An effective response requires reliable, interoperable communications that build awareness and improve near real-time decision-making. There is a need to move information quickly between units on scene and back to central command. This is where Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team shines with more than thirty years supporting first responders during times of crisis, providing mission-critical voice and data service to fire departments and emergency services across the country.
Having access to technology helps facilitate the prompt sharing of information about the rural water supply with local water providers or other public safety agencies. Examples of applications that support first responders in almost any location with the network and devices built for tough missions include:
- Push to Talk Plus, a mobile app that can connect dispersed teams using multiple devices, allowing for near real-time responsiveness
- Group First Response, provides talk, text and streaming of live video to public safety users nearly anywhere across the U.S. with the push of a button.
- Priority and Preemption, the automatic and temporary reallocation of network resources to allow designated users to stay connected during emergencies, even when the network is fully utilized.
With these tools, firefighters, incident command, local water agencies and other personnel can easily and quickly share information about the status of the rural water supply, even in situations where the network is under pressure, or even unavailable.
The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team members set up portable cell sites, WiFi hotspots, free charging stations and other Verizon Frontline devices and solutions that enable communications and/or boost network performance. In addition to providing Verizon Frontline connectivity solutions, such as cell phone distribution, cell sites, temporary satellite links and drones to assist with situational awareness during an event, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team also provides support for displaced communities, supplying Wi-Fi access and charging stations to emergency shelters in an evacuation.
In 2022, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team delivered close to 2,000 Verizon Frontline solutions to public safety agencies responding to fires in more than 120 communities in 21 states.
Learn more about how the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team is working with public safety agencies to ensure communities are covered during emergency operations.
The author of this content is a paid contributor for Verizon.