AT&T addresses internet outage, restoration efforts

GO. WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES, TRAFFIC AND WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. BUT WE START RIGHT NOW WITH TODAY’S SHOW. AL ROKER. AL, OUR FRIEND, IS JOINING US LIVE IN ASHEVILLE TO LEND A HAND, QUITE LITERALLY, TO THE COMMUNITY DEVASTATED BY HURRICANE HELENE. OUT. HEY, GUYS. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD MORNING. AARON AND JANE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND WE’RE HERE RIGHT NOW AT THE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FARMERS MARKET. THIS IS WHERE THE MANNA FOOD BANK HAS SET UP TEMPORARY HEADQUARTERS BECAUSE THEY WERE THEIR HEADQUARTERS WERE DESTROYED. AND AS YOU KNOW, THEY SERVE ABOUT 150,000 FOLKS MEALS A MONTH. AND THEY GOT WIPED OUT. AND SO THEY’VE RELOCATED HERE. AND SO WE’RE HERE TO LEND A HAND. WE’VE MET WITH THEIR, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR CEO. WE’VE TALKED WITH THE VOLUNTEERS. WE WERE HERE YESTERDAY HELPING DISTRIBUTE MEALS. WE WENT UP IN A CHOPPER, AN ARMY CHOPPER WITH THE FEMA ADMINISTRATOR, DEANNE CRISWELL, AND I GOT TO TELL YOU WHAT’S REALLY HEARTWARMING IS SEEING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, GUYS HERE WHO HAVE EITHER LOST THEIR HOMES, THEY DON’T HAVE POWER, BUT THEY ARE HELPING THE VOLUNTEERS HERE AT THE MANNA FOOD BANK ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN. SO WE’RE HERE FROM THE TODAY SHOW TO LEND A HAND TODAY TO THESE FOLKS TO TRY TO HELP THEM, HELP THE FOLKS HERE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, GUYS. AND NOW YOU’VE BEEN ON THE GROUND AFTER SOME HUGE STORMS, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF TIMES IN YOUR CAREER, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU’RE SEEING IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY AND ASHEVILLE, BOTH FROM THE DAMAGE? BUT THEN ALSO FROM THAT LENDING A HAND PERSPECTIVE? WELL, I GOT TO TELL YOU, IT REALLY IS MIND BOGGLING BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK OF A DAMAGE FROM A HURRICANE, YOU THINK OF STORM SURGE. YOU KNOW, BOATS OF UP ON, ON UP AGAINST HOUSES. AND WE SEE WE’VE SEEN THAT VIDEO FROM HELENE. BUT YOU KNOW, LOOKING BOTH ON THE GROUND AND FROM THE AIR, IT IS DEVASTATING TO SEE THE MUDSLIDES THE THE CARS, THE HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN WASHED AWAY BUT ALSO VERY, VERY GRATIFYING TO SEE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME OUT EVEN WHILE THEY’RE SUFFERING, TO TRY TO HELP ALLEVIATE. I TALKED TO A GUY WHO A GUY NAMED MATT, HE DROVE 12 HOURS FROM MEMPHIS. IT TOOK 12 HOURS BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS JUST TO DONATE. HE BROUGHT UP A CHAINSAW. HE BROUGHT UP A CLEANING, SUPPLIES, FOOD, WATER BECAUSE HE FELT HE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING. AND WHEN WHEN THERE’S A DISASTER IN THIS COUNTRY, PEOPLE, THEY THEY THEY THEY SHOW UP AND THAT’S WHAT’S HAPPENED HERE. AND THAT’S WHY WE WANTED TO BE HERE. WE’VE GOT A GREAT PARTNERSHIP OF A LOT OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE DECIDED TO COME IN. HARRIS TEETER, LOWE’S AND OTHER FOLKS WHO WANT TO HELP. SO WE’RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT TODAY IN OUR 8:00 HALF HOUR OF THE TODAY SHOW. LEND A HAND TODAY AND A THANKS TO SIDNEY FOR PROVIDING A GORGEOUS DAY TODAY FOR IT. THE WEATHER IS GOING TO BE PERFECT AND SO WE’RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT BEING HERE TO HELP THE FOLKS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. YEAH, THOSE CLEAR SKIES CERTAINLY DO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. AND YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE UP IN THE FEMA CHOPPER YESTERDAY WITH DIRECTOR CRISWELL. WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU SAW THAT WAS PARTICULARLY HEART WRENCHING FOR YOU? WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST THESE THESE HOMES, LIKE LIKE DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE, YOU KNOW, TO SEE THAT IT’S JUST, YOU KNOW, THE RIVER ARTS DISTRICT AND ALL THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, IT’S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME FOR THIS TO TO GET BACK UP. BUT AS THE FEMA DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATOR TOLD ME, THEY SAID THEY’RE DEDICATED TO GETTING THIS DONE BECAUSE AND AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO BUILD BACK BETTER, TO BUILD BACK MORE RESILIENT. SO THAT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, THE OUTCOME MIGHT BE DIFFERENT. BUT IT’S IT’S REALLY, YOU KNOW, JUST HEARTBREAKING TO SEE WHAT’S HAPPENED. YOU KNOW, IN A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, 12 HOURS TO SEE WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WAS WROUGHT HERE. IT’S, I MEAN, THE IDEA THAT YOU GOT BASICALLY FIVE MONTHS OR 3 TO 5 MONTHS WORTH OF SEPTEMBER RAINFALL IN THREE DAYS IS UNBELIEVABLE. YEAH, HEART WRENCHING INDEED. AL ROKER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AL, THANK YOU. AND IT’S SO GREAT TO SEE THAT THE TODAY SHOW WITH LEND A HAND REALLY SHOWING PUTTING A NATIONAL FOCUS ON OUR AREA. AL. STAY SAFE. YEAH, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT. AFTER THE DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE HELENE, THE CITY OF GREENVILLE HAS MADE SOME CHANGES AS WELL TO ONE OF ITS MOST POPULAR FESTIVALS. YEAH, FALL FOR GREENVILLE IS SUCH A GREAT TIME. AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN NEXT WEEKEND, BUT NOW IT’S NOT BEEN CANCELED. IT’S BEEN POSTPONED. OUR ISABELLE MARAK JOINS US NOW. MARK JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM GREENVILLE WITH THE LATEST ISABELLE GLAD THAT IT’S NOT JUST CANCELED. IT’S COMING. YEAH. JANE, I CAN SAY THE SAME THING. THIS WILL BE MY FIRST FALL FOR GREENVILLE, SO I’M LUCKY THAT IT WILL BE HAPPENING A MONTH LATER, BUT IT WILL STILL BE GOING ON NOVEMBER 8TH THROUGH THE 10TH. ARE THE NEW DATES FOR THE FESTIVAL AND THE CITY SAYS THAT’S BECAUSE THEY’RE STILL CLEANING UP FROM HURRICANE HELENE, AND THEY’RE WORKING WITH DISRUPTIONS WITH SUPPLIERS AND VENDORS AS WELL. NOW, ORGANIZERS SAY THEY’RE ALSO WORKING WITH SPONSORS AND THOSE PERFORMERS BECAUSE THERE COULD BE CHANGES TO THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED LINEUPS. AND IN OTHER NEWS, THIS WEEKEND, THE SATURDAY MARKET WILL STILL BE GOING ON BECAUSE THE CITY SAYS THEY’VE HAD AN OUTPOURING OF VENDORS SUPPORTING THE MARKET. SO THEY’RE ASKING PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT LOCAL IF YOU CAN THIS WEEKEND. LIVE IN GREENVILLE COUNTY. I’M ISABELLE MARAK FOR WYFF NEWS FOUR ISABELLE. THANK YOU. AND ON TUESDAY, WYFF4.COM IS PARTNERING WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS FOR A DAY FOR GIVING HURRICANE RELIEF DRIVE. WE INVITE ALL OF OUR VIEWERS TO JOIN US FROM 6:00 IN THE MORNING UNTIL 630 IN THE AFTERNOON. RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS ARE GOING TO BE MANNING A PHONE BANK, TAKING YOUR CALLS, TAKING YOUR DONATIONS TO HELP FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY IMPACTED BY HALYNA HUTCHINS. WE’LL GIVE YOU THAT PHONE NUMBER WHEN THE PHONE BANK OPENS ON TUESDAY MORNING AT 6:00. BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DONATE RIGHT NOW, PLEASE DO. JUST SCAN THAT QR CODE THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN. THIS IS JUST ONE EASY WAY THAT WE CAN HELP OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED RIGHT NOW. THE AMERICAN RED CROSS CAN TAKE YOUR DONATION AND PUT IT RIGHT WHERE IT’S NEEDED. JOIN US TUESDAY IN GIVING BACK. EVERY BIT CERTAINLY HELPS. ALSO, THE GREENVILLE DOWNTOWN AIRPORT IS TAKING VOLUNTEERS AND THEY’RE ALSO TAKING ANY SORT OF DONATIONS THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE, CERTAINLY TO HELP THOSE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED FROM HELENE. RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, WE ARE NICE AND DRY. WE’RE LOOKING FOR A PROLONGED STRETCH OF DRY WEATHER AND WE’VE GOT IT. TODAY WE’LL FEATURE A SMALL CHANCE FOR A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS, MAINLY FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. OTHERWISE, DRY CONDITIONS FOR OUR AREA. MORE CLOUDS THAN ANYTHING. HIGHS WILL BE TOPPING OUT IN THE UPPER 70S, PUSHING 80 DEGREES. BUT BY, I WOULD SAY 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF THE EVENING, SLIGHT CHANCE FOR A FEW PASSING SHOWERS, AND THEN WE’RE FINALLY GOING TO SEE THINGS BEGIN TO IMPROVE, ESPECIALLY ONCE THE SUN SETS. ANY BIT OF RAIN THAT DOES FALL SHOULD DISSIPATE. THEN WE WILL CLEAR THE CLOUD COVER OUT AND THAT WILL MAKE WAY TO BEAUTIFUL CONDITIONS THIS WEEKEND. A LITTLE BIT OF A WARM UP THOUGH. WE’LL BE BACK INTO THE 80S TOMORROW AND SUNDAY, AND THEN A TASTE OF FALL IS ON THE WAY. SO SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IF YOU’RE ANXIOUS FOR COOLER WEATHER AND HAVE A CLOSER LOOK IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. SYDNEY PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT COOLER WEATHER AND NORMALLY THIS IS LEAF PEEPING SEASON, BUT THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE PARKS WEST OF INTERSTATE 77 PRETTY MUCH ALL IN OUR AREA, ARE CLOSED THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH. THE DIVISION IS ASSISTING WITH THE STATEWIDE EMERGENCY AND RESCUE EFFORTS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. IN THE AFTERMATH OF HALLOWEEN. SO THEY’RE SCALING BACK OPERATIONS ALL ACROSS THE STATE THAT WILL ALLOW STAFF TO CONTINUE TO ASSIST WITH CRITICAL DEPLOYMENTS. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL RESERVATIONS FOR CAMPSITES AND OTHER FACILITIES, SUCH AS PICNIC SHELTERS AT THE WESTERN STATE PARKS, HAVE BEEN CANCELED THROUGH THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. ALL RIGHT. IT’S 651. AND FROM CHUNKY CUTIES TO THICK TEDDIES, VOTING CONTINUES FOR 2024. FAT BEAR WEEK TALKING ABOUT IT’S FAT BEAR WEEK, IT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN ON THEIR FAVORITE BEAR CONTESTANTS ONLINE. YOU KNOW, FAT BEAR WEEK. IT’S EXCITING AND THEY CAN ALSO WATCH ON LIVE WEBCAMS AS BEARS GATHER AT KATMAI NATIONAL PARK IN ALASKA AS THEY FATTEN UP ON SALMON BEFORE THEIR LONG WINTER HIBERNATION, THEY VIE FOR VOTES DAILY AND HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUP. THAT ONE’S PRETTY BIG, TOO. TO VOTE HEAD OVER TO EXPLORE.ORG. THE CONTEST ENDS ON TUESDAY. I AM NOT ENTERING MYSELF IN FAT BEAR WEEK, BUT I’LL VOTE. YEAH, HONKY TONK BADONKADONK I THINK IS ONE OF THEM. HOPEFULLY THAT THAT ONE WINS. COMING. COMING UP NEXT ON NEWS FOUR TO

AT&T addresses internet outage, restoration efforts in South Carolina

Updated: 9:38 AM EDT Oct 9, 2024

If you have AT&T internet you are probably asking: Where is my internet?Tuesday update from AT&T: The spokesperson said “Overall, our wireless network in South Carolina is operating normally, at this time. In the hardest hit areas, repairs will take additional time depending on the extent of the damage.”Monday update from AT&T: “Our network teams are making steady progress on our recovery efforts. More than 95% of affected cell sites in the impact region have been restored. Our FirstNet Response Operations Group™ (ROG) has been working tirelessly to provide seamless communication for public safety. We have received more than 200 requests from various public safety entities, including hospitals, Emergency Operation Centers, fire departments, and a local airport that serves as a crucial conduit for getting supplies into the hardest-hit areas. Friday update: WYFF News 4 reached out to AT&T on Friday for an update for our readers and viewers. To read our story on the Charter Spectrum outage, click here. A spokesman told us that 84% of affected cell sites in the region have been restored following Helene. They also provided the following information about restoration efforts: “In the hardest hit areas, repairs will take additional time depending on the extent of the damage. Additionally, home phone and internet customers may still have disruptions due to power outages. “As far as what caused the damage, it also depends. In many areas, significant flash flooding or storm surge can destroy buildings and equipment. This is why we do pre-storm preparations, including the pre-staging of equipment.   “When service is restored depends on the severity of the damage. Our goal is to restore service as quickly and as safely as possible. Once we have the ability to access the damage, we can determine a timeline for repairs. “We have deployed generators, SatCOLTS (Satellite Cell on Light Trucks), and other portable devices including drones which can provide connectivity. We continue to provide fuel to keep the equipment and generators up and running.”AT&T added the following statement: “We are fully committed to aiding the response and recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The unprecedented destruction and flooding have mobilized our Emergency Operations Center to provide round-the-clock support to all AT&T teams, ensuring they have the resources they need to restore vital connectivity to the affected areas.”Our teams are also in continuous coordination with federal, state, and local authorities, and we are grateful for the swift assistance they are offering to aid our restoration efforts. We continue to prioritize public safety’s communications needs with FirstNet, the nation’s public safety network. The FirstNet Response Operations Group™ (ROG) is on the ground, having responded to more than 150 requests to support emergency communications. While the recovery process will be lengthy in some areas, we are prioritizing areas we can access immediately to restore connectivity as quickly as possible. However, severely damaged areas will require additional time for repairs.”More than 84% of affected cell sites in the impact region have been restored. “We will work diligently and safely to re-establish critical communication services. For detailed information of our restoration efforts, visit: AT&T Prepares Network as Helene Tracks Toward Florida (att.com)”

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

If you have AT&T internet you are probably asking: Where is my internet?

Tuesday update from AT&T:

The spokesperson said “Overall, our wireless network in South Carolina is operating normally, at this time. In the hardest hit areas, repairs will take additional time depending on the extent of the damage.”

Monday update from AT&T:

“Our network teams are making steady progress on our recovery efforts. More than 95% of affected cell sites in the impact region have been restored. Our FirstNet Response Operations Group™ (ROG) has been working tirelessly to provide seamless communication for public safety. We have received more than 200 requests from various public safety entities, including hospitals, Emergency Operation Centers, fire departments, and a local airport that serves as a crucial conduit for getting supplies into the hardest-hit areas.

Friday update:

WYFF News 4 reached out to AT&T on Friday for an update for our readers and viewers.

To read our story on the Charter Spectrum outage, click here.

A spokesman told us that 84% of affected cell sites in the region have been restored following Helene.

They also provided the following information about restoration efforts:

• “In the hardest hit areas, repairs will take additional time depending on the extent of the damage. Additionally, home phone and internet customers may still have disruptions due to power outages.
• “As far as what caused the damage, it also depends. In many areas, significant flash flooding or storm surge can destroy buildings and equipment. This is why we do pre-storm preparations, including the pre-staging of equipment.  
• “When service is restored depends on the severity of the damage. Our goal is to restore service as quickly and as safely as possible. Once we have the ability to access the damage, we can determine a timeline for repairs.
• “We have deployed generators, SatCOLTS (Satellite Cell on Light Trucks), and other portable devices including drones which can provide connectivity. We continue to provide fuel to keep the equipment and generators up and running.”

AT&T added the following statement:

“We are fully committed to aiding the response and recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The unprecedented destruction and flooding have mobilized our Emergency Operations Center to provide round-the-clock support to all AT&T teams, ensuring they have the resources they need to restore vital connectivity to the affected areas.

“Our teams are also in continuous coordination with federal, state, and local authorities, and we are grateful for the swift assistance they are offering to aid our restoration efforts. We continue to prioritize public safety’s communications needs with FirstNet, the nation’s public safety network. The FirstNet Response Operations Group™ (ROG) is on the ground, having responded to more than 150 requests to support emergency communications. While the recovery process will be lengthy in some areas, we are prioritizing areas we can access immediately to restore connectivity as quickly as possible. However, severely damaged areas will require additional time for repairs.

“More than 84% of affected cell sites in the impact region have been restored.

“We will work diligently and safely to re-establish critical communication services. For detailed information of our restoration efforts, visit: AT&T Prepares Network as Helene Tracks Toward Florida (att.com)”