Mobile, Tillman's Corner and Daphne locations to serve free lunch on Saturday for victims and relief workers
MOBILE, Ala. - September 17, 2004 - Cellular South's Emergency Task Force has set up portable phone kiosks in the Mobile area for Hurricane Ivan victims to contact family and friends free of charge. In addition, the company plans to host cookouts at select retail locations on Saturday, September 18, to feed hurricane victims and relief workers.
The kiosks will be provided to the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency to use where needed. The portable wireless phone kiosks will be available while shelters are needed for displaced residents due to Hurricane Ivan.
Cellular South continues to provide community support by donating phones and service to the American Red Cross and other disaster relief agencies as needed. To better ensure that emergency officials will have clear access for communication, Cellular South reminds wireless customers in impacted areas to limit phone use to imperative communications.
To offset anticipated heavy wireless call volume due to landline and electrical interruptions, Cellular South has deployed several portable cell sites known as COWS (Cellular on Wheels) into areas affected by Hurricane Ivan to further facilitate customers' and emergency officials' communication needs.
Company employees are working around the clock to return its wireless system to full capacity in Coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Most of Cellular South's network in Mobile, the Eastern Shore and Daphne is operational, including service along interstates and most major highways, although wireless customers may experience problems with call clarity and busy dial tones due to overloaded capacity.
"Cellular South's Emergency Task Force is working steadily to repair any damage to our towers or infrastructure and we will return to full operations soon," said Noel Coward, Cellular South area manager and Emergency Task Force coordinator for Coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Cellular South stores in Mobile, Daphne and Foley reopened Friday to help meet customers' needs.Four of those locations - two on Airport Blvd. in Mobile, one in Tillman's Corner and one in Daphne - will host a cookout for the public starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday and serving until supplies are exhausted.
Customer Information Line - #IVAN
Earlier this week Cellular South implemented a dedicated number its customers can call to receive updated information. Dialing #IVAN, a free call from their Cellular South phone, or calling toll free 1-888-790-7211 will connect customers to an automated line providing information about the company's wireless service and network capabilities, the store hours for retail locations in affected areas and other disaster relief information as available.
About Cellular South
The company is one of the largest privately held wireless providers in the U.S. and is licensed to provide wireless service - to a total population of more than five million people - on its network stretching from the Memphis Metropolitan Area, throughout all of Mississippi, along Coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle through Destin/Seaside. Cellular South offers nationwide coverage on a variety of rate plans including unlimited calling and free incoming calls. For more information, contact Cellular South at 1-877-CSOUTH1 or visit cellularsouth.com.
Contact:
Tanya Rankin, (601) 974-7134, trankin@cellularsouth.com
Noel Coward, Area Manager, (251) 366-3000, ncoward@cellularsouth.com
Anita Clark, Marketing Specialist, (251) 366-3009, aclark@cellularsouth.com
