HyAlert – First Responder Communications

In conjunction with state and local agencies, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) can only coordinate our nation’s response to natural disasters, severe weather conditions, and other catastrophic events if it has a reliable communication network.

However, history has shown that natural disasters and other catastrophic events have a significant, negative impact on traditional information network infrastructures. Paging devices, cellular phones, internet links (e-mail), telephone and other traditional techniques have many shortfalls. During such emergencies, network equipment can become flooded – figuratively and literally.

The HySky network is relatively impervious to such calamities. It is not a total solution in itself, but it is a valuable and integral piece of the overall first-alert communications puzzle.

HySky offers first responders the use of modern and sophisticated adaptations of HF (High-Frequency) channels to communicate with their base operations centers. First responders and mobile units are free to send inbound text messages and other data without depending on traditional local/ regional infrastructure, and these transmissions are received by up to eight sites scattered around the USA.

The geographical dispersion of the remote base stations ensures that nearly all of them will be well beyond the affected region. Messages are then gathered, processed, and relayed to HySky’s Mobile Network Operations Center that can be in, near, or out of the disaster area.

Our NOC then forwards the messages to the Emergency Management Center, all within in a few seconds. From a redundancy perspective, the messages are also captured by the HyS

First alert messages and replies to first responders from the Emergency Management Center can be sent by two alternatives: via a local FM station if it is working and coverage is substantial; or, via a commercial satellite.

In any case, the first responder’s transceiver automatically accepts messages from either one, and because FM and Satellite receivers are commonplace commercial products, and because HF is a simple media to use, the transceivers are low cost, efficient, and reliable.

In conjunction with all the other communications media, HySky originality offers redundancy and assurance that critical messages will get through.