Verizon waives call, text, and data usage for some subscribers hit by Hurricane Milton

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The top of domed baseball stadium Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays, is destroyed thanks to Hurricane Milton.
Hurricane Milton blew through parts of Florida yesterday leaving death and destruction in its wake. The storm was so powerful that it blew away the top of Tampa's domed baseball stadium, Tropicana Field. At last count, three million Floridians were without power. But one thing those who were in the path of the storm don't have to worry about is how often they access the Verizon network if they are a Verizon Wireless postpaid or Small Business customer.

Earlier this week, Verizon Wireless announced that it is waiving domestic call, text, and data usage for postpaid and Verizon Small Business customers who are most impacted by the storm. Such usage from October 9th through October 23rd will be covered by Verizon for qualified subscribers living in these Florida counties:

Alachua, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, DeSoto, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Saint Johns, Saint Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia.


Customers who do qualify do not have to do anything to have their domestic calls, texts, and data usage waived. Those whose billing cycles have already closed will automatically be credited back as overages will also be automatically credited.

Verizon customers with an iPhone 14 or later should upgrade to iOS 18 so they can use Emergency SOS via Satellite which allows them to text and communicate with emergency services via satellite. Emergency messaging via satellite is also available for Verizon customers with a Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro series model.

The latest update released by Verizon Thursday morning after the Hurricane blew through the state notes that will the numerous power outages in Florida, many cell sites are running on backup power to help keep service available for customers of Verizon and first responders. The carrier says that "customers are having issues with cellular service along the coastline from Hernando County down to Collier County, as well as the areas of Polk County, Volusia County, and St. Lucie County."

The wind, rain, and debris did damage the fiber infrastructure used to send data to the core command centers of the network from cell sites. Verizon personnel are looking at alternative ways to make these connections so that affected customers can get back online "and will then begin aggressively deploying temporary satellite network assets" as soon as Verizon deems it safe to do so. 

While the carrier continues to work around the clock to restore service to the affected areas, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team is communicating with federal, state, and local public safety agencies. Verizon also wants its customers to know that Hurricane Milton has led some stores to close while some have changed their hours temporarily. To check the latest information about Verizon stores near you, tap on the link to get to the carrier's store locator page.
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