Characters are not deleted. Get into the Launchpad, on the left is a big button that says "Chat". Hit that, and go to the troubleshooting room.
At the top of the chatroom is a banner that will let you know what the status is on servers. Technical Support Reps (TSRs) are also repeatedly spamming that characters are not deleted, they are simply unavailable because servers are down.
Anyone new to the EQ system may not realize this. These chat forums are where all the secrets of the universe are discovered.
For instance, Sony runs it's servers on massive gerbil exercise wheels.. ninjas occasionally steal the gerbils, and Tech Support Crusaders are sent to dutifully retrieve them.
Be kind to your stormtroopers, they make the world Go.