Telus doesn't anticipate
any significant disruption in telephone service after an earthquake.
Problems will occur when foundations shift and damage underground
telephone lines. Above ground lines may be effected by falling debris.
After the shaking stops, put
the telephone receiver back on the cradle. Do not use the
phone to make local calls if possible. The local system has load control
built into it's operation and will restrict calls. If there is no,
" DIAL TONE," your telephone may still be working. Depress the release
button, if you hear a click the phone is working. The load control
system will stack your call. Stay on the line until a dial tone indicates
that a line has opened.
If the telephone service is disrupted,
pay phones will have service restored first.
IDENTIFY AN OUT
OF AREA EMERGENCY CONTACT.
Telus recommends that you have 3 telephone numbers to contact.
- Out of neighbourhood
- Out of town
- Out of area code
Keep your call brief. Others will want
to call their contact.
CARRY EMERGENCY
CONTACT PHONE NUMBER IN YOUR WALLET
TELL YOUR CONTACT:
- How you are
- Where you are, and where
you plan to be
- When you plan to call
again
- What other family members
are with you
- Ask what other family
members have called
PRE PLAN WHEN YOU WILL CALL YOUR
CONTACT AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE
Cellular telephone systems should
remain intact but could experience significant increase in volume.
Using the telephone system immediately after an earthquake will only
add an other element to the disaster.
Above ground telephone lines could
suffer damage from falling debris, uprooted trees, or soil failure
causing utility poles to fall over.
Disruption of service may be isolated
to small areas in the region. Have a phone number that is outside
the immediate area, an other area ofthe city for example. A second
number should be outside of the region, to the interior of the province
perhaps. If there is wide spread disruption a number outside the AREA
CODE should be used.
Long distance service will be
more accessible that local service. why?
Telus has land line load controllers
to prevent a system overload. If there is no dial tone on your phone,
depress the release button on the cradle. If there is an audible click
the phone is operating. The load controllers will stack your call
and connect you with a dial tone when a line becomes available. Do
not keep depressing release button or hang up, you will loose your
spot in line.
When you telephone your emergency
contact person, keep your call brief. Other people will want to call
their contact persons.
Remain calm, tell your contact
how you are, where you are, where you plan to be, when you plan to
be there, when you plan to call again, if any family members are with
you. Ask if the contact person has heard from other family members,
where they are located, their physical condition, where are they going
to be, when are they going to call back.
Preplan as a family group when
you will call your contact person after the earthquake.
Have all family members carry
the emergency contact phone number in their wallets, purses, and have
it at work, in the car, and in you emergency survival kits.
Pay phones are on different trunk
lines than residential lines and will working when home service is
disrupted. Have enough change in you car and survival kits to call
your out of area code emergency contact.
Telus has installed protection
for essential telephone lines like 911. Normal emergency lines will
be protected from overloading.
Telus also has load protection
for the cellular system.
Telus doesn't anticipate any significant
disruptions in the cellular service. All Telus cellular sites are
transmitting at only 50% of their range so if a site is damaged neighbouring
sites can increase their range until repairs are completed.
Telus has central line controllers
which will prevent priority lines from being overloaded.
