All major wireless carriers are waiving overages potentially offering free service to those impacted by Hurricane Michael. T-Mobile and AT&T are allowing their customers to text short codes to make donations to various organizations that will be part of the disaster relief.
T-Mobile's Response
T-Mobile is offering free calling/texting/data for active postpaid and prepaid customers in Florida who are not already on an unlimited plan. Pay as you Go and postpaid plans that do not include data will receive free talk/text only. Area codes included are 850, 352, 386, 251, 334. For more information see T-Mobile's press release.
How To Donate
If you're a T-Mobile customer that would like to donate to relief efforts, you can do so through the following means.
- To donate $10 to the American Red Cross, text MICHAEL to 90999. The donation will be charged to your next carrier bill. Message & data rates may apply. More information can be found at: https://www.mobilegiving.org/terms-and-conditions/
- https://www.mobilegiving.org/terms-and-conditions
- To donate $25 to the Volunteer Florida Foundation, text DISASTER25 to 20222. The donation will be charged to your next T-Mobile bill. Message & data rates may apply. More information can be found at: https://www.mobilegiving.org/terms-and-condition
Verizon's Response
Verizon is offering free talk, text and data to its customers that are affected by the hurricane. Free service will be available from 10/10/18 - 10/14/18.
Sprint's Response
Sprint is waiving talk, text and data overages for its affected customers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, from 10/10/18 - 10/14/18.
AT&T will be waiving all overage charges for its prepaid and postpaid customers living in the affected areas.
How To Donate
Text “DISASTER” to 20222 to give $10* or “DISASTER25” to 20222 to give $25** to assist Florida’s communities as they respond to and recover from this disaster.
*Donations will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. Donor must be age 18+ and all donations must be authorized by the account holder. By texting YES, the user agrees to the terms and conditions. You can unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to short code DISASTER; text HELP to DISASTER for help.
**A one-time donation of $25 will be added to your mobile phone bill or be deducted from your prepaid balance. Donor must be age 18+ and all donations must be authorized by the account holder. By texting YES, the user agrees to the terms and conditions. You can unsubscribe at any time by texting STOP to short code DISASTER25; text HELP to DISASTER25 for help.
At this time there is no word as to if carrier MVNO's will also receive free service and waived overages in the impacted areas.