Here When You Need Us
When emergencies arise, such as a hurricane or other unforeseen situations, like the recent county-wide power outage in Moore County, North Carolina, having a cloud-based telephone system provides the piece of mind that communications do not have to be interrupted. When the power went out at the Moore County School system, Carolina Digital Phone was there to keep educators connected to staff, students, and parents remotely with the use of smartphones and other geo-redundant cloud-based technology. Our team prepares in advance for power outages, so we can quickly get businesses and schools back online. Thanks to our reliable service, students and teachers communicate without any major interruption in emergencies. We are proud to be able to provide this valuable service to the community!
Our cloud-based telephone service allows school administrators, like those in Moore County, to communicate with parents and others via smartphones from remote locations during a power outage. Because the telephone services are not based on the school’s premises, auto attendants, voice mail messaging and call routing continued to work from Carolina Digital Phone.
What Happened
Over 40,000 Moore County, North Carolina residents were powerless beginning the evening of Saturday, December 3, 2022. The outages were caused by intentional damage to two substations in the county, according to Moore County and Duke Energy officials.
In the ongoing investigation, officials say that the blackout was caused by attacks on substations that were “intentional” and “targeted.” These events left 40,000 customers without power Saturday night. Because of this crisis, a curfew and emergency declaration are in effect. The outages began just after 7 p.m. Saturday across communities in the area, according to Sheriff Ronnie Fields.
Dr. Tim Locklair, Superintendent of Moore County Schools, stated that schools are remaining closed based on a “day-by-day” evaluation of the situation. Administrators will continue to monitor the status of the outage to determine when it will be safe to allow students and faculty to return.
As of the writing of this article, Duke Energy reports crews working in 24-hour shifts to bring back service on early Thursday, December 8th.
Our Response
As the telephone provider for Moore County Schools, our team was prepared to offer geo-redundant cloud-based telecommunications services to schools that were affected by the blackout. This meant that even in emergencies like this power outage, communications could continue without interruption.
How We Helped
The Moore County School system, which has over 12,000 students, relies on Carolina Digital Phone’s geo-redundant cloud-based telephony system to stay connected during and after the blackout. Using remote management tools for smartphones, auto attendants, voice mail messaging, call forwarding and other essential functions remain operational from any location with an internet connection. Thanks to our reliable service, students and teachers at Moore County Schools continue communicating with staff, parents, and each other during this emergency.
Ongoing Investigation
An investigation into the vandalism at the substations is underway by the FBI, NC State Bureau of Investigations, and local law enforcement agencies, around the clock.
Ryan Phillips, Moore County Directory of Public Safety said during the initial press conference that the Moore County Sportsplex was being opened as a shelter at 4 p.m. on Sunday for those without power.
Conclusion
At Carolina Digital Phone, we understand the importance of being prepared for any emergency, be it terrorist attacks, natural disasters, or other potential threats. That’s why we continuously work to improve our services to provide a secure connection even during any emergency. Our commitment to safety and security is unwavering, and we always strive to keep our customers safe during any kind of power outage or another unexpected event.
We are proud to have played a role in getting Moore County Schools back up and running, and look forward to continuing working with them in the future. Thank you for trusting us with your communication needs!
If you have questions about preparing your telephone system for emergencies, call one of our pre-sales specialists today at (336) 544-4000. Our team will work with you to determine the best solutions for improving your phone system and helping you prepare for the unexpected.
