Hurricane Gustav’s track through the Gulf of Mexico and across the U.S. Gulf Coast revived bad memories of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it brought in 2005. Thankfully, Gustav inflicted much less damage than Katrina.

Gustav also provided a test for updated preparation efforts instituted since Katrina, and residents and government officials demonstrated that they learned from the past and were better prepared.

In the wake of Katrina, widespread loss of terrestrial communications across multiple states hampered rescue and recovery efforts. Satellite service operators rushed in to help fill the communications void, and their efforts helped raise interest in emergency satellite communication services.

For Gustav, emergency and first responders had their satellite-based communications ready in the case of another major loss of terrestrial services. Much of the credit for this has to be directed to the operators, which spent the past several years stressing to government agencies as well as any residents who needed access to communications that it makes more sense to have their emergency plans in place prior to a potential disaster rather than relying on satellite operators to scramble to bring communications on line after the damage has been done.

Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) provided expanded services to its existing customers, including the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross.

MSV also worked with the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to establish and maintain the Gulf States Mutual Aid Radio Talkgroup (G-SMART) to manage two-way radio over satellite communications in a five-state region. MSV’s emergency communication services also were used by local government agencies, the National Guard, FEMA and others to stay in contact as Gustav approached the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service, which is provided by a trio of satellites launched since Katrina, was ready to provide communications. Increases were made to BGAN channel allocations and increased capacity was implemented for some of Inmarsat’s other services. Iridium saw significant pickup of its services post-Katrina and recorded higher traffic prior to Gustav than what was reported during Katrina as first responders tested their phones.

Emergency satellite communications were not needed this time, but the industry demonstrated it is ready for the next time they are needed.

Via Satellite also would like to draw your attention to a new column debuting this month. Raul Magallanes, who runs a Houston-based law firm that focuses on telecommunications law, will discuss the regulatory market for satellite operators who wish to operate in the United States. The column, U.S. Satellite Policies, will provide a complement to our Global Regulations column, which will continue to provide the regulatory viewpoint from Europe and other regions around the globe.