Metro United Way reportedly is getting help from a longtime communications partner, Smoothstone, to help people in need after Louisville, Kentucky was hit by a recent ice storm.

 

According to Smoothstone (News - Alert), the ice storm in February left a half-million people stranded without power in sub-zero temperatures.

 

Hurricane Katrina notwithstanding, natural disasters generally give little or no warning, companies and agencies dealing with natural disasters must be prepared to act as soon as possible. If a company such as Smoothstone can provide rapid responses, government authorities can save lives and properties.  

 

The ice storm threatened elderly, ill, homebound and disabled in the Metro Louisville area – residents who were unable to help clear debris from their property. As repair crews struggled with downed trees and power lines, Smoothstone chipped in with experience in providing emergency contact center services. The company had already assisted Metro United Way during the power outages left in the wake of last fall’s windstorm, and Louisiana United Way during Hurricane Gustav.

 

“Smoothstone and Metro United Way have a long history of working together to better our community. This wasn’t business as usual--this was a true emergency for those truly in need,” remarked Shelly Godfrey, Smoothstone’s COO. “We were more than happy to do whatever it took to get the job done. And the results only highlight the good that can be achieved.”

 

Smoothstone could quickly a functioning call center that included 20 operator extensions within two days with IP-enabled phones, and a means to track every call through to the hotline through a web-based interface.

 

Recently, the Telecom Association announced that the 2009 “Members Choice” award was granted to Smoothstone. The Cisco Powered Program Designation proves that Smoothstone has the resources and procedures to deploy, manage and support Cisco (News - Alert) Powered Unified Communication services. The company says it underwent a rigorous third-party assessment and met requirements based on the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) framework of best practices and market and industry requirements.

 

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