Case Study: Understanding the Urgent Need for Resilient and Effective Emergency Messaging Systems in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
The devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on Asheville, North Carolina, and its surrounding areas has underscored the critical need for effective, reliable, and comprehensive emergency communication systems. Existing warning systems failed to deliver timely and consolidated information to the affected communities. Futuri's BEACON, a pioneering emergency messaging system, offers a transformative solution to enhance public safety and communication resilience in times of crisis.
Hurricane Helene in Asheville and Surrounding Areas [1]
Hurricane Helene was the strongest hurricane on record to hit Florida's Big Bend region and the deadliest to impact the mainland U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Its path of destruction extended into North Carolina, with Asheville bearing the brunt of its force.
Helene's destruction across 16 states is expected to surpass $30 billion in costs, accounting for wind loss, storm surge, and inland flooding damages to residential and commercial properties.[2] This property damage, however, pales in comparison to the horrific loss of lives.
To date, North Carolina has confirmed 95 deaths related to Helene across 21 counties. Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, reported the highest fatalities with 42 deaths, followed by Yancey County with 11.[3] The better our emergency systems become, the more we can minimize these senseless losses.
Existing Warning Systems
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) provides citizens with a multitude of resources during emergencies. While the range and depth of information is commendable, the current system requires the public to navigate through hundreds of disparate sources to find relevant local information.[4] This fragmentation can lead to confusion and as evidenced by Helene, the spread of misinformation from non-official sources.[5]
Emergency Management Reliance on Modern Technology
In times of crisis, multiple service providers — cellular, power, and internet companies —release outage information online. While helpful to those who can access it, it is not available to individuals or families who don’t have immediate access to the internet. This exasperates the public's ability to get timely, relevant, and much-needed emergency information. When internet connectivity is compromised, a more modernized, resilient emergency system that relies on numerous communication options is required.
Radio is the Most Resilient Technology in Disasters
Radio is, and has always been, the more resilient communication technology in times of disaster because it operates on broadcast infrastructure that can function independently of the main power grid, often supported by backup generators.
The percentage of U.S. households without cars declined from 22% in 1960 to 8.5% in 2020.[6] Nearly all vehicles are equipped with radios, offering an accessible medium for emergency broadcasts when power, cell and internet services are not available.
Additionally, radio reception requires minimal electricity, and portable devices can run on batteries or built-in solar charging technology.
BEACON in Asheville[7]
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Futuri deployed a philanthropic team of engineers and management to implement the Broadcast Emergency Alerts and Communications Operations Network (BEACON) for Asheville at breakneck speed. The BEACON system integrates information managed and customized to meet the specific requirements of a state’s Emergency Management Communications Center.
Not only is the information localized, but it is also capable of being translated into any language. While the system became operational quickly, understandably, neither the local news nor NCDPS had the bandwidth to adopt a new system amid a crisis. Despite this, a live version of BEACON was running, the log of which demonstrates its potential effectiveness, summarized below.
During a 53-hour operational period from October 1 to October 3, BEACON in Asheville:
● Distributed Over 4,000 Messages: BEACON provided continuous, government-sourced emergency messages, ensuring life-saving information would be available to everyone, complementing and adding to existing messaging systems, and local news coverage without needing 24-hour broadcasters for the duration of an emergency.
● Broadcasted Unique Long-Form Messages: Covering a wide array of critical topics, combining information from multiple disparate sources, including:
o Integrated Public Alerts and Warning System (IPAWS).
o National Weather Service (NWS).
o Shelter availability and evacuation points.
o Utility service notices by vendor (electricity, internet, water).
o Resources for medication, missing persons data, and other non-profit / charitable services available.
o Updates from state, county, National Guard and FEMA sources.
o Information on transportation infrastructure.
o Emergency procedures for generators, boil water notices, etc.
o Traffic notices, road closures, and airport information.
When the Lights are Out, BEACON is On
At the peak of outages during Helene, 1 million people were without power, including an estimated 82,000 in Buncombe County.[8] BEACON's reliance on radio broadcasts ensures continued information dissemination despite electricity disruptions. Messages will list all available emergency resources as well as data that outlines power outage destinations.
BEACON: Your Voice When Networks Fall Silent
On September 28, about 82% of Buncombe County's cell towers were offline. Four days later, 40% remained nonfunctional.[9]
When a Network Disconnects, BEACON Shines a Light
Spectrum's network in Western North Carolina sustained damage to over 227 miles of broadband infrastructure, leading to prolonged internet outages.[10]
Residents like Kathy Whitehouse details her problems with connectivity after Helene:[11]
It was bad enough that Spectrum didn't restore services to our area for a whole week during the hurricane, even though I got power back the day after the hurricane blew on up to North Carolina from near where I was in Clemson, SC. But now, it's coming up on 24 hours that it's been out again. Each day it goes out, I lose income. I desperately need another company for internet access.
Residents experienced repeated internet outages, impacting their livelihoods and highlighting the need for a more reliable communication system.
Equipped with Starlink satellite connections, the patented BEACON technology maintains internet and data connectivity, ensuring uninterrupted emergency broadcasts when traditional cable and fiber technologies are disabled.
In addition, BEACON works with FEMA's National Public Warning System, which includes Primary Entry Point (PEP) stations capable of reaching over 90% of U.S. citizens, with required backup generator capabilities.[12] These features ensure BEACON signals are broadcast even when traditional power, cell and internet services are unavailable.
The BEACON Difference
Futuri Media, with 150 engineers and 20 patents including BEACON’s proprietary technology, brings a history of media innovation, serving broadcasters worldwide with cloud-based AI-powered solutions. Of note, the AI at work in BEACON does not choose or decide what messaging is distributed, that is left to the state; the AI technologies only translate approved messages to broadcast-quality audio.
BEACON's performance during Hurricane Helene demonstrated the critical role of backup communication systems in supporting emergency responders and communities, particularly in unprepared areas facing unprecedented disasters. By providing real-time, accessible updates to isolated individuals, BEACON helps reduce misinformation and maintain communication despite infrastructure damage, enhancing community safety and protecting lives and property. We encourage state emergency management agencies to implement BEACON now, before the next disaster hits.
[1] Image Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) / Associated Press, “Geocolor satellite image taken on September 26,2024 shows Hurricane Helene in the Gulf of Mexico…”. Accessed October 22, 2024.
[2] Pulver, Dinah Voyles, and Eduardo Cuevas. "Hurricane Helene: Deaths, Damage Updates Saturday." USA Today, October 5, 2024, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/10/05/hurricane-helene-deaths-damage-updates-saturday/75530030007/. Accessed October 22, 2024.
[3] Thomae, Lucas. "NC Final Tally: Helene Deaths by County." WUNC, October 18, 2024, https://www.wunc.org/news/2024-10-18/nc-final-tally-helene-deaths-county-by-cpp. Accessed October 22, 2024.
[4] North Carolina Department of Public Safety. TS Helene Resources - October 19, 2024. October 19, 2024, https://files.nc.gov/dps/documents/2024-10/TS-Helene-resources-10-19-24.pdf. Accessed October 22, 2024.
[5] Tarrant, Rhona. "Hurricane Helene: Fact Check on Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories." CBS News, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-helene-fact-check-misinformation-conspiracy-theories/. Accessed October 22, 2024.
[6] Rodrigue, Jean-Paul. "Household Vehicles in the United States." The Geography of Transport Systems, https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter8/urban-transport-challenges/household-vehicles-united-states/. Accessed October 22, 2024.
[7] Image Credit: Melissa Sue Gerrits / Getty “Heavy Rains from Hurricane Helene caused record flooding and damage in Asheville, North Carolina”
[8] Wilt, Jacob. "Power Outage Map for Western NC: Here's the Latest on Helene." Citizen Times, October 1, 2024, https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2024/10/01/power-outage-map-western-nc-heres-the-latest-helene-tuesday-oct-1-2024/75464701007/. Accessed October 22, 2024.
[9] "The Troubling Quiet: North Carolina Cell Outages After Helene." The New York Times, October 5, 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/05/us/north-carolina-cell-outages-helene.html. Accessed October 22, 2024.
[10] Seaton, Iris. "Spectrum After Helene: Why Is the Internet Still Out With Power Restored?" Citizen Times, October 10, 2024, https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2024/10/10/spectrum-after-helene-why-is-internet-still-out-with-power-restored/75603128007/. Accessed October 22, 2024.
[11] Whitehouse, Kathy. "Charter Communications Outages in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States." Is The Service Down?, https://istheservicedown.com/problems/charter-communications/4453066-asheville-buncombe-county-north-carolina-united-states. Accessed October 22, 2024.
[12] Federal Emergency Management Agency. "Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) for Broadcasters and Wireless Providers." FEMA, https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system/broadcasters-wireless. Accessed October 22, 2024.