Carriers say they're prepared for winter storm Nemo, expected to...

Response Incident Team, which is on standby, and a disaster recovery fleet of emergency vehicles, specifically referring to a 51-foot mobile command center, two 53-foot mobile emergency calling centers and satellite trailers in its release. AT&T released separate updates for various regions in New England. It has “activated our storm preparedness process as we closely monitor the path of the winter storm,” the telco said Friday (http://xrl.us/bofoqv). It added that it’s “installing more back-up and permanent generators at critical cell sites and switching facilities; locating critical equipment in less vulnerable areas; upgrading electronics critical to network operations above expected flood levels; and protecting physical facilities against flooding.” AT&T New York President Marissa Shorenstein cautioned consumers: “With a storm of this magnitude, we may have some outages.” AT&T would restore service as soon as possible, she added in her statement, a sentiment repeated in other regional releases in states such as New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. “We've topped off fuel at generators positioned at cell sites, installed and tested high-capacity back-up batteries at cell sites, installed ‘Quick Connect Generator Plugs’ at many of our cell sites and staged additional emergency response equipment in strategic locations,” AT&T said. FairPoint also provided its customers with readiness tips and said its personnel were preparing for possible impact (http://xrl.us/boforo). It’s “positioning crews and supplies -- poles, cable and other equipment -- for rapid deployment should they be needed,” it said. Granite Communications posted an update on its website describing steps it has taken -- the telco has “added to Granite’s emergency response staff, who will be present at Granite’s secure headquarters 24/7” during Nemo, “prepared Granite’s multiple sources of backup power generation, including multiple diesel generators at Granite’s headquarters” and “activated Granite’s mid-west disaster recovery center, an auxiliary work site outside of Chicago that is backed by multiple redundant power supplies,” among other preparations. Sprint Nextel “has fully fueled hundreds of portable generators and permanent cell site generators; confirmed the availability of fuel vendors for future needs; coordinated with dozens of network and response technicians on their standby and deployment status; and ensured that all network switching facilities in the storm’s path are fully operational and fueled,” a spokeswoman told us. Retail stores closed early in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, she said. Sprint asked for patience as it restores any wireless outages the weather may cause, she said.