(Updated: 6:35 p.m. – Dec. 26, 2020) – At 4:50 p.m. this afternoon, AT&T posted an update online announcing the telecommunications company was beginning to restore power to the facilities in its building after connecting generators through the walls.
“We are hopeful this equipment may be back online in the hours ahead,” the update posted to the company’s website stated.
“We are pleased to report that we have restored much of the mobility services that were affected in the Lexington, Kentucky area. We will continue to bring more areas back online as quickly as possible. In Nashville, we have deployed more than six portable cell sites to aid in communication including for restoration teams and first responders. We have additional assets in route for deployment in the region.”
The company also announced it was contributing $100,000 to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation to support area businesses impacted by the explosion and to help law enforcement collect information for their ongoing investigation.
AT&T teams continue to work around the clock on recovery efforts following a Christmas Day explosion in downtown Nashville that has affected cell phone and internet service in many areas of Kentucky and Tennessee, including Hopkinsville.
“We have two portable cell sites operating in downtown Nashville with numerous additional portable sites being deployed in the Nashville area and in the region,” the telecommunication company posted to its website Saturday morning.
“At our facility, the focus of the restoration continues to be getting power to the equipment in a safe and secure way. Challenges remain, including a fire which reignited overnight and led to the evacuation of the building. Currently, our teams are on site working with safety and structural engineers. They have drilled access holes into the building and are attempting to reconnect power to critical equipment. Technical teams are also working as quickly as possible on rerouting additional services to other facilities in the region to restore service.”
In an earlier update, the company noted the serious logistical challenges to working in a disaster area.
(Julia Hunter is the engagement editor for Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at julia@hoptownchronicle.or
Julia Hunter is the engagement editor for Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at julia@hoptownchronicle.org.
