Verizon shares inside look of network facility that helps connect people after severe weather strikes

DES MOINES, Iowa– Iowa is inching towards a record severe weather year. With 110 tornadoes, flooding, and just recently a confirmed derecho, there are a lot of elements that go into recovery efforts after weather disasters.

A major aspect of getting life back to normal post severe weather is the ability for crews, first responders, and community members to be able to communicate via their phones.

WHO 13 got a unique look inside of Verizon’s network facility that houses deployable assets, like mobile connectivity units, to areas that are impacted by severe weather.

These units can transmit service through satellite during clean up efforts where power lines are downed, helping to keep everyone connected.

“When we deploy, especially in emergency events, we really want to make sure that our customers and first responders really are the focus point of making sure that they get what they need so that they can coordinate repair efforts, humanitarian efforts, and just make sure that everybody is taken care of,” Rick Goldschmidt, senior director of network assurance for Verizon, said. “Fire departments, first responders, police, you name it. It is really the cornerstone of what we do and that’s try and make sure that connectivity and communications aren’t interrupted.”

Goldschmidt said the units had major impacts during the 2020 derecho and the tornado that hit Minden this year. Currently, Verizon has a spot asset in Sioux City to help first responders help those impacted by flooding.

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