The Verizon Wireless network was tested during the six hurricanes that tore through the U.S. in the summer of 2005.
Verizon Wireless's ongoing network preparations helped the company quickly swing into action to maintain and restore wireless service in all affected areas. Verizon Wireless also donated phones and wireless service and set up emergency communication centers to help evacuees place calls, re-charge their phones and receive technical support and customer service, free of charge.
Following are excerpts of letters received from Verizon Wireless customers who were affected by the 2005 hurricane season.
"From the hours right after Hurricane Wilma hit through now I have been able to stay in touch with the outside world and keep my business running thanks to my Verizon Wireless air card. Please thank your network folks for a job well done."
- Jack Malcolm
Fort Lauderdale, FL
"I am a victim of Hurricane Katrina. I want to commend you and Verizon Wireless for your outstanding service during this devastating tragedy here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast!! ...Verizon Wireless ~ Working for Victims of Hurricane Katrina!!
- Cheli Strumila
Gulfport, MS

"I want to thank you for the awesome service your company provided during Hurricane Katrina. Our family lives in Slidell, LA. As the hurricane made landfall on Monday, it took out all the cell phone service for miles and we lost touch with our families and did not know how they fared. My oldest son and I drove our motor home out there with the promise to my husband that as soon as we made contact, we would drive back out to an area that had cell phone service and call him with an update on the family.
By the time we got to Louisiana, Verizon Wireless service was working to within 12 miles of Slidell. I made contact with the families and was able to call my husband. It was a great relief for him to hear that we made it there safe and the families were all fine.
The next evening as I was getting ready for bed, my phone rang notifying me of a voice mail message! How great! Verizon Wireless service had been restored in Slidell!! Everyone began using my phone to make calls to family, friends, and insurance companies. My son was even able to take pictures with his camera phone and send them back to our computer in San Diego, which my husband then emailed out to the rest of the extended family and friends. They were all so grateful to see pictures of everyone even if it did show the horrible devastation.
I know it must have been a lot of hard work and long hours for your workers to restore all that service, but we all truly appreciate all the effort!! The ability to make a call is something I will try not to take for granted in the future!!!
Thank you again for all your hard work and dedication to proving the best service out there!
Patsy Bell
San Diego, CA
"Can You Hear Me Now? Yes we can! Thank you, thank you, thank you, I cannot say it properly or enough. I have to personally thank Verizon Wireless for their commitment to providing such widespread service that has somehow survived the worse natural disaster in American history. My family is in St. Tammany Parish (Covington area) and the only way they have fairly reliable (which is more than acceptable) ability to contact us is through Verizon Wireless."
Mona Hayes
Gulf Coast
"I am pleased to say that our team went in, and accomplished 100% of our objectives -- some of which we would not have been able to do had I not been able to hop on the Internet late Saturday night...One only had to see the lines of people at the airport, waiting while we were working Saturday and Sunday to know our efforts will make a big difference."
Joseph Binu
Euless, TX

"I am a pre-pay wireless customer...My father lives in New Orleans and I had not heard from him. Every day I would have to make a ton of phone calls looking for my father and for work. I thought that this would exhaust my pre-pay minutes very quickly and I would not be able to keep in touch with my friends and family and any job openings that might arise. But to my surprise, every morning the recording told me that I had this unbelievable amount of minutes to use. After about two weeks, I finally heard from my father. Then about two weeks after that a Verizon representative called and to my surprise the woman said that Verizon Wireless had given me all these minutes until December. I cannot tell you how much you have helped me. You stepped up and made a difference, even if only in my life. So thank you very much Verizon Wireless, may God continue to bless your company."
Melton Weaver
Mobile, Alabama