Internet, Phone Companies Brace for Hurricane Sandy

Communications providers and federal officials were bracing for widespread problems on Monday as Hurricane Sandy bore down on the East Coast. The high winds, rain, and possible power outages have the potential to play havoc with phone and Internet networks and companies spent the weekend prepping emergency reaction teams.

Washington-area communications networks faced similar strains last year. When an earthquake rattled the East Coast in August 2011, some wireless networks were quickly overwhelmed with traffic. When Hurricane Irene moved up the East Coast a week later, thousands of customers lost cable, phone, and other services, but companies said the damage was not as extensive as feared. Telecommunications companies are hoping that their preparations will limit outages during Hurricane Sandy as well.