Information technology issues during and after Katrina and usefulness of the Internet: how we mobilized and utilized digital communications systems

In the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic disruption, communication channels break down and must be reestablished as rapidly as possible so that emergencies may be reported and first response team efforts coordinated in the field. Cell towers are typically not equipped with sufficient emergency power backup capacities, and backup generators of long-distance switches do not tolerate flooding. As a result, both mobile phone and long-distance phone terrestrial communication suffered an almost complete disruption in Katrina's wake. Over 60% of networks were still down 3 weeks after the event [1].In comparison, satellite communications remained quantitatively operational and were utilized within minutes of the disaster by FEMA, the National Guard and the Red Cross, as well as by state and local first responders, utility workers, and people in search of relatives. More than 20,000 Globalstar, Iridium and Mobile Satellite Ventures satellite phones and terminals were deployed in the affected region within 2 days after the event. Within the first 72 hours the Iridium network traffic surged by 3000%, and the subscriber base rose by 500%. The provider Globalstar was activating 1400 devices/day, as compared with a typical rate of about 80 devices/day. Mobile Satellite Ventures reported an increase in traffic in the affected region of more than 400%, and supplied satellite terminals to a number of emergency responders (e.g. FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue teams).Given these recent experiences, the Satellite Industry Association strongly suggested that in future satellite communications must be made an essential part of future critical communication networks; that satellite capacity and equipment must be pre-purchased and pre-positioned, with operator training included; and that satellite operators and personnel must be credentialed as first responders so that they may be admitted to restricted areas [2]. In some cases, however, poor planning (e.g. lack of SIM cards for devices