Deployables
In March 2020, several tornadoes tore across middle Tennessee. In Putnam County, 80 miles outside of Nashville, an EF-4 tornado caused major damage to structures and a public safety radio tower. With communications severely limited, state and local first responders turned to FirstNet for coverage from deployables and push-to-talk on smartphones.
Connecting to tools and resources is vital for law enforcement agencies. With FirstNet, officers and deputies in rural and remote areas have increased access to the databases and systems they need. Harry Markley, FirstNet Authority Senior Law Enforcement Advisor, highlights how three agencies are using FirstNet to maximize operations and improve incident outcomes.
The Putnam County Emergency Operations Center used FirstNet to bolster communications after tornadoes tore a 60-mile path through western and middle Tennessee.
The blog provides four examples of how FirstNet services and features are being used by fire personnel to save lives, protect communities and infrastructure nationwide.
At the annual Winter Institute Workshop and Exercise, hosted by the Texas A&M University’s Internet2 Technology Evaluation Center (ITEC), public safety officials evaluate technologies in real-life scenarios to help shape future technologies and research. During the 2020 exercise, participants practiced integrating new technologies, including a FirstNet deployable, into disaster operations during a simulated cyberattack.
Emergency Management professionals across the country are using FirstNet for many aspects of emergency planning and response, including in emergency operation centers, for incident management teams, in exercises and drills, and with deployables.
FirstNet boosted coverage for personnel aboard the U.S. Navy’s medical ship, the USNS Comfort, when it was deployed to New York City to treat COVID-19 patients. FirstNet also deployed a cell on wheels in Los Angeles to support the naval ship Mercy.
Download a quick summary of FirstNet Deployables.
The Hamilton County Communications Center in Ohio is responsible for dispatch services for public safety agencies across the county. Access to FirstNet’s robust and reliable platform is helping tactical dispatchers at the center.
In Hamilton County, Ohio, FirstNet’s robust and reliable platform is making it possible for technical dispatch teams responding to high-profile, large scale events to remain as fully functional as if they were operating within the four-walls of their Emergency Communications Center.
When a tornado struck 14.5 square miles and 12,000 properties of Beavercreek, Ohio, public safety utilized FirstNet to do damage assessments during recovery efforts. Beavercreek Township Fire Department Battalion Chief, Nathan Hiester shares why having a dedicated public safety network, when ‘those seconds actually count.’
On Memorial Day 2019, nearly 55 tornadoes touched down in eight states across the country. Ohio saw some of the worst damage, including an EF3 tornado that tore through Beavercreek Township. The Beavercreek Township Fire Department used FirstNet to assist with damage assessment efforts.
Officers with the Troy Police Department in New York rely on FirstNet for a differentiated emergency communications experience in the city’s densely populated urban setting. FirstNet’s priority and preemption service allows officers to stay connected, make calls, and send and receive information securely without signal delay or disruption.
The Washington National Guard’s Civil Support Team deployed a FirstNet SatCOLT (satellite cell on light truck) and flying COW (cell on wings) to highlight communications capabilities that can be utilized by public safety during a disaster.
At the 2019 FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival in Shawnee, Oklahoma, public safety officials from the Citizen Potawatomi Tribe relied on FirstNet-enabled devices for seamless interoperability among the many agencies supporting the festival.
When disaster strikes or large crowds gather, public safety officials need a broadband network they can rely on to remain connected. FirstNet’s fleet of deployables is an important resource for emergency managers for planned and unplanned events to ensure that connection is available. First Responder Network Authority Senior Public Safety Advisor Timothy Pierce describes the deployables that are available to FirstNet subscribers and how those resources can make a difference for first responders.
Edward Parkinson delivers remarks at CES Government 2020 to discuss the expanding public safety broadband marketplace and the FirstNet Authority's plans for FirstNet in 2020, including: FirstNet's role promoting innovation in the marketplace and advancing initiatives to identify industry trends and promote global public safety broadband opportunities.
First responders in Yamhill and Washington counties got a major boost in their wireless communications with the launch of a FirstNet cell site. The site – located in rural Yamhill County – is part of the FirstNet network expansion taking place in Oregon, which is bringing purpose-built coverage, capacity, and capabilities to first responders across the state.
The FirstNet Authority Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) held its bi-annual meeting in Austin, TX, where more than 20 PSAC members gathered to discuss 2019 activities and accomplishments and 2020 goals and initiatives. Kenzie Capece, FirstNet Authority Senior Public Safety Advisor, recaps the conversation on the FirstNet Authority Roadmap and special presentations from FirstNet, Built with AT&T, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.