AT&T Offers Winter Storm Tips for Georgians

Editor's Note: Brrrr... The chill is on. Here are some great tips as Georgia looks at continuing cold and winter storm weather over the next few days.

/PRNewswire/ -- With freezing temperatures and an expected forecast of snow across metro Atlanta and Coastal, Middle and Southern Georgia this week, AT&T* is providing important communications tips for use before, during and after a storm.

AT&T realizes the important role that communications plays in an emergency situation, and has invested millions of dollars to toughen its networks and further bolster its disaster recovery capabilities. AT&T is committed to keeping its customers connected, and has taken steps to ensure its wireless networks are ready.

AT&T Winter Storm Tips:

Have a family communications plan in place. Designate someone out of the area as a central contact, and make certain that all family members know whom to contact if they become separated. Most important, practice your emergency plan in advance.

Use text messaging. During a peak emergency situation, text messages will often go through quicker than voice calls because they require less network resources. All of AT&T's wireless devices are text messaging capable.

Take advantage of weather text-alert programs. AT&T participates in a number of text alert school closing notification programs. AT&T's customers should check their local news websites to see if weather related text alert programs are available in their area.

Make sure you have a "Winter Storm Phone." It is a good idea to have a wireless phone on hand and at least one corded (landline) telephone that is not dependent on electricity in case of a power outage. Cordless telephones usually have receivers that require electricity, so they won't work if you lose your power.

Keep non-emergency calls to a minimum. If there is severe weather, chances are many people will be attempting to place calls to loved ones, friends and business associates.

Program all of your emergency contact numbers and e-mail addresses into your mobile phone. Numbers should include the police department, fire station and hospital, as well as your family members.

Keep your wireless phone's battery charged at all times. Have an alternative plan to recharge your battery in case of a power outage, such as charging your wireless device by using a car charger or having extra charged mobile phone batteries or disposable mobile phone batteries on hand.

Keep your wireless phone dry. The biggest threat to your device during a storm is water, so keep your equipment safe from the elements by storing it in a baggie or some other type of protective covering.

Track the storm and access weather information on your wireless device. Many homes lose power during severe weather. If you have a wireless device that provides access to the Internet, you can watch weather reports and get regular updates on your phone.

Take advantage of location-based mapping technology. Services such as AT&T Navigator and AT&T FamilyMap can help you avoid traffic congestion from downed trees or power lines, as well as track a family member's wireless device in case you get separated.

Use your camera phone, take photos -- even video clips -- of damaged property for your insurance company from your device.

AT&T monitors and maintains its networks 24/7 and conducts readiness drills throughout the year to ensure that the networks and personnel are ready to respond in a moment's notice.

AT&T's wireless network storm preparations include:

-- Adding capacity to the wireless network to accommodate increased call
volume.
-- Routine testing of high-capacity backup batteries located at every
cell site.
-- Topping off generators with fuel at cell sites and central and
field-level switching facilities.
-- Staging mobile cell sites and portable generators in safe locations
for their immediate deployment once a storm has passed.
-- Expanding the number of fixed power generators at our wireless cell
sites. These permanent generators are in addition to the battery
backup power that we have at every wireless cell site across Georgia.

AT&T representatives at any of its more than 60 Georgia retail store locations can provide additional tips for charging extra cell phone batteries and learning to text. More information on AT&T's disaster preparedness can be found at: www.att.com/vitalconnections

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

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TweetMyJOBS.com Distributing Economic Stimulus Jobs

(BUSINESS WIRE)--TweetMyJOBS.com, a Charlotte, NC startup, is doing its part to help jumpstart the economy. The company has built a sophisticated job distribution system on top of the widely popular online service Twitter.com, which allows users to send short messages to people’s cell phones as a text message. Companies that are looking to hire can post a job opening for free through TweetMyJOBS.com, and anyone interested in that type of job will automatically get the job posting sent to them as a text message. In addition, if the job opening has been created as a result of the U.S. stimulus package, it will be identified as a Stimulus Job and will be featured and headlined on TweetMyJOBS.com.

“There are currently a lot of unemployed people who have a family to feed and bills to pay,” said Gary Zukowski, President of TweetMyJOBS.com. “President Obama has stated that 3.5 million jobs will be saved or created by his stimulus package. TweetMyJOBS.com is designed to help get these jobs into the hands of people who need them as quickly as possible. By using TweetMyJOBS.com, job seekers will get instant notification of any new job openings in their desired field and location. In a competitive marketplace, this speed of notification could be the difference between getting a job or not.”

In addition to U.S. job postings, TweetMyJOBS.com is already expanding internationally in response to demand from employers interested in using the service to post job opportunities outside of the U.S.

TweetMyJOBS.com is an innovative online service based out of Charlotte, NC that connects employers and job seekers instantaneously using Twitter. Employers can post jobs on “Job Channels” that specify a particular job type and location, and notification of the job will automatically be sent to a job seeker’s cell phone as a text message.

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State Highway Safety Officials: Hang Up and Drive

GFP Note: At this time, Georgia law only bans cell phone use by school bus drivers.

Should any driver be in an accident, the crash scene data includes whether a cell phone was in use at the time of the accident.

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Governors Highway Safety Association applauds the National Safety Council (NSC) for taking a strong stand against cell phone use while driving. The NSC has a long history of safety advocacy, and GHSA looks forward to working with the NSC to educate drivers on the dangers of distracted driving.

While the effectiveness of banning cell phone use is subject to debate, what is not debatable is that using ANY type of cell phone is distracting to drivers. Numerous studies have concluded that hands-free phone use does not mitigate crash risk. In a study released last year by Carnegie Mellon University, researcher Marcel Just stated that listening to a cell phone while driving can reduce by 37 percent the amount of brain activity associated with driving. This can cause drivers to weave out of their lane, based on the performance of subjects using a driving simulator. Just last month, another study from the University of Utah reaffirmed that hands-free phones are as distracting as handheld models.

While GHSA does not support a legislative ban on all cell phone use for all drivers, the Association continues to support a "no-use" message when it comes to cell phones and driving. GHSA specifically recommends that:

-- States ban all non-emergency cell phone use/text messaging for new
drivers as well as school bus drivers. Presently, only 17 state states
and the District of Columbia have enacted these laws.
-- States include a category for cell phone/electronic equipment
distraction on crash investigation forms. Currently, 29 states collect
this information.
-- The federal government funds a media campaign to alert the public to
the dangers of distracted driving. The federal government also should
continue funding research about distracted driving and examine the
effectiveness of laws and other countermeasures. The Association
appreciates the federal leadership on this issue.
-- The private sector takes a leadership role. As such, employers should
prohibit text messaging and the use of cell phones and other
electronic devices when driving except in emergency situations.

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