In the aftermath of major disasters, reliable communications are essential to emergency response and community recovery. When multiple hurricanes severely damage or destroy traditional infrastructure, Tidal Basin, a Michael Baker International Company, partners with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to deploy and manage Starlink satellite communication systems, delivering high-speed, low-latency internet access to government agencies, first responders, essential businesses and the public.
Between September 2022 and October 2024, when Florida was struck by five major hurricanes, Tidal Basin supported FDEM, deploying scalable satellite communications across the State of Florida and beyond.
Hurricane Ian (2022)
Tidal Basin provided program management, deployment and demobilization, technical support, business analysis, user acceptance testing, inventory management and logistics management of critical communications systems. We deployed 600+ satellite units, established 20 public hotspot sites and provided seven-day-a-week staffing to assist residents with internet access.
Hurricane Idalia (2023)
We supported FDEM with program management, deployment and demobilization, technical support, inventory management and logistics management of the state’s Starlink communications systems, deploying 140 units across the Big Bend region. Tidal Basin also provided post-response inventory reconciliation and storage at the State Logistics Resource Center (SLRC).
Hurricane Debby (2024)
Tidal Basin deployed its Starlink team to provide 550+ units statewide, positioning systems in all 67 counties. To improve delivery timeliness, we mobilized units from the SLRC in Orlando and transported them to Tallahassee, operating two points of distribution.
Hurricanes Helene & Milton (2024)
Our team of expert tech support and logistics specialists was on the ground prior to Helene’s landfall, prepared to provide Starlink communications immediately after the weather subsided. We rushed Starlink units to impacted counties supporting emergency operations centers, multi-agency resource centers, law enforcement, and other operations and recovery functions. Tidal Basin provided quality control and integration of 400 new Starlink units into the state inventory.
With Milton on the horizon, we rapidly transported the bulk of the state’s remaining inventory from the SLRC in Orlando to Lehigh Acres, ensuring additional resources to surge telecommunications capabilities at landfall.
Following Hurricane Helene, Florida pledged Starlink systems to assist flood-impacted communities in North Carolina and Tennessee. Our team prepared and deployed 100+ units within 24 hours, activated subscriptions and provided technical support in coordination with on-the-ground teams.
Through disciplined logistics, technical expertise and proactive planning, Tidal Basin enables FDEM to maintain operational continuity and deliver critical communications when infrastructure fails, ensuring communities remain connected when it matters most.