In the wake of the devastating wildfires that have swept through Maui, Verizon has reaffirmed its commitment to aiding affected communities by offering crucial communication services and support. As residents begin the arduous journey towards recovery, Verizon has taken steps to ensure that customers can stay connected with their loved ones.
To provide immediate relief, Verizon has extended its offering of unlimited calling, texting, and data services for prepaid and postpaid customers residing on Maui. This special arrangement, available from August 10 to August 31, 2023, aims to provide solace to thousands of consumers and small business owners who heavily depend on their mobile devices during this challenging period. The initiative covers all prepaid and postpaid consumer and small business customers with billing addresses on Maui.
Verizon-owned prepaid brands, including Straight Talk, Tracfone, Total by Verizon, Simple Mobile, and others, have also pledged their support. Customers with Maui zip codes will receive an additional week of service if their service expiration date falls between August 14 and August 27.
In addition to these extended services, Verizon is going beyond connectivity by providing free device charging and bottled water at its Pu’unene retail store. This gesture of goodwill is available to customers from any carrier and aims to help them stay connected and hydrated during the recovery process. Furthermore, Verizon representatives are available to assist customers with their mobile technology needs during these trying times.
Although Verizon has successfully restored voice coverage to West Maui, data services remain limited. The company is actively working to deploy satellite assets to existing cell sites to enhance network coverage and data capacity. A Cell on Light Truck (COLT) was deployed in Lahaina on August 12 to replace damaged coverage infrastructure.
While striving to fully restore the network, Verizon advises customers to opt for text and calls instead of data-heavy applications due to possible inconsistencies in network coverage. The company’s Frontline Crisis Response Team is also offering unwavering support to public safety agencies involved in emergency response operations in Maui, ensuring seamless communication during crisis situations.
