As Hurricane Isabel makes landfall along the North Carolina coast today, Motorola is proactively working to ensure its customers' private communications systems remain fully operational in the event of power outages and storm damage. Over the past several days, field support and product teams have been placed on high alert, preparing to build and ship equipment and resources to customers, as well as undertake facility repair and recovery as needed.
"We have all the necessary resources in place to help customers maintain the integrity of their private communications networks in what will be the second major crisis to hit the Northeast in the last two months," said Jim Screeden, Motorola Communications and Electronics, Inc. Vice President, Systems Integration Operations. "While no major interruptions in service have been reported this afternoon, we stand ready to deploy all available resources to support public safety and first responder communications systems in the event of power loss or equipment storm damage."
In addition to staying in close contact with affected customers and suppliers, Motorola has activated its special ordering system. The system allows for immediate equipment shipping and priority handling of all customer requests. Already six equipment orders have been fulfilled and shipped to North Carolina and Virginia. Specifically, Motorola shipped 100 XTS 5000 portable radios to Charlotte for potential use by the North Carolina Highway Patrol, 17 MT2000 radios to the Army National Guard in Hartford, Conn., and two Quantar UHF base stations to the Dare County Sheriff in Raleigh, N.C. In addition, the North Carolina Highway Patrol has offered to airlift Motorola equipment and supplies to any agency needing immediate assistance.
Motorola's System Support Center, responsible for the 24-hour daily real- time monitoring of more than 600 SmartZone communications networks nationwide, offers a special 800 number for customers to request and secure resources. Center systems also are used to dial into 911 and SmartNet networks potentially affected by the hurricane hourly to assess system availability, functionality and general operation. The Center continues to proactively notify Motorola Maintenance customers of impending service interruptions due to the weather or other breaking news.
Three Motorola mobile trunked communications systems stand ready to be deployed to any affected city or county to ensure critical utility and government communications networks remain operational. Currently, a mobile, five-channel 800 MHz trunked radio site located in Savannah, Ga., is being programmed in conventional mode to support local mutual aid systems and will be transported to Raleigh later today as a precautionary measure. Two others located in Albany, N.Y., and Columbia, S.C., will also be deployed as required.
"Private communications networks remain one of the most powerful tools public safety and government agencies have at their disposal to maintain the safety and well-being of first responders and the citizens they protect," said Screeden. "The recent Northeast blackout further demonstrates the value of these networks with many large customers, including the statewide Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS) and New York City's Consolidated Edison, reporting no system interruptions throughout the duration of the event."
Motorola will continue to monitor, support and protect the integrity of its customers' communications networks as Hurricane Isabel diminishes in strength, Screeden said.
"Despite reported power outages in Chesapeake, N.C., and Virginia Beach, Va., as well as extensive flooding, our customers have maintained their communications capabilities with no serious system issues reported," said Screeden.