AT&T Conducts Disaster Training
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KCBS) Phone connections are usually one of the first things to go in a disaster.
In an effort to be prepared, communications giant AT&T is conducting a massive ten day exercise in San Jose, simulating a huge network disaster recovery effort.
The company has rolled in 17 semi-tractor trailers with half a billion dollars of gear that can create a central network office.
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"We may see something that's all the way up to a smoking hole type of scenario, where a central office is completely destroyed," said Kevin Parker, Operations Manager for AT&T's Network Disaster Recovery Team.
He said that is exactly what happened in the 9-11 attacks at Ground Zero.
"In that case, we roll enough equipment that we can recover the switching and the transport for that office and be able to restore that service for our customers as quickly as we can," said Parker.
And Parker said California needs to be especially prepared, as earthquakes present a much bigger challenge than a hurricane.
"Dealing with hurricanes is a little easier than earthquakes because you have some warning," he said. "Typically, we're planning as many as five days out for a hurricane. We're watching which way it's going, shifting our focus depending on where it might be headed to. With earthquakes, and those types of events that are immediate, you don't have time to prepare for them. This is the only chance you have."
That's why Parker said these drills are so important.
