our equipment and resources to meet our unique response needs to keep our customers in the most vulnerable communities connected.

Here’s a look at the latest and greatest used by our EMT!

Generators All mobile networks rely on commercial power to operate. So, when a power grid is affected by a hurricane, storm, fire, earthquake, etc. as a result of damage caused by flooding or blown-over poles, the network will be interrupted and customers lose service.

When there is a power outage, generators are a key piece of portable equipment that our EMT utilizes to provide temporary power to cell sites connected to the affected power grid. After determining a cell site needs power, our team will set up and connect the generator to the site to restore service. Though there may be some instances, due to terrain, site access, resident restrictions or unsafe conditions that may prevent our teams from deploying generators to a site.

Our EMT utilize several of the highest-quality, best performing generator units available on the market. Plus, all new generators we have invested in meet Tier 4 emission standards, which allows our team to deploy them in every state in the country, including those with the strictest standards. Generator units are large, weighing approximately 4,000 pounds, and run on diesel fuel. So, once set up at a site, our teams will create a refueling schedule and return to the site to refuel the generator as needed until commercial power is back up in an affected area.

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Satellites In instances where there is complete lack of service in an impacted area immediately following a hurricane or other natural event, satellites are a critical device for our teams to bring service into an area that might otherwise have no service.

When safe to do so, our teams drive vehicles outfitted with satellites into areas hit hardest or set up a portable satellite kit directly on the ground in areas with no power or backhaul. Satellites have the capacity to provide basic services like texting, call and limited data to an area in order to support the community. This is especially important for first responders who rely on connectivity for their recovery and rescue efforts.

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COLTs and COWs Cells on Light Trucks (COLTs) and Cells on Wheels (COWs) are regularly utilized by our EMT as part of our recovery efforts. COLTs and COWs are unique to T-Mobile and specially designed to meet our EMT’s specific needs.

Once there is safe access into an area after a natural event, our teams drive COLTs and COWs to impacted areas. Using satellite, microwave or the existing circuit, if undamaged, at a site while towers undergo necessary repairs, COLTs and COWS bring coverage to a community that would otherwise have a coverage gap.

While both COWs and COLTs contain satellites and generators and have comparable technology capabilities, there are some physical distinctions. COWs look like a trailer and must be attached to a truck’s hitch in order to be transported, while a COLT’s satellite and generator are built directly into a truck. The advantage of a COLT is that our teams are able to drive them into some areas that may be too difficult or dangerous to tow a COW due to poor road or terrain conditions.

Vehicle Fleet We’ve built out a fleet of roughly 20 different types of vehicles to support our EMT’s specific needs. We deploy our fleet when a major natural event occurs to transport our teams and equipment to areas of impact. Our fleet of vehicles consist of COLTs, COWs, RVs, Jeeps and more. Plus, since our merger with Sprint, we have doubled the number of satellite capable vehicles.

Our RV serves as the Emergency Operation Center, outfitted with monitors, self-contained WIFI access, small kitchen, bed, restrooms and workspaces where our teams can monitor network recovery, check emails and conduct meetings while deployed to communities hit by a storm. Our teams also open the RV up to first responders to utilize the WIFI or take a break.

Our fleet also contains several Jeeps, one of which can provide WIFI and cell coverage, plus has a charging station mounted to the front of the vehicle. We utilize this Jeep when we make visits to evacuation shelters, allowing evacuees to use its services.

Community Support Vehicles It’s important to us that impacted communities have the support and connectivity they need during and immediately following a natural event. When communities are in need, we deploy our Community Support Vehicles to evacuation shelters to provide a range of supplies and services, including water bottles, pre-lit devices, charging stations, WIFI and more. Our team also utilizes Retail Support Trucks that are deployed to assist customers in areas where our local stores may be closed due to damage after a storm.

Click <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/dealing-with-disaster-season-2020">here</a> to meet our community response team and learn more about how T-Mobile helps customers and communities in the aftermath of natural disasters.

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T-Mobile knows how important maintaining connectivity is for evacuation coordination, rescue efforts, calling a loved one to check in and more. We are committed to doing as much as we can for our customers by ensuring our network is ready and our emergency teams are prepared with the tools, equipment and gear they need to keep our customers connected.

Gearing Up: A Look at T-Mobile&#039;s Emergency Response Equipment | T-Mobile Newsroom

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Gearing Up: A Look at T-Mobile&#8217;s Emergency Response Equipment

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This T-Mobile "Dynamic Duo" Battles Everything from Wildfires to the Pandemic. Here's How.

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Among T-Mobile’s crisis-response specialists, this time of year is known as “disaster season” — the stressful weeks at the end of summer and beginning of fall when hurricanes threaten America’s Gulf and Atlantic states, and wildfires typically devastate communities across the American West. And though COVID-19 has changed the way the world operates at a fundamental level, it hasn’t stopped those disasters from coming. In fact, 2020 has turned out to be one of the most demanding disaster seasons in memory, with millions and millions of acres burning in California, Oregon and Washington, while multiple major storms wrecked the entirety of Louisiana … all as the pandemic has completely altered the way disaster relief can be deployed in troubled areas.

In the face of oncoming storms or wildfires, T-Mobile stores must sometimes be closed and alternative retail options must be established. In the aftermath, customers often need emergency connectivity solutions until permanent services and devices are restored. These assistance efforts are led by two T-Mobile superstars: Becky Romero, a senior disaster recovery manager, and Stephanie Kehoe, a senior manager of field operations. Between the two of them, they are the community response team, “small but mighty,” according to Stephanie, covering the preparation, adjustment and deployment — anything non-network-related — of disaster relief from the consumer markets standpoint. They’ve also been adapting to changing pandemic protocols to ensure the safety of their employees and their customers.

“We call each other Batman and Robin,” Becky says.

“One day I’m Batman and she’s Robin,” Stephanie adds. “The next day it’s the other way around. We just work it together.”

When Hurricanes Laura and Sally pummeled Louisiana within a couple weeks of each other from August to September, and wildfires ravaged the entire West Coast, they had (to put it mildly) a hectic month. But, like Becky says, “When we’re dealing with 2020, you gotta find that silver lining wherever you can!”

Stephanie’s key responsibility is managing a nationwide fleet of 15 trucks, 11 dedicated to community response and four mobile store replacements. Becky’s role is to keep the trucks stocked with connectivity supplies that her team hands out to communities for free use for up to 30 days. Both are working remotely right now, leading teams deployed across the U.S. — Stephanie from the greater Philadelphia area and Becky in Texas.

“I’m in Houston,” Becky says, “but my brain is in California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida.” She adds: “If you’re 30 miles from a fire, you’re not in a bad position, but if you get a knock on the door at 6 AM saying your house is in danger, you grab your children and dogs and run out of the house.”

So you might leave behind your phone, or maybe your charger or tablet. Those are the items — along with mobile hotspots for getting online — that her team provides. Normally that means setting up trucks within impacted communities, usually at local shelters or relief facilities, the moment the area is declared safe, and then staying as long as needed. But, of course, that strategy has had to adjust to rules banning crowds of more than a few people congregating in one place due to coronavirus concerns.

While Stephanie and Becky singlehandedly developed T-Mobile’s disaster relief program from the get go, they have also assembled a cohort of trusted teammates on the ground.

In Lake Charles, Louisiana, which was ravaged by Hurricane Laura, one of the worst storms in state history, their staff has been posted up for weeks and is planning to stay indefinitely. All the while, following socially distant measures due to COVID is top of mind. Rather than letting people come to them, they’ve been minimizing contact and mitigating crowds by distributing items to shelters in individual care packages. They’ve provided the same response in California since wildfires there took off in August.

“We’ve had to challenge ourselves to think, 'How do we still supply the community while minimizing risk?' It was not easy,” Stephanie says. “We came up with the drop-off supply solution. Instead of standing with a table or tent and trucks and going inside shelters to crowds gathered, we put pieces in place to have contactless support. We do prep work to determine needs at each shelter to provide care packages to them. Some people need WiFi; if power is out, they need more charging capabilities.”

The contactless solution has been a great success, she says, both in terms of direct benefit to customers and in keeping the process safe: “We developed processes to ensure trucks are regularly cleaned and employees are getting temperature checked and washing hands and sanitizing assets around them. We’re taking steps to keep everyone safe. We have a number of PPE supplies in the trucks and we take it one shelter and one support activity at a time.”

Along with relief trucks, Stephanie also has four retail replacement trucks at her disposal. When a brick-and-mortar store is damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster, she’ll roll out a retail truck-and-trailer combo into that community to ensure customers have access to the devices and services they need.

“If a store and a truck had a baby, that’s our trailers,” she says. “We can replace a structure with one of our replacement stores within a week.”

The only way she and Becky can accomplish so much work in so little time is by coordinating efforts on both the logistical and practical levels.

“We say it takes a special kind of person to do this job,” Becky says. “You gotta have the passion but you need to understand how to triage. Everyone thinks the world’s coming down but it’s not. Our job is to provide confirmation that we’re gonna get through this. And this is how, this is the process. It takes a person with drive to support but you can’t get frustrated and beat down.”

Says Stephanie, pointing out just how essential it’s been to collaborate with Becky for this disaster season’s relief effort, “It’s not a Stephanie effort, it’s a total team effort. I can’t give trucks to Becky’s group because it just wouldn’t work, she has her own mountains to lift. We’re in lockstep hourly it feels like.”

“I don’t think anyone was prepared for the amount of disaster we’re facing,” she continues. “Everyone supporting the disasters is tired. But the need doesn’t stop, and neither does the work.”

In the face of oncoming storms or wildfires, T-Mobile stores must sometimes be closed and alternative retail options must be established. In the aftermath, customers often need emergency connectivity solutions until permanent services and devices are restored. These assistance efforts are led by two T-Mobile superstars: Becky Romero, a senior disaster recovery manager, and Stephanie Kehoe, a senior manager of field operations.

Dealing with Disaster Season | T-Mobile Newsroom

Dealing with Disaster Season

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Update – October 12th, 2020

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Our network engineering team continues to make significant progress, and at this point we are pleased to report that there are only a small number of remaining sites impacted in Houston and Mobile. Our teams continue to refuel deployed generators, and we anticipate remaining impacted sites to be restored in the coming days.

Customer &Community Support

Our community relief trucks continue to support customers in Lafayette and Lake Charles today, providing WiFi access, charging facilities and dropping off pre-lit devices in accordance with social distancing measures for COVID-19.

There are a small number of stores in impacted areas that remain closed. As a reminder, if you need to visit us, please reach out to your <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fstore-locator&data=02%7C01%7CAlexandra.Fidler1%40T-Mobile.com%7C50d62f19f3904d739b2008d86ee48f84%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637381275218249693&sdata=FYy5kByw5XyRZYoG%2FYXc%2FBlVPQRFfC%2FE5kEtOCEbUNM%3D&reserved=0">local store</a> to confirm they are open. You can also call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset if you need assistance or have questions about your account or service and we will be happy to help.

Update – October 11th, 2020

Our network engineering teams continue working hard to restore the network in areas impacted by Hurricane Delta, and overnight significant progress was made. The network in Memphis has been fully restored, and the majority of impacted sites remain in the Houston and Mobile markets at this time. We have a large number of generators deployed, and our teams continue to work quickly to restore those sites as soon as possible.

Customer & Community Support

Community relief trucks will begin supporting our customers in Lafayette and Lake Charles, LA, assisting in locations where there are closed stores. The trucks will be providing WIFI access, charging facilities and dropping off pre-lit devices in a socially distanced manner in line with COVID restrictions.

As a reminder, T-Mobile is waiving overage charges for talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Sprint and Metro by T-Mobile customers in selected areas of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi who are not already on unlimited plans. From 10/9 through 10/15, we are providing unlimited talk, text and data for customers in the following locations:

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A number of our stores in TX and LA remain closed. If you need to visit us, please reach out to your <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fstore-locator&data=02%7C01%7CAlexandra.Fidler1%40T-Mobile.com%7C0eb352be50184de4702e08d86e1a5b64%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637380406762127663&sdata=ZFTu4kARUCGRIQ86rZW%2FsFBU1leV0Vkwd6ommCr2V%2BY%3D&reserved=0">local store</a> to confirm they are open. You can also call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset if you need assistance or have questions about your account or service and we will be happy to help.

Update – October 10th, 2020

Hurricane Delta made landfall yesterday evening near Creole, LA, causing damage and power outages throughout the impacted region. Our teams continue to monitor the situation and are working closely with local authorities to gain safe passage into the impacted areas.

At this stage, we’re seeing the majority of impacts to our network in the Mobile, Houston and Memphis markets. Where it is safe to do so, our engineering teams are working hard to deploy generators and create refueling schedules.

The aftermath of large storms is usually a time of high demand for wireless networks as our customers look to stay in touch with loved ones and authorities. We recommend that, where possible, customers send a text instead of making a call. If you need to make a call, we encourage you to try WiFi calling (if you have a working WiFi connection) and keep calls as short as possible.

If you are a Sprint customer on the Sprint network, you can roam on the T-Mobile network if the Sprint network is impacted and T-Mobile is not.

A number of our stores in TX and LA remain closed in the aftermath of the storm. If you need to visit us, please reach out to your <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/store-locator">local store</a> to confirm they are open. You can also call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset if you need assistance or have questions about your account or service and we will be happy to help.

Over the coming days, you can stay up to date on our response and recovery efforts via the following channels:

As a reminder, for local updates for Hurricane Delta, check out these sites:

T-Mobile is closely monitoring Hurricane Delta as it makes landfall over the U.S. Gulf Coast. Our rapid-response teams are on standby to assist our customers and help minimize any potential service interruptions. In addition, we are working to ensure our employees, stores and facilities are well prepared for the storm conditions.

A number of our stores in TX and LA are taking safety precautions and may be closed ahead of the storm’s arrival. If you need to visit us, please reach out to your <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fstore-locator&data=02%7C01%7CJanielle.GoGuasch%40T-Mobile.com%7C06182c2793414ec7d15708d86c8df772%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637378704358553281&sdata=%2B%2B8oLUFm7daxNyuyTdyY%2B1QRRPubNCR18gjj9K0VlCY%3D&reserved=0">local store</a> to confirm they are open. You can also call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset if you need assistance or have questions about your account or service and we will be happy to help.

Help people affected by Hurricane Delta. Text Delta to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross to help those most affected by Hurricane Laura. Your donation enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. This includes providing food, shelter, relief supplies, emotional support and other assistance. Text messaging charges may apply, and the one-time donation will show up on their next T-Mobile bill. For more information, please visit: <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fcustomers%2Ftext-to-give&data=02%7C01%7CJanielle.GoGuasch%40T-Mobile.com%7C06182c2793414ec7d15708d86c8df772%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637378704358553281&sdata=33WR5xSf0sDnygXNyRo4wclwb5LqJ%2FDUcBSUnv01KVY%3D&reserved=0">https://www.t-mobile.com/customers/text-to-give</a>

See T-Mobile.com for plan information, Terms & Conditions, and other policies.

Customer & Community Support T-Mobile is waiving overage charges for talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Sprint and Metro by T-Mobile customers in selected areas of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi who are not already on unlimited plans. From 10/9 through 10/15, we are providing unlimited talk, text and data for customers in the following locations:

Louisiana Parishes: Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Buearegard, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebone, Vermillion, Vernon, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana

Texas Counties: Angelina, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, San Augustine, Shelby, Tyler

Mississippi Counties: Adams, Amite, Franklin, Lincoln, Wilkinson

Network Our local teams are working hard to prepare our networks along Delta’s projected path to minimize any network impacts. We’ve staged a number of temporary solutions for quick deployment where needed in the aftermath of the storm. This includes additional generators, a fleet of temporary network solutions such as Cells on Wheels (COWs), Cells on Light Trucks (COLTs) satellite infrastructure, small cells, Mobile Command Trailers

As the storm approaches and makes landfall, it’s possible that customers in coastal Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes may experience short-term impacts to their coverage. If your mobile service is interrupted or spotty, we recommend customers try the following:

More information on how T-Mobile prepares for storms like Hurricane Delta, is available in the <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fnews%2Fcommunity%2Fpreparing-for-the-2020-hurricane-season&data=02%7C01%7CJanielle.GoGuasch%40T-Mobile.com%7Ce60e0ac9e0fb47d3bbb708d86bdbe334%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637377939447993680&sdata=aBN21q8Yqa8%2FFfbvrYRmaQLSc3B%2FWZLyFnAi3SbjwSY%3D&reserved=0">T-Mobile Newsroom</a>.

For the local updates and preparation tips for Hurricane Delta, check out these site:

As Hurricane Delta moves through the Gulf of Mexico towards the US Gulf Coast, T-Mobile has begun to mobilize our emergency response teams to assist our customers during and after the storm. If necessary, we are prepared to deploy additional personnel and network support equipment to minimize any potential service interruptions and aide any impacted communities.

Part of our preparations may include closing some stores on Thursday, depending on the projected tracks of the storm. If you need to visit one of our locations, please reach out to your <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fstore-locator&data=02%7C01%7CJanielle.GoGuasch%40T-Mobile.com%7C536c4cc895e24f45c8b808d86b004e7a%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637376996341677169&sdata=hxiuVe8d%2B0%2FqdK1lCkmHDiCv4edYOb1LJIqAZb8HJNg%3D&reserved=0">local store</a> to confirm their status.

We know how staying connected is key in times like these. As a reminder, the majority of T-Mobile and Sprint customers are on plans offering unlimited talk, text and data.

If you are in an area that could potentially be impacted, we encourage you to follow any evacuation orders that may be issued by local authorities and hope that you stay safe over the coming days. In the meantime, we recommend customers, particularly along the Gulf Coast, take the following steps to prepare themselves for potential effects of the storm.

More information on how T-Mobile prepares for storms like Hurricane Delta, is available in the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/preparing-for-the-2020-hurricane-season">T-Mobile Newsroom</a>.

*During congestion, customers using >50GB/mo. and Essentials customers may notice lower speeds than other customers due to data prioritization. Metro by T-Mobile customers using >35GB/mo. may notice reduced speeds and Metro customers may notice reduced speeds vs. T-Mobile due to prioritization. 

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As Hurricane Delta moves through the Gulf of Mexico towards the US Gulf Coast, T-Mobile has begun to mobilize our emergency response teams to assist our customers during and after the storm.

T-Mobile Responds to Hurricane Delta | T-Mobile Newsroom

T-Mobile Responds to Hurricane Delta

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Tropical Storm Beta made landfall on the middle Texas coast overnight, and at this stage we are pleased to report that there are no impacts to our network in the area. Our teams continue to monitor the situation as the storm is projected to progress northeastward along the Texas Gulf Coast into Louisiana and Mississippi throughout the week, and are ready to respond and support our customers, as needed.

Due to heavy rainfall and storm surge, over the coming days impacted areas may experience major flooding, which could affect some of our stores’ hours of operations. If you need to visit us, please reach out to your <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/store-locator">local store</a> to confirm they are open. You can also call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset if you need assistance or have questions about your account or service and we will be happy to help.

As Tropical Storm Beta approaches the Texas Gulf Coast today, T-Mobile has been tracking the storm closely in partnership with the National Weather Service and making necessary preparations to our network to minimize any service interruptions that may occur.

If you are in an area that could potentially be impacted, please follow any evacuation orders that may be issued by local authorities and do all you can to stay safe.

If you are a customer and need assistance or have questions about your account or service, please call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset and we will be happy to help.

In the meantime, we recommend customers take the following steps to prepare themselves for potential effects of the storm.

*During congestion, customers using >50GB/mo. and Essentials customers may notice lower speeds than other customers due to data prioritization. Metro by T-Mobile customers using >35GB/mo. may notice reduced speeds and Metro customers may notice reduced speeds vs. T-Mobile due to prioritization.  

UPDATE - September 22, 2020Tropical Storm Beta made landfall on the middle Texas coast overnight, and at this stage we are pleased to report that there

Tropical Storm Beta: Information for T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile Customers | T-Mobile Newsroom

Tropical Storm Beta: Information for T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile Customers

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Over the weekend, our network restoration progressed significantly in areas most impacted by Hurricane Sally. In Mobile, AL we are near full restoration and expect remaining impacts to be resolved in the coming days.  

Over the weekend, our community relief trucks supported our customers at closed stores in the Mobile, AL and Fort Walton, FL areas. Over the coming days, our community relief trucks will deploy to closed stores in the Pensacola, FL area, providing WIFI access and charging facilities in accordance with social distancing measures for COVID-19.

A small number of stores remain closed in the aftermath of the storm. As a reminder, If you need to visit us, please reach out to your <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/store-locator">local store</a> to confirm they are open. You can also call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset if you need assistance or have questions about your account or service and we will be happy to help.

As our teams work diligently to keep our customers connected, our network continues to hold up well and we are seeing significant service restoration progress across impacted areas in the southeast region.

We also remind customers that from 9/15 through 9/21, T-Mobile is waiving overage charges for talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Sprint and Metro by T-Mobile customers in selected areas of MS, AL and FL who are not already on unlimited plans – details below.

Most of our affected sites remain in the Mobile, AL area. Engineering teams are busy deploying additional generators and refueling others in the main area of impact. At the same time, our fleet vehicles are on the move providing coverage solutions for impacted communities.  

Community relief trucks will begin supporting our customers, assisting in locations where there are closed stores this upcoming weekend. The trucks will be providing WIFI access and charging facilities in a socially distanced manner in line with COVID restrictions.

T-Mobile is waiving overage charges for talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Sprint and Metro by T-Mobile customers in selected areas of Texas and Louisiana who are not already on unlimited plans. From 9/15 through 9/21, we are providing unlimited talk, text and data for customers in the following locations:

As a reminder, the majority of our T-Mobile and Sprint customers outside of the above area codes are already on plans offering unlimited talk, text and data.

We’ve had to close some of our stores in the aftermath of the storm. If you need to visit us, please reach out to your <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/store-locator">local store</a> to confirm they are open. You can also call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset if you need assistance or have questions about your account or service and we will be happy to help.

Hurricane Sally made landfall in Alabama early this morning, causing damage and power outages in the area. As the storm progresses, our teams are closely tracking the evolving situation and are working closely with local authorities to gain access to impacted areas as soon as it is safe to do so.

The T-Mobile network held up well as the storm made landfall this morning. Our teams continue to closely assess storm impacts on the network, and at this stage the majority of affected sites are in the Mobile, AL area.

We have a wide range of personnel and equipment to aid our response including additional generators, a fleet of temporary network solutions such as Cells on Wheels (COWs), Cells on Light Trucks (COLTs) satellite infrastructure, small cells, Mobile Command Trailers, WiFi hotspots and a host of other physical and technical capabilities to minimize interruptions for our customers.

If you are a Sprint customer on the Sprint network, you can roam on the T-Mobile network if the Sprint network is impacted and T-Mobile is not.

Community teams stand by equipped with various relief supplies and devices and are ready to support as needed once it is safe to do so. Further information on this effort will be added to this page as logistics are confirmed.

T-Mobile is waiving overage charges for talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Sprint and Metro by T-Mobile customers in select areas of AL, MS and FL who are not already on unlimited plans. From 9/15 through 9/21, we are providing unlimited talk, text and data for customers in the following locations in AL, MS and FL:

We’ve had to close some of our stores in the aftermath of the storm. If you need to visit us, please reach out to your <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fstore-locator&data=02%7C01%7CAlexandra.Fidler1%40T-Mobile.com%7Cdc5c6e728e3648236ade08d85ac7bea5%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637359161221764761&sdata=VLTb0XhMos7lWUHOCXWIzlMD%2Bl6v%2B4E8WrnuWB8UlY0%3D&reserved=0">local store</a> to confirm they are open. We encourage you to prioritize your safety at this time and call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset if you need assistance or have questions about your account or service.

More information on our response

While Hurricane Sally nears landfall and is projected to move along the coast in areas of Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, T-Mobile is taking action to prepare and support affected communities during and after the storm.

Our local teams are working hard to prepare our networks in areas across LA, AL, MS, and FL that are in the storm’s projected path. We’ve staged a number of temporary solutions for quick deployment where needed in the aftermath of the storm.

Even with the measures we take to prepare our networks and with our increased capacity and ability to swiftly take action, there is still the potential for power outages and other communications service interruptions.

If your mobile service is interrupted or spotty immediately following a hurricane, we recommend customers try the following:

Our Community Relief Trucks are fully stocked with charging equipment, devices and various relief supplies to support affected communities when the storm has passed.

We remind our customers that the majority of our T-Mobile and Sprint customers are already on plans offering unlimited talk, text and data.

A number of our stores in areas of possible impact are taking safety precautions and may be closed over the coming days. If you need to visit us, please reach out to your <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/store-locator">local store</a> to confirm they are open. You can also call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset if you need assistance or have questions about your account or service and we will be happy to help.

Help people impacted by Hurricane Sally as well as those who have already been impacted by Hurricane Laura. Text HURRICANES to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross to help those most affected by both hurricanes. Your donation enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. Text messaging charges may apply, and the one-time donation will show up on their next T-Mobile bill. For more information, please visit: <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/customers/text-to-give">https://www.t-mobile.com/customers/text-to-give</a>

See T-Mobile.com for plan information, Terms & Conditions, and other policies.

As Hurricane Sally approaches Gulf Coast, T-Mobile is receiving regular updates from our partners at the National Weather Service and taking all the necessary steps to prepare our network ahead of the storm’s arrival to help minimize any service interruptions that may occur.

As Hurricane Sally approaches Gulf Coast, T-Mobile is taking all the necessary steps to prepare our network ahead of the storm’s arrival to help minimize any service interruptions that may occur.

Hurricane Sally: Information for T Mobile and Metro by T Mobile customers | T-Mobile Newsroom

Hurricane Sally: Information for T Mobile and Metro by T Mobile customers

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https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/hurricane-sally-information-for-t-mobile-customers

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Update – September 1st, 2020

Our network engineering teams continue to make great progress and our network is close to being fully functional across Louisiana parishes and Texas counties impacted by Hurricane Laura. As of now, just 2% of our sites across the impacted areas are affected by power and/or transport issues. We have a large number of generators deployed and our teams continue to work quickly to restore those sites as soon as possible.

We continue to deploy community relief trucks to support impacted communities. We provided WiFI and delivered charging and device solutions in Nederland, Texas and in Lafayette and Sulfur, La. This evening, our teams will also be making a stop at the Beaumont, Texas shelter located at the Holy Family Retreat Center to drop off supplies, including charging banks and devices.

Some of our stores are impacted so if you need to visit us, please check in first with your <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/store-locator">local store</a> to confirm they are open and hours. As a reminder, you can also call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset if you need assistance or have questions about your account or service.

Update – August 28th, 2020

Our network continues to hold up well and field surveys are revealing limited damage to our infrastructure. We are also happy to report that a large number of our stores have reopened with limited hours as safety conditions and access have allowed.

We also remind customers that from 8/27 through 9/1, T-Mobile is waiving overage charges for talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Sprint and Metro by T-Mobile customers in selected areas of Texas and Louisiana who are not already on unlimited plans – details below.

Most of our of affected sites are in the Lake Charles to Shreveport area in Louisiana. Engineering teams have been busy deploying additional generators and refueling others throughout the main area of impact across the Texas and Louisiana coast. <s></s>

Community relief trucks will begin supporting our customers, assisting in locations where there are closed stores. The trucks will be providing WIFI access and charging facilities in a socially distanced manner in line with COVID restrictions.

T-Mobile is waiving overage charges for talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Sprint and Metro by T-Mobile customers in selected areas of Texas and Louisiana who are not already on unlimited plans. From 8/27 through 9/1, we are providing unlimited talk, text and data for customers in the following locations:

The majority of our T-Mobile and Sprint customers outside of the above area codes are already on plans offering unlimited talk, text and data.

If you need to visit us, please reach out to your <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/store-locator">local store</a> to confirm they are open. You can also call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset if you need assistance or have questions about your account or service and we will be happy to help.

See T-Mobile.com for plan information, Terms & Conditions, and other policies.

Update: August 27th, 2020 – 5pm PT

T-Mobile is waving overage charges for talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Sprint and Metro by T-Mobile customers in selected areas of Texas and Louisiana who are not already on unlimited plans. From 8/27 through 9/1, we are providing unlimited talk, text and data for customers in the following locations:

Help people affected by Hurricane Laura. Text LAURA to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross to help those most affected by Hurricane Laura. Your donation enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. Text messaging charges may apply, and the one-time donation will show up on their next T-Mobile bill. For more information, please visit: <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/customers/text-to-give">https://www.t-mobile.com/customers/text-to-give</a>

See T-Mobile.com for plan information, Terms & Conditions, and other policies.

Update: August 27th, 2020

Hurricane Laura made landfall in Texas and Louisiana overnight, causing large amounts of damage and widespread power outages throughout the region.

The situation is still very fluid as first responders and utilities assess the damage caused by the storm. Our teams are working closely with authorities to gain safe access to impacted areas and working around the clock to refuel backup generators and deploying additional backup power where needed to make sure our customers stay connected while they recover from the impacts of this storm.

The T-Mobile network held up well during the storm, with only a small number of sites affected at the moment, predominantly in the Lake Charles area.

In addition to this, our Network Operations Center is also monitoring the performance of our network and adjusting capacity as needed.

Community teams are in close contact with authorities and local shelter operators to coordinate relief activities and delivery of supplies. Further information on this effort will be added to this page as logistics are confirmed.

We’ve had to close some of our stores in the aftermath of the storm. If you need to visit us, please reach out to your <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.t-mobile.com%2Fstore-locator&data=02%7C01%7CJanielle.GoGuasch%40T-Mobile.com%7C60033adf19174095f02308d84ac49636%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637341555473909859&sdata=Ul62uxSV9nWV2OKnigMy7DhvqLa%2BtZccP6ZoJ0Rm5gs%3D&reserved=0">local store</a> to confirm they are open. We encourage you to prioritize your safety at this time and call 611 or 1-800-937-8997 from your handset if you need assistance or have questions about your account or service.

Update: August 26th, 2020

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