Here's how Starlink satellites are getting western NC back online

Hurricane Helene swept through the U.S. Southeast, leaving a trail of devastation across six states, including western North Carolina.

The storm caused widespread damage to infrastructure, isolated communities and disrupted power and communication services.

State data shows Helene is responsible for 89 deaths in North Carolina (57 in Buncombe County alone) and more than 175 deaths nationwide.

In the aftermath of the storm, residents and emergency services have faced major challenges due to impassable roads and destroyed infrastructure.

Rural areas, in particular, have been cut off from vital information and emergency services.

To address this urgent need, Starlink, the satellite internet service developed by SpaceX and founded by Elon Musk, emerged as a critical tool for reconnecting communities.

As of Thursday, over six thousand low-orbit satellites are now connecting with small ground receivers, allowing people to access the internet for the first time since the storm.

Reliable, high-speed internet connectivity was essential for coordinating rescue operations, disseminating information and initiating recovery efforts.

"Hearing like, just, we love you guys. we're thinking of you. we didn't know it was national news," Maggie Watkins, Swannanoa resident said. "It made us smile that our town's being loved."

Maggie Watkins made it to a relative’s house outside of Swannanoa.

"Honestly, it’s the whole community, Swannanoa is gone," Watkins said. 

Thousands are still there, largely voiceless with no communication.

Watkins connected to a Starlink after the storm. 

It was the first time she could confirm that her family was okay but also, the first time she saw the destruction.

"I couldn't watch anymore that that broke my heart," Watkins said. "But also, like, all the messages were coming in at once. So it's, it's a happy and it's a sadness all at once, happiness."

WRAL Remote Broadcast Engineer John Potts says it helps give people like those in Swannanoa a voice to the outside world.

"You could connect a ton of people, as long as they're just using their phones for phone call or checking social media or things of that nature," Potts said. 

The Starlink solution

Starlink stepped in to deliver fast, reliable internet access in areas where traditional networks were down or non-existent. The White House reported that dozens of Starlink satellite systems were already deployed in North Carolina, with over 100 more on the way to regions devastated by Hurricane Helene.

According to FEMA, 40 Starlink systems were being utilized for emergency response communications, with an additional 140 on the way to help restore communications infrastructure. Starlink was deployed at county Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), enabling government and relief efforts to coordinate and maintain essential operations during the disaster recovery.

How does this work?

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation designed by SpaceX to provide high-speed internet access to underserved and remote areas.

Starlink's constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites offers fast, low-latency service unlike traditional satellite internet, which suffers from high latency.

This enables real-time communication and high-bandwidth internet, even in disaster-stricken or remote regions.

• A network of satellites: Starlink consists of thousands of small satellites orbiting Earth at a relatively low altitude. These satellites are designed to be lightweight and energy-efficient.
• Ground stations: On Earth, ground stations communicate with the Starlink satellites. These stations help to route internet traffic and ensure a stable connection.
• User terminals: To access Starlink, you need a special user terminal, which looks like a small dish. This terminal is mounted outside and connects to your router.
• Connecting to the internet: Connecting your device to your router sends a signal to the user terminal. The terminal then communicates with the nearest Starlink satellite, which in turn connects to the ground stations and the internet.

With download speeds of up to 300 Mbps and low latency, Starlink became a lifeline for regions like western North Carolina, providing residents and emergency services with the internet access needed for coordination and communication.

The importance of satellite internet in disasters

Helene's destruction demonstrated the vulnerability of traditional communication networks to natural disasters. Starlink's deployment during the hurricane underscored the critical role that satellite internet can play in such situations.

By bypassing damaged terrestrial infrastructure, satellite-based services like Starlink can restore communication quickly, allowing residents to stay connected, emergency responders to coordinate efforts, and recovery processes to move forward efficiently.

Starlink's contribution during Hurricane Helene showed the world that satellite technology can help keep people connected, informed and safe in times of crisis.