SIA Encourages Emergency Planners to Consider the Resilience of Satellite Services When Making Disaster Preparations

Washington, D.C., September 29, 2023 – With the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season arriving September 10th, the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today encouraged policy and lawmakers to consider the vital role satellites play in providing communications and other important services following a natural disaster. Because satellite networks operate far above the Earth’s surface, they are not vulnerable to damage by storms or other weather-related emergencies such as wildfires. Therefore, satellite communications may often be the only way government and emergency first responders can communicate, track critical emergency assets and access valuable post-disaster imagery and data networks if terrestrial infrastructure is damaged or services are unavailable.

“With NOAA now forecasting an above normal Atlantic hurricane season and the recent wildfire emergencies in Maui and Washington State, it is vital for government relief agencies, private enterprise and even consumers to consider the unparalleled level of reliability and ubiquity of satellite services when planning for natural disasters,” said Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Association. Because of this reliability, many satellite companies already have long standing relationships with local, State and Federal government organizations both here in the United States and around the globe. These relationships help to ensure that first responders and relief agencies have access to vital communications and information wherever and whenever they are needed.”

The availability of reliable satellite voice and data communications for relief agencies and first responders following a natural disaster is already well documented. Satellite Earth observation and remote sensing has greatly expanded in the past five years and these services have enhanced both forecasting and post hurricane/disaster relief. Optical imagery has long been available for forecasters and meteorologists as well as emergency responders for visual reference before and after disasters. Today, thanks to new technological innovations, smaller remote sensing and imaging satellites are capturing optical, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), radio occultation (RO) and other multispectral data from space. The use of “before and after” imagery and remote sensing data has also become a key part to disaster response. Organizations and government agencies use that data to help ensure response decisions can be made with efficiency and confidence, giving first responders on the ground further information about what areas require prioritization.

To learn more about the critical role satellites play before and after a weather disaster such as a hurricane, please visit the following link. https://sia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mktg23-Hurricane-Document-w-Updates-August-24th-FINAL.pdf

About The Satellite Industry Association
SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. For more than two decades, SIA has advocated on behalf of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. For more information, visit www.sia.org.

SIA Executive Members include: Amazon; The Boeing Company; DIRECTV; EchoStar Corporation; HawkEye 360; Intelsat S.A.; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Ligado Networks; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Northrop Grumman; OneWeb; Planet Labs PBC; SES Americom, Inc.; Spire Global Inc.; and Viasat Inc. SIA Associate Members include: ABS US Corp.; The Aerospace Corporation; Artel, LLC; AST Space Mobile; Astranis Space Technologies Corp.; Aurora Insight; Comtech; Eutelsat America Corp.; ExoAnalytic Solutions; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; Leonardo; Lynk; Omnispace; OneWeb Technologies; Ovzon; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Skyloom; Telesat Canada; ULA and XTAR, LLC. SIA Affiliate Members include: Digital Locations, Inc.; DLA Piper; EVONA; Genus Group; Hogan Lovells; Integrasys LLC; Keysight Technologies, Inc.; Media Broadcast Satellite; Orange Business; Orbital Research; Peraton; Plexus Corp; SD Government; Sheppard Mullin and Wiley