Authored by Trey Rabon, President, AT&T North Carolina
When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina over a year ago, cities, towns and communities across the area faced widespread devastation as homes, businesses and critical infrastructure were destroyed. Local officials, first responders and communication partners worked around the clock to reconnect their communities and restore essential services. These types of emergencies were exactly what Congress had in mind when they created the First Responder Network Authority to ensure that public safety agencies could communicate during any disaster through a reliable, interoperable network. That network, known as FirstNet®, Built with AT&T, helped first responders stay in touch and support residents during recovery, and now communities across the state are rebuilding and coming back stronger.
This isn’t the first time our communities have been hit hard by natural disasters, and it likely won’t be the last. These devastating events disrupt lives, families, businesses and much more, making reliable communication an essential tool for residents, first responders and emergency crews.
FirstNet is there to support public safety and first responders by giving them a network that was built for and is upgraded entirely with their input. Federal law mandates that public safety has access to a network that allows them priority and preemption when needed, and FirstNet was created because of that. This reliability can make all the difference in saving lives during critical moments in cities like yours.
During Helene, the FirstNet Response Operations Group™ (ROG) worked 24/7 to respond to more than 220 requests from public safety agencies to reestablish communications.
Using dedicated tools in the FirstNet fleet, like Satellite Cell on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs) and Compact Rapid Deployables™ (CRDs), first responders were able to stay connected wherever they were.
The ROG team provided always-on communication for more than just teams on the ground, including hospitals, Emergency Operation Centers, fire departments and a local airport that served as a crucial conduit for getting supplies into the hardest-hit areas. In cities across the state, from Murphy to Manteo, FirstNet was critical.
FirstNet connectivity also helped residents reach loved ones. In the Outer Banks town of Duck, a woman in her eighties known affectionally as Miss Helen was able to connect with her family through a FirstNet device. “She was on the phone for probably an hour and never lost service. So, it was a game-changer” said Town of Duck Deputy Police Chief Melissa Clark. “The weight of the world lifted for that family. FirstNet worked. The signal was steady.”
Urban areas are also complex, high-density environments where seconds and coordination save lives. Nearly everyone has a cellphone in their pocket these days, but not all consumer networks can operate at the level that public safety requires. FirstNet isn’t a luxury; it’s core infrastructure that cross-communicating jurisdictions need in this modern age.
FirstNet isn’t just used in disaster response. Today, there is no major event, planned or unplanned, where FirstNet does not play a critical role. From the Final Four in Phoenix and the Big Game in New Orleans, to the Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C, to wildfires in Los Angeles and devastating floods in Texas, FirstNet has supported planned and emergency events across the country. Moments like these are exactly why Congress created FirstNet and why first responders across the country, rural and urban, choose FirstNet.
Visit the NLC Strategic Partnerships page to learn more about the organizations like AT&T dedicated to making NLC the premier resource for local governments.
NextGen Recruiting: What Do Students Think of the Public Sector (and Why)?
- MissionSquare Retirement
How FEMA Grants Help Train Local Responders for Hazmat Rail Incidents
- NLC Partnerships
From the Event: Strategies for Climate Resilience to Wildfires
CitiesSpeak Podcast Bonus Episode: Navigating the Federal Government Shutdown
Global Generosity, Local Leadership: A Year of Hurricane Recovery on GoFundMe
- NLC Partnerships
