Katrina
relief and threat of Rita keep Inmarsat and partners
braced for emergency response in USA
After the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina,
Inmarsat and its distribution partners ensured vital
mobile satellite communications services were deployed
well before Hurricane Rita struck the Gulf coast of
Texas and Louisiana.
In preparation for Rita, Inmarsat had provided Global
Area Network (GAN) and mini-M terminals to a range of
government agencies, emergency responders and political
officials.
Specifically, Inmarsat provided 10 large antenna mini-M
(LAMM) terminals and free airtime to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Guard along
the Texas and Louisiana Gulf coast.
Government agencies were determined not to repeat the
failures of Hurricane Katrina, which had ravaged the
US Gulf coast less than a month earlier. But thankfully
the damage caused by Rita was not as bad as first feared.
When Rita struck land, it turned out to be a less damaging
storm than Katrina. Rita veered east of Houston, but
did spark a surge that flooded and caused substantial
damage in several towns along the Louisiana coastline.
Inmarsat chairman and chief executive officer Andrew
Sukawaty says: "Hurricane Katrina provided another
stark reminder of the need for reliable communications
capabilities during a disaster where terrestrial and
cellular services had proven unreliable during extreme
emergencies.
"With Rita, we deployed the Inmarsat network with
a focus towards ensuring that first responders and emergency
workers had all the communications resources they needed."
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Archives: (2005 ) / (2006)
 19
December 2005
Inmarsat
Digital Maritime Enhancements in AOR-W
14
December 2005
Inmarsat
Will Run Galileo Network Operations
14
December 2005
Inmarsat
Unveils SwiftBroadband Service
at Dubai AirShow
7
December 2005
Inmarsat
Announces
Launch of BGAN Service
18
November 2005
Inmarsat's
AeroMobile
In-Flight Cell Phone
Service Tested
8
November 2005
Second
Inmarsat-4
Satellite Speeds into Orbit
1
November 2005
Inmarsat
RBGAN Utilized in Cross Country Motor Rally
17
October 2005
Inmarsat
RBGAN Perfect for Mount Elbrus Expedition
14
October 2005
Inmarsat
RBGAN Backbone
to Niger Famine Alert
10
October 2005
Inmarsat
Satellite Helps Rescue Workers After Pakistan-India
Earthquake
28
September 2005
Katrina
& Threat of Rita
Keep Inmarsat Prepared for Emergency Response
23
September 2005
Inmarsat
Plays Vital Role
in Hurricane Rita
22
September 2005
Inmarsat's
SwiftBroadband Provides Revolutionary
In- Flight Service
20
September 2005
Inmarsat
at the Heart of
Volvo Race Communications
6
September 2005
Inmarsat
Extends Capacity in Wake of Hurricane Katrina
31
August 2005
Inmarsat
Service Provides
Vital Back-Up Communications for Disaster Relief Efforts
12
August 2005
RBGAN
Terminal Integral
Role in Washington Post
30
June 2005
Inmarsat-3
Plays Key Role in Pioneering Flight Across Africa
4
May 2005
Thailand
Installs First Phase of National Tsunami Warning System
via Inmarsat
22
April 2005
Inmarsat
Puts Sri Lanken Families Affected by Tsunami
in Touch with Loved Ones
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