Qwest Deploys Additional Personnel, Equipment in Response to Iowa Floods

Critical Facilities Remain Intact, Including 911

Qwest Communications (NYSE: Q) today announced the continued deployment of additional resources throughout Iowa to protect its telecommunications network in the face of historic, statewide flooding.

Dozens of additional pumps and generators, as well as large equipment, are either en route or already in place to remove or block floodwaters from Qwest facilities. Additional Qwest network technicians have been reassigned from surrounding states to maintain and repair affected facilities. At this time, all critical services are intact, including local service and the company’s 911 services. Isolated 911 outages have been reported and back-up plans have been implemented to re-route emergency traffic.

“Keeping our fellow Iowans connected, especially during a crisis like this, is our top priority. I’m proud of the work that’s been done to preserve the network and maintain critical communications,” said Max Phillips, Qwest state president for Iowa. “Being able to reach family … or a disaster relief agency … has never been more essential. That’s why we’ll continue to work 24 hours a day as we brace for even more flooding.”

Rising water early Thursday caused evacuation of one Qwest facility in Cedar Rapids. The main Qwest Central Office there remains unaffected and fully operational. The evacuated location is a key link in providing broadband and other telecommunications services to residential and business customers. As a result, some customers in many parts of eastern Iowa may have seen an interruption of their high-speed Internet services. Qwest is aware of these outages, and technicians are working rapidly to move equipment and restore services. At this time, there is no projected time for these services to be restored.

Qwest is offering free Call Forwarding to customers in Iowa who are impacted due to damages from the flooding. Call Forwarding enables customers to have calls automatically forwarded to another phone number. Qwest customers who have been impacted can call 1-800-573-1311 to set up Call Forwarding free of charge.

About Qwest

Qwest offers a powerful combination of award-winning broadband, video and voice solutions for residential customers, businesses and government agencies. Customers coast to coast turn to Qwest’s industry-leading national fiber optic network to meet their evolving communications and entertainment needs. Qwest employees are the driving force behind the company’s nationally recognized Spirit of Service. Qwest is a participant in Networx, the largest communications services contract in the world, to provide innovative voice, data and video services. For more information on Qwest please visit www.qwest.com. For information about the products and services Qwest is offering in the Networx contract, visit www.gsanetworx.com

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Contacts

Qwest
Media Contact:
Kara Neuverth, 402-422-3559
Wireless: 402-319-3336
Kara.neuverth {at} qwest(.)com