Frontier Communications Corporation will continue to provide periodic updates regarding the recent damage caused by flooding in West Virginia. This update was received June 27, 3 pm.
Over the weekend, Frontier Communications crews were able to reduce by half the number of customers without phone service. As of 1:30 p.m. today, we estimate 5,000 to 6,000 customers were experiencing outages. The total effected customers may fluctuate as people gain access to their homes and we may uncover isolated outages.
In addition to focusing on individual service calls, our crews are concentrating on repairing remote terminals located in remote areas to assess damage and provide generator power to the location. In areas where we have power and generators, we are able to focus on investigating and repairing the individual phone and internet outages.
Clendenin-Elkview – Our construction, engineering and fiber splicing crews ran a temporary line of fiber across the Elk River to restore service to the cellular towers affected by the fiber damaged by flood waters. The road to the cell tower remains impassable. When checked from our central office, our network appears to be communicating with the equipment in the tower.
Clay County 911 – Cleanup continues at the Clay County 911 Center, so the temporary location at the Clay Ambulance Center continues to manage the 911 needs for the county. The Clay 911 Center was flooded and its equipment was damaged. Frontier helped them build a temporary 911 Center so they can take their own calls rather than reroute them to Nicholas County. It has not been determined when the center will be able to move back to their original location.
Nicholas County – Frontier has set up three outside free wifi spots for residents to check email from their phones and tablets. Network equipment has been damaged in this area and effecting approximately 300 customers. Efforts are being made to replace this equipment as soon as possible. The free wifi locations are located near the intersection of Route 55 and old Route 19 at Muddlety, on Route 41 in Persinger beside the Brothers of the Wheel, at the Frontier Stonewall Hut across the street from the entrance to Lowes as you are entering Summersville.
Safety Concerns
With the additional rain, lightening and potential for flash floods, we are emphasizing employee safety and are asking our employees to periodically check in to report they are safe.
Customers are encouraged to report outages by calling 1-800-921-8101.
