In January 2026, winter storms Fern and Gianna swept across the southern and eastern United States, leaving millions without electricity in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Regions such as the Carolinas faced historic snowfall.
The FirstNet Response Operations Group successfully answered more than 20 requests for support from public safety agencies. To ensure this capability is not lost, Congress must promptly reauthorize HR 7386, the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026.
During the winter storms, careful planning made it possible to deploy a portable satellite cell to Counce, Tennessee, a mobile tower to Cleveland, Mississippi, and to preposition generators in Louisville, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee. FirstNet did not fail because it was built precisely for these moments.
PREVENTION IS THE MOST AFFORDABLE DISASTER POLICY
FirstNet was born from the tragic lessons of 9/11. When civilian networks collapsed under the weight of millions of simultaneous calls, firefighters inside the Twin Towers
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