Tuesday 4 October 2022 07:39 PM Verizon provides Hurricane Ian responders with cellular connectivity by way of ... trends now
Verizon is using a fleet of drones over southwest Florida to provide cellular connectivity to first responders who working around the clock in search and rescue missions to find survivors who may be trapped inside one of the more than 400 buildings destroyed by Hurricane Ian.
Tethered drones that can fly for up to 1,000 hours are beaming down 4G and 5G coverage for an approximate radius of five to seven miles.
Cory Davis, National Director for Verizon Frontline's Response Team and Public Safety Operations, told DailyMail.com that the cellular company has supported more than 50 first responder agencies with its resources that include over 100 assets.
He explained that along with the drones, Verizon is using satellites that beam down internet from low Earth orbit, generators hitched to trailers and recently sent a portable cell site on a barge to Sanibel Island, which has been completely cut off by the hurricane.
Ian hit Lee County, home to Fort Myers, the hardest and Verizon, which is calling the county 'ground zero,' is using the most assets to provide communications for first responders who have rescued hundreds of people since the monster storm made landfall last week.
Verizon Frontline's Response Team and Public Safety Operations team is using drones to provide first responders with cellular connectivity as they conduct search and rescue missions
The cellular company recently sent a portable cell site on a barge to Sanibel Island, which has been completely cut off by the hurricane
'For my team crisis response team – we support everyone, AT&T, T-Mobile,' Davis said.
'Assets, when broadcasted, pick up Verizon frontline phones, but they also broadcast WiFi so it doesn't matter what network you are on.'
Hurricane Ian clocked in as a Category 4 when it made landfall in Fort Myers last Wednesday, which saw waters surge up to 14 feet in some parts of the area - and now about 90 percent of the beach is gone.
Kevin Guthrie, director of the state's Division of Emergency Management, said on Friday morning that some 10,000 people were unaccounted for, Guthrie said, but many of them were likely in shelters or without electricity.
And about 2.7 million people are without power across the state of Florida.
Verizon is helping where it can, noting it has been working around the clock to ensure search and rescue teams have the ability to communicate with one another.
'The 5G Ultra Wideband being deployed is using C-band spectrum,' Verizon shared in a statement.
'Verizon acquired an average of approximately in markets across the country, providing a huge superhighway for wireless data to travel on.
Lee County, where Fort Myers is
