10.29.2003 ET

(CSRwire) SAN DIEGO — Showing support for a state ravaged by fires, AT&T is contributing $100,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to support relief efforts, and providing 10,000, 30-minute AT&T PrePaid Phone Cards to help individuals displaced by the wildfires keep in touch with loved ones.

In addition, AT&T has deployed its Network Disaster Recovery Team (NDR) to Southern California to aid in the restoration of communication services should they be lost. Eleven AT&T Network Disaster Recovery technology trailers are currently staged near metropolitan San Diego and will remain in the area – ready for immediate activation – until the emergency subsides. At present, AT&T network structures are not in danger.

“With more than 1,100 homes already destroyed by the raging wildfires, we recognize that local agencies are being inundated by residents in need of housing, clothing and food,” said Ken McNeely, President, AT&T California. “Our donation to the Red Cross and the provision of prepaid cards for people needing to call families, friends and others for assistance is the fastest aid we can provide. Our employees will undoubtedly find ways to volunteer and help ease the burden for many.”

McNeely said that the AT&T Foundation has contributed $100,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help Red Cross workers provide food, shelter, emotional assistance and basic supplies to the individuals and families around the state impacted by the fires. To encourage contributions to the Red Cross, the company has announced it will match donations of $25 or more from AT&T employees up to an additional $10,000. In addition, the company will provide 10,000 AT&T PrePaid Phone Cards to the Red Cross to distribute to displaced families to help them keep in touch.

AT&T's Network Disaster Recovery team has responded to some of the country's worst disasters and is recognized as the leading authority for telecom service restoration following a catastrophe. The giant technology trailers carry every type of equipment necessary to restore the service provided by a network structure that has been seriously damaged or destroyed. Other support vehicles are equipped with satellite link-up gear that enables individuals displaced by the fires to keep in touch with family.

“Recognizing the severity of the situation, we wanted to be prepared and ready to take action should the fires impact any critical telecommunications infrastructure in the area,” said McNeely. “Equally important, AT&T and its employees have a long-standing tradition of assisting communities during natural disasters. We know recovery from this fire will require significant resources, and AT&T wants to do its part for California and the communities where we live and work.”

In the last 10 years, AT&T has invested more than $300 million in its network disaster recovery program, which includes a team of more than 100 network managers and technicians, as well as a fleet of more than 150 technology trailers and support vehicles that carry every type of equipment necessary to restore access to the AT&T Network. With the NDR personnel and equipment, AT&T can recover communications services within days after a disaster.

Since 1992, the NDR team has been activated 13 times in response to disasters, including restoring service after south Florida’s devastating Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and after the Northridge, Calif. earthquake in 1994. The team also mobilized to provide recovery services following the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City in 2001.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of the Southern California wildfires and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make secure online credit card donations by visiting www.redcross.org.


About AT&T
AT&T (www.att.com) is among the premier voice and data communications companies in the world, serving businesses, consumers, and government. The company runs one of the most sophisticated communications networks in the United States, backed by the research and development capabilities of AT&T Labs. A leading supplier of data, Internet and managed services for the public and private sectors, AT&T offers outsourcing and consulting to large businesses and government. The company is a market leader in local, long distance and Internet services, as well as transaction-based services like prepaid cards, collect calling and directory assistance. With approximately $37 billion of revenue, AT&T has about 40 million residential customers and 4 million business customers, who depend on AT&T for high-quality communications. AT&T has garnered several awards for outstanding performance and customer service.

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