Deployables
The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) is dedicated to promoting the principles of emergency management and the work of those who protect communities during emergencies and disasters. As a member of the FirstNet Authority’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, IAEM provides input on issues that are essential to emergency managers.
The Makah Tribe has called the Pacific Northwest home for thousands of years. With over 1,100 square miles of land and sea to patrol and the looming threat of tsunamis, reliable communications are crucial for the tribe’s first responders. Like many tribes across Indian Country, the Makah Tribe is looking to FirstNet to help solve their communication challenges.
Public safety agencies must be prepared for anything during hurricane season. When a hurricane hits, it can cause severe damage to city buildings and cellular network infrastructure. FirstNet supports first responders, like Miami-Dade Fire Rescue in Florida, ensuring they can communicate during and after major storms.
New York’s first responders are getting a major boost in their wireless communications with the addition of 22 new, purpose-built FirstNet cell sites and other network enhancements. This new infrastructure is part of the FirstNet network expansion taking place across the state, bringing increased coverage, capacity and capabilities for public safety.
When Otterbein University in Ohio played host to the 2019 Democratic presidential debate, thousands flocked to the City of Westerville to attend. During the event, the Westerville Police Department used FirstNet and drones to capture live, high-definition video and relay it to the emergency operations center, improving situational awareness and decision making.
Southwest Indiana’s first responders got a major boost in their wireless communications with the addition of new, purpose-built FirstNet cell sites and other public safety-specific network enhancements across the area. This new infrastructure is a part of the FirstNet network expansion taking place across the state, bringing increased coverage, capacity and capabilities for public safety.
Edward Parkinson was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the FirstNet Authority on March 12, 2020. One hundred days into the job, he reflects back on the creation of the FirstNet Authority and how far the organization has come, including recent investments that will prepare the network for the future.
Delaware’s first responders got a major boost in their wireless communications with the addition of purpose-built FirstNet cell sites and other network enhancements statewide. This new infrastructure is a part of the FirstNet network expansion taking place across the state, bringing increased coverage, capacity and capabilities for public safety.
Pennsylvania’s first responders got a major boost in their wireless communications with the addition of new, purpose-built FirstNet cell sites and other network enhancements statewide. These sites were identified by state and public safety stakeholders as priority locations, bringing increased coverage, capacity and capabilities for first responders.
Maryland’s first responders are got a major boost in their wireless communications with the addition of new, purpose-built FirstNet cell sites and other network enhancements statewide. The sites help Maryland’s first responders connect to the critical information they need – every day and in every emergency.
The First Responder Network Authority Board today approved the first set of investments for enhancing FirstNet, the nationwide public safety broadband network. Specifically, the Board approved more than $200 million for initial network upgrades to set FirstNet on the path to 5G and to expand the dedicated fleet of deployable assets.
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.