Disruption of telecommunications infrastructures can be the difference between life and death during disaster recovery.
It is important for public safety agencies (such as law enforcement, emergency medical services, and fire services) to be able to provide and maintain communications before, during, and after a disaster or emergency. Natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods and blizzards strike with little warning knocking out power and terrestrial-based communications infrastructure.
The initial 72-hours of a potentially catastrophic event are the most critical for the disaster response efforts. It is paramount that emergency services and public safety agencies have reliable communications during the preparation hours preceding and the recovery and clean-up afterward.
Unfortunately, many wireless and terrestrial-based communications networks – both private and commercial carriers – are down or undependable during those critical hours. Even as those systems begin to return, full coverage can be days and result in additional loss of life.
The Solution? SkySite Stratospheric Wireless Communications Solutions
During initial disaster recovery, agencies can benefit from Space Data’s stratospheric wireless communications systems. With the launch of SkySite platforms emergency response can guide operational coordination, control, and communications requirements received from on-scene emergency management personnel. The results mean faster response times, coordination of volunteers and mitigation of injury to first responders and the public.
21st Century Natural Disasters Needed Better Telecommunications Options
Over the last decade, hurricanes, and tropical storms have devastated the southeastern United States. Hurricanes of 2012, 2014 and 2015 brought severe flooding, property damage, as well as power and telecommunication outages. In 2016, Hurricanes Hermine and Matthew repeatedly wreaked havoc on Florida’s Eastern seaboard, driving home the long-known fact that critical communications infrastructure is susceptible to damage from hurricane-force winds and rain. When Hurricane Harvey swept through Texas in August 2017, evacuees in Houston had to dodge fast-rising waters;; Many people were trapped in high-rise buildings, and some had to wade through flooded streets to safety. Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2019, are just the latest reminders of how often these extreme weather events are occurring, and how unprepared most cities likely are.
Superstorm Sandy in 2012 was not only a destructive tropical hurricane but as it headed north, it repeatedly slammed into the U.S. making its way to Atlantic City, New Jersey. This was considered a “perfect storm” because of the collision of three key elements: a powerful hurricane, and unusual dip in the jet stream from the Arctic, and lunar high tides that raised sea level during the event. Superstorm Sandy set emergency preparedness plans on their heads and still today city and state leaders are studying what when wrong.
Disasters may require resources beyond what local and state authorities can manage. Communications infrastructure is critical to managing the complex, dynamic operations that evolve after disasters to help facilitate emergency services, federal and state agencies and local law enforcement.
Personnel, supplies, and equipment may be driven or airlifted by a military cargo or private aircraft. However, the benefits of all these efforts will be lost without coordination of agencies and communications infrastructure needed to support intergovernmental decision-making to enable communities to respond effectively to such a wide-ranging, rapidly moving, destructive storm may not be in place.
Prepare Today for the Next Disaster!
Contact Space Data to learn more about how our stratospheric wireless communications solutions can benefit your agency before, during, and after a disaster.
