Verizon emergency team simulates earthquake response, communication deployment in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Verizon’s emergency response team simulated an earthquake and showcased their emergency response in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, August 12.

While known for its cell phone service, Verizon also has a Major Emergency Response Incident Team (MERIT) which is composed of specialized engineers that can respond to an emergency situation and restore communications on the ground.

Mark Paff, Senior Director of Verizon Business Continuity & Event Management, says, “Not only are we a communications provider, but we live, work, and play in the same communities that our customers do. It’s very important that we be out there in the community, showing them what we’re capable of, as well as responding and ensuring that Verizon’s got them.”

Paff also said, “We’re always thinking of our customers, we’re always thinking of communities, and we’re always thinking of first responders in everything that we do to ensure that critical communications are always available.”

According to Verizon, MERIT engineers are trained in the highest level of HAZMAT and emergency response disaster skills training and have responded on the ground to disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton and wildfires in Los Angeles.

Reportedly, MERIT and other Verizon teams help provide mobile communication devices to first responders and agencies during crisis situations. They also have the capabilities to provide power generators to affected areas during hurricanes, tornadoes, and other emergency situations.

Verizon’s MERIT team simulate their response to an earthquake. Courtesy: Verizon

On Tuesday, August 12, MERIT showcased their skills in Salt Lake City and demonstrated how they would respond to an earthquake. Their demonstration included utilization of hazardous material cleanup, and mobile communication centers, which MERIT uses when deployed on the ground.

Braden Norris, Private Sector Liaison from Utah Emergency Management, highlighted the importance of connecting Utah following a disaster. He said, “Communications is one of the four major sectors of infrastructure and, without communications, it hinders a lot of our response.”

Communication infrastructure can be essential to inter-agency communication. Norris also said, “If we can get communications back up and running, whether its fiber optic or cell sites, that’s just going to help our responders here on the ground and those who are coordinating the response either at a city, county, or state emergency operation center know what the local needs are and then make sure the responders are getting what they need.”