Verizon
By Raquel Wilson
At a glance
- Verizon deployed Frontline Crisis Response teams and assets in Washington, Indiana and Hawai’i and new Community Disaster Resilience connectivity vans in impacted areas to provide emergency Wi-Fi, charging stations, and essential relief to first responders and displaced residents.
- To support long-term recovery, Verizon awarded targeted local grants to nonprofits in Hawaiʻi, Washington, Indiana, and West Virginia, assisting communities impacted by severe storms, wildfires, and flooding.
- Marking National Preparedness Month in September, select Verizon retail stores are handing out free portable power banks and encouraging residents to build digital preparedness plans.
As natural disasters become more frequent, evidenced by recent weather across the country, communities are left increasingly vulnerable. Verizon is meeting this challenge holistically by combining long-term resilience investments with immediate aid. By deploying specialized connectivity fleets, awarding targeted community grants, and preparing communities before disaster, Verizon is on the scene when needed most.
On the frontlines
Built on the philosophy that Verizon runs to a crisis, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response team provides mission critical support to emergency personnel and first responders. The team employs a host of Frontline response assets to provide vital connectivity and essential communications.
Following severe storms in Northwest Indiana, the team mobilized rapidly to support local emergency efforts by deploying satellite assets, 5G routers, and mobile devices. In addition, Verizon is keeping customers in Indiana connected by offering unlimited domestic Talk, Text & Data to our active postpaid and SMB customers and prepaid customers until September 15.
In Hawaiʻi, in response to Hurricane Lala, specialized engineers from Verizon’s Disaster Incident Response Team were on the ground to support technical crews.
Mobile assets were also deployed in Spokane, WA including mobile cell sites, portable generators and satellite links that were ready to deploy for rapid recovery and community support.
The Community Disaster Resilience Vans in action
The latest addition to our Frontline response assets are the Community Disaster Resilience (CDR) connectivity vans, created to deliver essential resources and critical internet access directly to local neighborhoods.
In response to the ongoing Hawk Wildfire in Reno, Nevada, a CDR van has been deployed to the Reno Community Resource Center stocked with LED rechargeable flashlights, water, document dry bags, chargers to distribute to the community along with Wi-Fi, charging, and printing capabilities.
After severe weather ripped through the Midwest, a CDR van supported hundreds of displaced residents and shelter guests in Hobart and Gary, Indiana, with bottled water, Wi-Fi, and continuous device charging.
Out West, a CDR van joined the Spokane Disaster Assistance Center to deliver secure device charging lockers, tabletop charging ports, and public-access Chromebooks. Teams also distributed critical supplies—including flashlights, dry bags for protecting vital documents, and N95 masks to mitigate poor air quality. Beyond the van, Verizon supplied emergency charging kits directly to American Red Cross evacuation shelters and opened local retail stores as dedicated community charging hubs.
When a tornado displaced dozens of residents in Steger, Illinois, the CDR van brought critical infrastructure straight to the shelter doors. Fay Kiaurakis, Director of the Louis Sherman Community Center, shared her appreciation for how Verizon showed up during the crisis:
“Your charging stations were a godsend; we were running out of outlets…There are not enough words for how grateful I am for…Verizon for coming to our aid. Thank you for sending the truck and [the team]. They are welcome here anytime and so is Verizon.”
Fay Kiaurakis
Director of the Louis Sherman Community Center
In Menasha, Wisconsin, a connectivity van deployed directly into storm-impacted communities following severe weather disruptions, providing emergency high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity, multi-device charging lockers, and preparedness items like LED flashlights and foldable water bottles to prepare for future disaster.
Investing in the communities we serve
In addition to our on-the-ground response, Verizon is also reinforcing our commitment to the wellbeing of our communities by providing four local grants to nonprofits who are working to support individuals impacted by natural disasters.
Indiana—To directly support community recovery, Verizon is awarding $20,000 in emergency disaster relief grants to two frontline organizations: $10,000 to the United Way of Northwest Indiana to coordinate direct aid for rebuilding families, and $10,000 to the American Red Cross Indiana Region for local shelter and emergency supplies.
Hawaiʻi—After working with the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation in 2023 in response to the Maui fires, Verizon is teaming up with this local organization once again to support the Stronger Hawaiʻi Fund. Verizon’s $15,000 donation will help support statewide disaster and emergency related preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation, and resilience.
Washington—Verizon is reinforcing its commitment to the Spokane, WA, community with a $25,000 donation to Innovia Foundation’s Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Fund. These funds are intended to support immediate and long-term needs related to the ongoing fires in the Spokane region.
West Virginia—Verizon proudly donated $25,000 to the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation to coordinate direct aid and community resources. Verizon also donated $25,000 to the Tygart Valley United Way in partnership with the West Virginia University Center for Community Engagement, funding the Lewis and Upshur Flood Fund to assist families in the state’s hardest-hit counties.
Preparing communities before the storm
September is National Preparedness Month, and Verizon is helping customers across several states ensure they are ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store.
For the second time this year, as part of Verizon’s community disaster resilience initiatives, Verizon is preparing communities before disaster strikes. Across the country select Verizon stores in California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington will be handing out free portable chargers, while supplies last, to local communities and urging residents to create their personal digital preparedness plans.