AT&T Offers Free Charging For Hurricane Irma Victims

MIAMI, FL — Wireless carrier AT&T has set up several free charging stations for Hurricane Irma evacuees in the Miami area. Company officials said they gave out hundreds of free AT&T prepaid devices to evacuees at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition Center. The company said that anyone in the Miami area without power may visit any of its company-owned retail stores to charge their devices free of charge.

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AT&Ts Kelly Starling told Patch that the complimentary devices that will be given to evacuees come with 30 days of free service. The service includes unlimited talk and text. (For more hurricane news or local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Miami Patch, and click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

"After the 30 days, the recipients can choose to get more prepaid service or not, but the device is theirs to keep," Starling explained.

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AT&T's large charging station can accommodate up to 60 devices at a time. It is located near Fuchs Pavilion. In addition, AT&T has set up a WiFi hot spot. Several hundred evacuees, mostly from the Florida Keys, are sheltering at the Exposition Center.

Smaller charging stations have been set up at the following locations:

• Robert King Towers, 1405 NW 7th St, Miami, FL 33125, a large senior center. This station is just for the seniors at this center.
• Miami Dade College Gibson Education Center in Coconut Grove, where many residents are still without power. This is for the public.

Each of the smaller charging stations can charge 30 devices at once.

Starling said that the company has been working to restore wireless services in parts of Florida that have been hit by significant power outages and storm damage.

"Significant progress has been made in restoring services to areas of Florida affected by the storm," Starling told Patch. "AT&T is deploying a fleet of 40 drones and has an additional 40 on standby to assist with damage assessment and recovery in some of the hardest hit areas, including the Florida Keys."

She added that the carrier continues to monitor its network and has been coordinating with emergency management officials and utilities.

Images courtesy AT&T