Hughes’ Spaceway 3 Ka-band satellite system helps establish connectivity during an emergency situation such as a hurricane. Photo: Hughes

[Via Satellite 06-26-2014] Hughes Network Systems released Hughes Emergency Solutions for enterprise and government customers to prepare for the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially began on June 1, 2014. The solutions include emergency response, Continuity of Operations (COOP) and network restoration, and offer path-diverse options to maintain connectivity during a hurricane or tropical storm.

Researchers at Colorado State University (CSU) predicted a slower hurricane season this year, but said three hurricanes will make landfall in the 2014 season, one of which will be a major storm with winds exceeding 110 mph. Hughes conducted a survey on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and found that 37 percent of small businesses in the area were left without broadband for more than five business days, resulting in losses of more than $25,000 for more than 25 percent of those without connectivity. Hughes developed a list of basic steps for assisting agency and enterprise customers during and after a hurricane, suggesting preparations such as having a back-up generator, corded phone and an extra supply of batteries, as well as backing up information and data frequently to a secure and dependable facility.

“As we’ve unfortunately seen time and time before, it only takes one major storm to bring everything down,” said Tony Bardo, assistant vice president for government solutions at Hughes. “The best time to respond to a disaster is before it happens.”