CommunityCategoryPress Release

T-Mobile Responds to the 2020 Wildfires

September 09, 2020

Update: October 2, 2020

T-Mobile is extending existing customer concessions and waiving overage charges for talk, text and data for T-Mobile and Sprint customers (including Sprint and T-Mobile postpaid small business accounts) who are not already on unlimited plans through 10/5.

We are providing unlimited talk, text and data for customers in areas of Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Shasta, Sonoma and Trinity counties, in the following zip code locations:

  • Lake - 95467
  • Mendocino - 95469
  • Napa – 94508, 94515, 94573, 94574, 94576
  • Shasta – 96001, 96007, 96033, 96047, 96087
  • Sonoma – 95404, 95405, 95409, 95442, 95452, 95465
  • Trinity – 96024, 96052, 96091, 96093

Update: September 30, 2020

We continue to closely track the developing wildfire situation on the west coast, including the new Glass Fire and Zogg Fire in Northern California. Our network continues to hold up well, with only a very small number of sites impacted in these areas. Our thoughts remain with all communities impacted by the fires this year.

T-Mobile is waiving overage charges for talk, text and data for T-Mobile and Sprint customers (including Sprint and T-Mobile postpaid small business accounts) who are not already on unlimited plans in areas of Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Shasta, Sonoma and Trinity counties. From 9/28 through 10/2, we are providing unlimited talk, text and data for customers in the following zip code locations:

California Counties:

  • Lake - 95467
  • Mendocino - 95469
  • Napa – 94508, 94515, 94573, 94574, 94576
  • Shasta – 96001, 96007, 96033, 96047, 96087
  • Sonoma – 95404, 95405, 95409, 95442, 95452, 95465
  • Trinity – 96024, 96052, 96091, 96093

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

  • For T-Mobile, these are customers on Magenta, Essentials, Unlimited Age 55+, T-Mobile One, or Simple Choice plan, while Sprint customers on Sprint’s Unlimited, Unlimited Freedom and certain older plans are also covered.
  • Metro by T-Mobile customers also have unlimited talk and text on all plans.

CA PSPS Update

PG&E advised that power has been restored to all areas in Northern California impacted by the planned public safety power shut offs, and no further shut offs are expected this week. Our teams are working quickly to return sites impacted by the shut offs back to commercial power.

*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 28, 2020

Due to heightened risk of wildfires caused by dry weather conditions and high winds, PG&E has taken steps to shut off power in areas of Northern California. T-Mobile is closely monitoring the situation and has taken steps to prepare our network to minimize any service interruptions for our customers.

We have permanent generators installed at key cell sites to ensure they remain in service. Plus, other larger sites have battery backup power, provided they satisfy the necessary space, access and regulation requirements. We also have a fleet of temporary generators that we are able to deploy as needed as well as wireless cells on wheels (COWs) and cells on light trucks (COLTs) to provide additional coverage or capacity. Additionally, our engineering team is able to configure sites in and around the impacted areas to boost signal where coverage may have been lost.

We also encourage customers to take a few quick steps now to prepare in advance of the shut offs:

  • Follow PG&E on social media to stay up to date on the situation:
  • Fully charge all your devices. Consider investing in a charging device like an external battery that doesn’t need a power outlet – and fully charge it as well.
  • In the event the T-Mobile network is unavailable, and power is available to you at home, set up Wi-Fi Calling on your phone. For Apple phones, go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling; and for Android phones, go to Settings > More Connection Settings > Wi-Fi Calling. 

It is possible that our store hours could be impacted by the public safety power shut offs. If you need to visit us, please reach out to your local store 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.

* When you first enable Wi-Fi Calling on T-Mobile, you must provide us with the primary street address at which the Wi-Fi Calling service will be used (“Your E911 Registered Address”). If you call 911 over Wi-Fi we may transmit Your E911 Registered Address to the 911 Communications Center, who may use it to help emergency responders locate you, but you may need to provide your contact information and current location. You’ll need to update Your E911 Registered Address if you plan on using Wi-Fi Calling service at a location different from Your E911 Registered Address. You can update Your E911 Registered Address by accessing your MyT-Mobile.com account or by contacting T-Mobile Customer Care.

Update: September 16, 2020

Network

Our engineering teams are actively monitoring our network to minimize customer interruptions. T-Mobile’s network continues to perform very well and is experiencing minimal impacts from the wildfires.

Customer & Community Support

T-Mobile Community Relief trucks have been on the road in Fresno, Clovis, and Gridley, CA and in Salem, Portland, Gladstone, and Corvalis, OR delivering WIFI access, chargers, and other essential to local shelters. Please note that due to COVID restrictions, space at these shelters is limited and distribution of T-Mobile supplies is being managed by the shelter operators. Please check with your local shelter to confirm their availability.

Store Impacts:

T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile stores are  closely monitoring the impact of the air quality on the companies’ indoor locations, and will evaluate if store closures are necessary. Please call your local store to confirm their status.

Employee Donation Matching:

In support of our customers, employees and communities impacted by the wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington the T-Mobile Foundation is offering a 2:1 match for donations made to the American Red Cross relief efforts. Through Sept. 20, the T-Mobile Foundation will double match up to $50,000 in employee donations made through our Employee Donation Matching Program, potentially increasing our impact to a total of $150,000 for the American Red Cross.

Update: September 14, 2020

Network:

In California, Washington, and Oregon our network is holding up well and is experiencing minimal impacts from fire damage. Our engineering teams continue to actively monitor our network to minimize customer interruptions.

Extended T-Mobile Customer Support

T-Mobile is waving overage charges for talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Sprint and Metro by T-Mobile customers (including Sprint and T-Mobile postpaid small business accounts) in a number of Counties across California, Oregon and Washington who are not already on unlimited plans. From 9/10 through 9/16, we are providing unlimited talk, text and data for customers in the following locations:

California Counties:

  • Fresno – 93619, 93626, 93720, 93730
  • Riverside – 92220, 92320
  • San Bernadino – 92305, 92339
  • San Diego – 91901, 91903, 91916, 91931, 91935, 92019, 92021
  • Butte - 95916
  • Lassen – 95947
  • Plumas – 95965
  • Shasta – 95966
  • Yuba - 95971

Oregon Counties:

  • Clackamas- 97004, 97009, 97011, 97013, 97015, 97017, 97022, 97023, 97027, 97028, 97034, 97035, 97036, 97038, 97042, 97045, 97049, 97055, 97067, 97068, 97070, 97086, 97089, 97222, 97267, 97268, 97269,
  • Douglas– 97410 97416 97417 97429 97432 97435 97436 97441 97442 97443 97447 97457 97462 97467 97469 97470 97471 97473 97479 97481 97484 97486 97494 97495 97496 97499
  • Jackson– 97501, 97502, 97503, 97504, 97520, 97522, 97524, 97525, 97530, 97535, 97536, 97537, 97539, 97540, 97541
  • Josephine– 97527, 97528, 97533, 97544
  • Lane – 97401, 97402, 97403, 97404, 97405, 97408, 97409, 97412, 97413, 97419, 97424, 97426, 97430, 97431, 97434, 97437, 97438, 97439, 97440, 97448, 97451, 97452, 97453, 97454, 97455, 97461, 97463, 97475, 97477, 97478, 97480, 97487, 97488, 97489, , 97490, 97492, 97493
  • Lincoln – 97341, 97343, 97357, 97364, 97365, 97366, 97367, 97368, 97369, 97376, 97380, 97388, 97390, 97391, 97394, 97498
  • Linn – 97321, 97322, 97327, 97329, 97335, 97336, 97345, 97348, 97355, 97358, 97360, 97374, 97377, 97386, 97389, 97446
  • Marion – 97002, 97020, 97026, 97032, 97071, 97137, 97301, 97302, 97303, 97305, 97306, 97307, 97308, 97309, 97310, 97311, 97312, 97314, 97317, 97325, 97342, 97346, 97350, 97352, 97362, 97373, 97375, 97381, 97383, 97384, 97385, 97392
  • Washington – 97003, 97005, 97006, 97007, 97008, 97062, 97075, 97076, 97077, 97078, 97079, 97106, 97113, 97116, 97117, 97119, 97123, 97124, 97125, 97129, 97133, 97140, 97144, 97223, 97224, 97225, 97229, 97281, 97291, 97298

Washington Counties:

  • Chelan - 98817
  • Douglas – 98813, 98830, 98858
  • Whitman - 99149, 99170, 99171, 99176

Community Support

Today, T-Mobile Community Relief trucks are out supporting communities affected by wildfires in Fresno, California and Portland, Oregon, dropping off a range of supplies including WIFI access points, charging supplies, and other essentials to shelters. Due to COVID restrictions, space at these shelters is limited and distribution of T-Mobile supplies is being managed by the shelter operators. Please check with your local shelter to confirm their availability.

Store Update

A number of our stores in Oregon are taking safety precautions and may be closed in the coming days. If you need to visit us, please reach out to your local store to confirm they are open.

Text to Donate

Support American Red Cross wildfire relief wherever it is needed by texting WILDFIRE to 90999 to make a $10 donation. The donation will be charged to your next T-Mobile bill. Message & data rates may apply. Text messaging charges may apply, and the one-time donation will show up on their next T-Mobile bill. For more information, please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com/customers/text-to-give

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

Update: September 12, 2020

Customer support

T-Mobile is waving overage charges for talk, text and data for T-Mobile, Sprint and Metro by T-Mobile customers (including Sprint and T-Mobile postpaid small business accounts) in a number of Counties across California, Oregon and Washington who are not already on unlimited plans. From 9/10 through 9/16, we are providing unlimited talk, text and data for customers in the following locations:

California Counties:
(Zip codes updated on 9/14/20)

  • Fresno – 93619, 93626, 93720, 93730
  • Riverside – 92220, 92320
  • San Bernadino – 92305, 92339
  • San Diego – 91901, 91903, 91916, 91931, 91935, 92019, 92021

Oregon Counties:

  • Clackamas- 97004, 97009, 97011, 97013, 97015, 97017, 97022, 97023, 97027, 97028, 97034, 97035, 97036, 97038, 97042, 97045, 97049, 97055, 97067, 97068, 97070, 97086, 97089, 97222, 97267, 97268, 97269,
  • Douglas– 97410 97416 97417 97429 97432 97435 97436 97441 97442 97443 97447 97457 97462 97467 97469 97470 97471 97473 97479 97481 97484 97486 97494 97495 97496 97499
  • Jackson– 97501, 97502, 97503, 97504, 97520, 97522, 97524, 97525, 97530, 97535, 97536, 97537, 97539, 97540, 97541
  • Josephine– 97527, 97528, 97533, 97544
  • Lane – 97401, 97402, 97403, 97404, 97405, 97408, 97409, 97412, 97413, 97419, 97424, 97426, 97430, 97431, 97434, 97437, 97438, 97439, 97440, 97448, 97451, 97452, 97453, 97454, 97455, 97461, 97463, 97475, 97477, 97478, 97480, 97487, 97488, 97489, , 97490, 97492, 97493
  • Lincoln – 97341, 97343, 97357, 97364, 97365, 97366, 97367, 97368, 97369, 97376, 97380, 97388, 97390, 97391, 97394, 97498
  • Linn – 97321, 97322, 97327, 97329, 97335, 97336, 97345, 97348, 97355, 97358, 97360, 97374, 97377, 97386, 97389, 97446
  • Marion – 97002, 97020, 97026, 97032, 97071, 97137, 97301, 97302, 97303, 97305, 97306, 97307, 97308, 97309, 97310, 97311, 97312, 97314, 97317, 97325, 97342, 97346, 97350, 97352, 97362, 97373, 97375, 97381, 97383, 97384, 97385, 97392
  • Washington – 97003, 97005, 97006, 97007, 97008, 97062, 97075, 97076, 97077, 97078, 97079, 97106, 97113, 97116, 97117, 97119, 97123, 97124, 97125, 97129, 97133, 97140, 97144, 97223, 97224, 97225, 97229, 97281, 97291, 97298

Washington Counties:

  • Chelan - 98817
  • Douglas – 98813, 98830, 98858
  • Whitman - 99149, 99170, 99171, 99176

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

  • For T-Mobile, these are customers on Magenta, Essentials, Unlimited Age 55+, T-Mobile One, or Simple Choice plan, while Sprint customers on Sprint’s Unlimited, Unlimited Freedom and certain older plans are also covered. 
  • Metro by T-Mobile customers also have unlimited talk and text on all plans.

Community support

Our Community Response teams are on the ground in California and Oregon, working closely with a number of shelter operators to coordinate relief activities and delivery of supplies where they are most needed.

  • T-Mobile trucks will be stationed at some shelters in the Freson, CA area over the weekend providing WiFi and delivering device chargers, charging banks, masks and other supplies.

Employee and community safety is our priority at this time and we are observing required social distancing protocols and other COVID safety guidelines in all of our operations.

*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 11, 2020

Network

We continue to track the wildfire situation unfolding in the Northwest and are closely monitoring our network to try to minimize any impacts on our network. At this stage, our network is holding up well – we have no impacts on our Washington network and we have a very small number of sites affected in Oregon.

Customer & Community Support

T-Mobile knows that staying connected is very important in times like these, and we’d like to remind our customers that the majority of T-Mobile and Sprint customers are on plans offering unlimited talk, text and data.

  • For T-Mobile, these are customers on Magenta, Essentials, Unlimited Age 55+, T-Mobile One, or Simple Choice plan, while Sprint customers on Sprint’s Unlimited, Unlimited Freedom and certain older plans are also covered. 
  • Metro by T-Mobile customers also have unlimited talk and text on all plans.

Text to Donate

Support American Red Cross wildfire relief wherever it is needed by texting WILDFIRE to 90999 to make a $10 donation. The donation will be charged to your next T-Mobile bill. Message & data rates may apply. Text messaging charges may apply, and the one-time donation will show up on their next T-Mobile bill. For more information, please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com/customers/text-to-give

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

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.  

September 10, 2020

As wildfires burn in Southern WA and in Eastern Oregon, our thoughts are with the thousands of people who have been affected. T-Mobile is keeping a close eye on the situation, including any impacts on our network, customers, and employees. At this stage, our network is holding up well in both states and we have hundreds of generators deployed throughout the affected area in the event local power grids are affected.

If you are in an area that could potentially be impacted, please monitor and follow any evacuation orders that may be issued by local authorities.

Given the unpredictable nature of wildfires, we also encourage our customers to make a few preparations:

  • Fully charge your phone and wireless devices, and have charging cables handy. You can also consider investing in a charging device, like an external battery that doesn’t need a power outlet.
  • Set up Wi-Fi Calling on your phone. For Apple phones, go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling; and for Android phones, go to Settings > More Connection Settings > Wi-Fi Calling.

Our local teams are tracking the impact of the air quality on our stores and will evaluate if store closures are necessary. Please reach out to your local store to confirm their status.

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