Cingular is allowing anyone who needs to use the phone access to make phone calls anywhere in the country from its retail stores in areas hit by Hurricane Katrina.

“Many communities have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina and it is the least we can do for those many individuals who need to connect with loved ones,” said Joe Larussa, vice president/general manager for Cingular’s Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama/NW Florida region. “We hope to give them a way to let their family and friends have the peace of mind of knowing they are okay.”

Cingular store locations in the following areas are offering free calls during normal store hours:

Alabama: Foley, Mobile

Louisiana: Morgan City, Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Zachary, Hammond, Plaquemine

Mississippi: Natchez

Northwest Florida: Gulf Breeze

Mobile calling vans will be also dispatched to offer free calls as weather conditions allow and additional store locations will offer free calls as they open.

Cingular said Tuesday it is beginning recovery work to bring damaged cell sites back online, but that debris and standing water are hampering efforts in most areas. The company said that almost all areas have some level of service, but that the network can only handle limited call volume at this time. Cingular recommended sending text messages over placing calls when possible.

Subscribers can monitor Cingular’s recovery efforts at www.cingularhurricaneupdates.com.