Macon Bibb County, Georgia is redefining they way it prepares for disasters and major events each day. Spencer Hawkins, Emergency Management Director for the Macon-Bibb County government discusses the county’s plans for facing all types of issues including hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and other major weather events. The Emergency Management team also works tirelessly to ensure all stakeholders in the area work on integrated communications when they approach disasters including local law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, and secondary users like public works.

Tens of thousands of runners and more than 100,000 spectators gather in Boulder, Colorado, every Memorial Day for the BOLDERBoulder, one of the largest 10-kilometer road races in the world. During the 2022 race, FirstNet enabled communications inside the emergency operations center, bringing critical connectivity to local first responders. Learn more at FirstNet.gov/Colorado.

When a rural fire in Brooks County, Texas engulfed 6,500 acres of land, the Falfurrias Fire Department faced significant communication and coordination challenges due to the remote location of the fire. FirstNet provided a solution to this problem with the deployment of a SatCOLT, a vehicle with its own cell site non-reliant on commercial power supplies, that provided crucial connectivity and support to over 40 agencies and public safety personnel. This subsequently enabled efficient mapping of the location, real-time weather updates, and seamless communication among first responders.

In rural Jackman, Maine, the community has taken an innovative approach to providing emergency care quickly and efficiently. With the help of FirstNet, the nationwide public safety broadband network, local paramedics can conduct telehealth sessions and treat residents at the local health clinic or in their homes. Through the use of telemedicine and a reliable broadband connection, paramedics can treat patients on site rather than transporting them to a hospital over an hour away. Learn more: https://firstnet.gov/newsroom/blog/firstnet-enables-telehealth-inland-island-jackman-maine