AT&T Waives Wireless Overages For Harvey-Ravaged Areas

DALLAS, TX — Wireless carrier AT&T announced that its customers in Hurricane Harvey-ravaged areas will not have to worry about incurring cost overages related to calls and texts. The company made the gesture on Monday after areas of Texas became ground zero for what some have described as one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. The announcement affects service between Aug. 26 and at least Sept. 1. in affected areas of Texas.

"Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by Hurricane Harvey and our customers who have friends and family there," AT&T said in a statement.

The company announced on Tuesday that it is donating $350,000 to aid communities hit by the storm. This includes $100,000 for the Greater Houston Community Fund, $100,000 for the American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Fund and $50,000 earmarked for the Coastal Bend Community Foundation in South Texas.

“We have disaster recovery teams in place to keep our customers connected, and we're working around the clock to help our communities in Texas and Louisiana through this crisis,” said AT&T Chief Sustainability Officer Charlene Lake.

The company will issue credits to AT&T wireless customers in impacted areas of Texas for additional data, voice and text charges. This also covers AT&T prepaid customers who exceed their voice and text allowances.

In Texas, this includes customers in billing zip codes for the following counties: Aransas, Austin, Bee, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Brazoria, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Harris, Jackson, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kleberg, Lavaca, Liberty, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, Wailer, Wharton, and Wilson. Additional locations may be added.

The carrier made a similar offer for Louisiana customers from Aug. 28, 2017 and at least Sept. 3. Credits will apply for customers with billing zip codes in Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis and Vermilion parishes.

"Additionally, the AT&T Foundation will match employee donations up to $50,000 each to the AT&T Employee Disaster Relief Fund, which supports the thousands of AT&T employees who live in the areas affected by the storms and Team Rubicon, a disaster response veterans service organization," the company added.

AT&T customers can text ‘HARVEY’ to 90999 if they wish to donate $10 to the American Red Cross. Such donations will appear on the bills of wireless customers or be deducted from prepaid balances. Regular message and data rates apply.

AT&T company store. Photo courtesy AT&T.