Assistance for Katrina Victims Continues

September 19, 2005

The passage of time is doing nothing to slow the response to those who have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Nortel has announced that it will contribute up to $250,000 to match employee donations made to the American Red Cross to aid victims.

The company and its workers are focusing on installing new communications systems in the Gulf Coast area.

Also, the company and its employees are making contributions that include:

* Nortel telecommunications equipment is doubling call capacity for the Federal Emergency Call Center that manages disaster assistance requests for the three states impacted the most by the event.

* New telecommunications systems have been installed in evacuee centers to aid the Social Security Administration in issuing checks to those who have been displaced.

* The company is deploying wireless mesh technology to support command and control communications for National Guard personnel.

* Nortel has deployed wireless equipment to enable communications between U.S. Navy personnel in New Orleans, the USS Iwo Jima helping from the Gulf and Fleet Headquarters.

* The company has sent containerized switching equipment to the Department of Homeland Security to expedite operations and communications.

* Employees have given more than seven tons of supplies. This includes bottled water, diapers, canned food and clothing to The Salvation Army.

* Regional Nortel campuses are directing volunteers to relief centers and providing computer center support to assist evacuees with activities that include establishing e-mail accounts, filing for assistance and searching Web sites for friends and relatives.

By Glenn J. Kalinoski, Executive Editor, Customer Inter@ction Solutions