Anderson County EMA adds satellite backup
In a major upgrade to local disaster-response capabilities, the Anderson County Emergency Management Agency is installing a satellite-based communications backup system for its emergency-vehicle fleet, according to a news release.
By pairing Starlink satellite terminals and multi-carrier LTE data routing with state-of-the-art tri-band mobile radios, the county is establishing a new level of voice and data resilience for first responders for the most remote areas of the county or in times of devastation when other communications fail, the agency announced.
This hybrid data system automatically senses network status and seamlessly shifts communications to the satellites when necessary.
If a severe storm, flash flood or technical outage cripples local cellular towers, each vehicle’s onboard router instantly transfers crucial data streams to the Starlink satellite network without interrupting operations.
“Complementing this resilient data pipeline is the deployment of advanced tri-band mobile radios,” the agency said. “These radios allow emergency managers to communicate seamlessly across VHF, UHF, and 700/800 MHz frequencies — including the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network — from a single control point.
“This eliminates historical communication barriers [among] local, state, and federal agencies during complex, multi-jurisdictional operations,” the agency said.
“Step by step, we’re improving our communications posture in Anderson County,” Mayor Terry Frank said. “We couldn’t do it without the support of our Board of County Commissioners.”
EMA Director Joe Mead said that “during a large-scale emergency, accurate, real-time communication dictates how efficiently we can deploy resources and protect lives.”
“By combining satellite-backed data redundancy with tri-band radio flexibility, our mobile command … maintains a secure, high-speed lifeline back to the Emergency Operations Center, and uninterrupted voice links with our mutual aid partners, no matter the conditions on the ground,” he said
The Anderson County Emergency Management Agency is responsible for coordinating disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery operations within the county. Partnering with local, state and federal entities, the agency works to safeguard the lives, property, and crucial infrastructure of the community.
To learn more, visit andersoncountytn.gov/emergency-management/.
