Hello Everyone,

I picked this up off of my listserver group "CitizenSoldiers" on
YahooGroups. I find it interesting that Cingular
actually went to the effort of acknowledging thier limitations. I wish they'd
actually said something to the effect of
"if ya ain't bleeding or drowning, stay off the phone"......

73

Steve, K4YZ

QUOTE

Cingular Wireless Recommends an Emergency Communications Plan

SAN ANTONIO, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2004 hurricane season is about to
begin and Cingular Wireless wants consumers to be armed with the knowledge they
need
before a hurricane or severe weather hits. Consumers need to understand what
to expect when they use their cell phones or other wireless devices during an
emergency
and what they can do to prepare. Cingular is offering consumers some simple
tips to help maximize their wireless service during an emergency situation.

"Taking the time to plan now can make a considerable difference in how much a
hurricane or any severe weather affects your family or business," says Andy
Shibley, vice president and general manager for Cingular Wireless in South
Texas. "Any emergency plan should include a communications component, too, so
that
every member of the family knows who to contact if they get separated."

There are many weather-related events that can put you in a dangerous
situation if you are not ready. According to the National Hurricane Center,
hurricane
hazards take many forms: storm surges, tornadoes, high winds, and flooding.
By understanding the potential dangers, you can ensure your family is ready.

What can you do to prepare yourself before severe weather hits?

* Program in all of your emergency contact numbers. Program in 9-1-1, the
police department, fire station and hospital contact numbers as well as
your family members into your cell phone so you don't have to think
about it during and after an emergency.

* Have a family communications plan in place. Designate someone out of
the area as a central contact, and make certain all family members know
who to contact if they become separated.

* Keep your wireless phone batteries charged at all times. Have an
alternate plan to recharge your battery in case of power outages.

* Keep your wireless phone dry. The biggest threat from hurricanes is
water versus wind damage so keep your equipment safe from the elements.

* Forward your home number to your wireless number in the event of an
evacuation. Since call forwarding is based out of the telephone central
office, you will get incoming calls from your landline phone, even if
your local telephone service is disrupted at your home. In the unlikely
event the central office is isolated, call forwarding may not work.

* Consider additional cell phones for your family's use. If you want to
add additional cell phones to your wireless service, remember to do so
prior to the emergency.

What can you expect from your wireless service during severe weather?

* Remember, wireless phones are complex radios. Your wireless call
travels over airwaves to another phone, and just like radios, wireless
calls can be obstructed by bad weather.

* It is important for consumers to keep in mind that during an emergency,
many more people are trying to use their cell phones at the same time
when compared to normal calling activity. When more people try to call
at the same time, the increased calling volume may create network
congestion. Network congestion can cause "fast busy" signals from
wireless phones during times of heavy wireless phone usage, such as
during an emergency. Customers may even receive a message that says,
"Your call cannot be completed at this time." If you hear this message,
simply hang up, wait a few seconds and retry.

What can you do to get through to loved ones during an emergency?

* Try short/text messaging service (SMS). More than 70 percent of
Cingular phones are SMS capable. Also, if you have a wireless data
device such as a BlackBerry, you can use its messaging capabilities to
communicate. Depending on your call plan, additional charges may apply.

* Use a landline phone if it is available. In many instances, landline
service may still be available in your area so this still may be an
option.

* Keep non-emergency calls to a minimum; limit your calls to the most
important ones. Chances are that if there is severe weather, many
people will be attempting to place wireless calls to loved ones,
friends and business associates. If the landline phones are not
working, this probability increases.

* Wait 10 seconds before redialing: If you do hang up before your call
has gone through, pause before you redial. This allows your original
call data to clear the network before you try again.

UNQUOTE