LITTLE ROCK, AR . – A specialized team of Verizon engineers called MERIT -- Major Emergency Response Incident Team – has just completed their annual training to ensure they are ready to deploy when necessary to protect Verizon’s network assets and facilities during natural disasters or hazardous materials incidents. With the hurricane season in full swing, volcano eruptions, summer forest fires, and frequent events nationwide including train derailments and industrial fires striking, Verizon’s MERIT team is prepared to keep people connected when they need it most.

“We understand that reliable communication is never more important than during an emergency when individuals need to reach critical resources and loved ones and when first responders need to communicate with one another quickly and consistently,” said Kyle Malady, Chief Network Operations Officer. “As part of our emergency preparation and planning, we recognized the need for a specialty team, and so we created the communication industry’s first hazmat team.”

Founded in 1992, The Verizon MERIT team is comprised of over 30 technically skilled communications employees who are specially trained and certified to enter an area affected by a hazardous materials spill and complete critical network repairs. The members of Verizon’s MERIT team have a wide variety of capabilities, including expertise in wireless and wireline telecommunications network equipment such as fiber optic cables, switches, routers, hubs, transmission equipment, customer premise equipment, wireless mobile assets, radio networks, and critical infrastructure such as AC/DC power, generators, and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems.