With the scope of destruction and damages from the multiple tornados that struck the Southeast recently still unfolding, there is a common thread that is found in all disasters, whether natural or man-made. As first responders from every disaster from 9/11 to the tsunamis that ravaged the Indian Ocean will tell you, having a way to communicate with a central command is a very high priority. Traditional RF radios are limited in their range and the probability of being able to access a repeater or base station if the infrastructure has been impacted in any way is quite low. Traditional terrestrial based communications experience the same challenges. The Internet represents that perfect backbone for communicating voice, data and video, but how do you reach the Internet?

Satellite is the obvious answer since they are generally in orbit some 22,000 miles above the earth and not impacted by events below. But, disasters have a habit of occurring in locations that aren’t always close to a fixed satellite dish. Also, traditional infrastructure elements such as power may not be available.

The answer for first responders of all types is auto-acquire mobile satellite dishes that travel on the top of a vehicle. When the disaster area is reached, the clam shell design dishes can deploy, acquire the satellite and establish a broadband connection in a matter of minutes. From this base, Wi-Fi, WiMAX and/or VoIP networks can be configured that allow the first responders to be highly effective in their efforts. Data, voice and video can be sent to any location with an Internet connection.

Here are a few examples.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed its Atlanta-based Federal Incident Response Support Team (FIRST) to Tennessee. Two mobile high-tech communications vehicles staffed by five team members left Dobbins Air Reserve Base on the night of Feburary 6, 2008 and currently are based in Lafayette in Macon County.

FIRST is supporting federal and state leadership as they coordinate emergency support for the response effort by ensuring that essential communications channels remain accessible and operational. In addition to computers and cell phones, the self-contained vehicles include state-of -the-art satellite technology that will provide video-teleconferencing capability for federal, state and local emergency response officials.

There are two FIRSTs in the nation, one based in Atlanta and the other in Chicago. FIRST Atlanta most recently was deployed in October 2007 to assist with the federal response to the California wildfires.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

When the term “first responders” is used, most people think of federal, state or local government agencies and these do make up a large percentage of the first people to respond to a disaster. However, they are not the only ones. Relief agencies such as the Red Cross and insurance companies who want to be as responsive as possible to their clients also have teams of people trained and deployed to provide comfort and relief that ranges from physical to fiscal.

The Red Cross understands the value of satellite based communications. They and their affiliates are often the only way that people in impacted areas can communicate with family and friends. Since its founder Clara Barton began writing letters home on behalf of injured soldiers during the Civil War, the Red Cross has served as a vital communication link between military personnel and their families, relaying verified news of births, deaths, serious illnesses or, in this case, natural disasters.

The emergency message process typically starts when a family notifies their local Red Cross chapter of an emergency. The Red Cross then confirms the information before relaying the message to the service member's commanding officer to determine if emergency leave should be granted.

However, as was the case in Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and other states devastated by tornadoes, people can’t come to the Red Cross, so the Red Cross must come to them.

Technology, such as satellite communication, allows the Red Cross to send emergency messages quickly to soldiers anywhere in the world, including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units from the front yard of what was once a family home. Red Cross staff on the other end of the message have been stationed in the Middle East since before the war with Iraq began, serving alongside the men and women they are there to support. They endure the same harsh conditions as the troops to ensure that emergency messages are delivered and their commitment can’t be underestimated. However, it is satellite, as an enabling technology, that allows a family whose home has just been destroyed to reach out to family members serving the country overseas quickly.

In addition to first responders from federal, state and local agencies and NGO’s (Non-Government Organizations) such as the Red Cross, business in the impacted areas have to initiate their disaster response plans. This of course assumes that such a plan exists and if it does that it includes satellite as the connectivity technology. If the plan is based upon terrestrial or wireless connectivity there is probably an issue. The advantage of having a well thought out and, maybe more importantly, a rehearsed disaster response plan cannot be overemphasized. It is simply a question of when, and not if, a disaster will occur.

Will you be ready? Got Satellite?