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Check out how cell phone companies are preping for Sandy

Posted at 12:19 PM, Oct 29, 2012
and last updated 2012-10-29 12:25:47-04

By David Goldman

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) – As Hurricane Sandy churned toward the Northeast, wireless carriers spent the weekend battle-proofing their networks.

Verizon readied repair equipment, Sprint engineers deployed backup generators just outside the storm path and AT&T installed new batteries at cell sites. The nation’s three major carriers shut down most retail stores in the mid-Atlantic region and New England on Monday.

With most preparations complete, it’s now time to wait and see what havoc Sandy brings.

Carriers readied a fleet of emergency equipment with some peculiar, farm-like names: COWs (Cells On Wheels), COLTs (Cells On Light Trucks), and GOaTs (Generators on Trailers). These temporary cell towers, generators, diesel trucks and sand bags are stationed along the storm’s edge, and action teams are on standby to roll in with them as soon as something goes down. The carriers’ monitoring centers are watching their networks for any signs of trouble.

Flooding and winds can sometimes threaten cell towers, but most are strong enough to handle the worst that even a Category 5 hurricane can bring. Sprint’s towers, for instance, are built to withstand winds of up to 110 miles per hour, a company spokeswoman said.

But she also noted that frequently hit areas like Florida tend to have cell towers on high ground, unlike the areas where Sandy is expected to strike. Flooding could make it difficult to reach cell towers that have lost power. In preparation for Sandy, many of Sprint’s cell sites were sandbagged.