Communications International Deploys Resources, Partners with Harris Corporation to Restore Public Safety Communications to Areas Affected by Hurricane Irma
VERO BEACH, FL, September 18, 2017 – Since Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida on September 10, Communications International (Ci) has deployed multiple resources to get critical communications restored to those areas severely impacted by the storm.
Making landfall as a dangerous Category 4 hurricane, first in Cudjoe Key and then in Marco Island, Irma devastated areas throughout Monroe and Collier County, rendering communications inoperable as it damaged radio towers and knocked out power lines throughout the state. In response, Ci deployed an Emergency Response Team to restore communications to agencies on the Collier County radio system. The team was comprised of employees from Ci’s locations in Daytona Beach, Rockledge, Vero Beach, and Tampa as well as its Goldsboro, NC office. The team also included Ci’s tower partners from around the state to complete and restore emergency communications. Team members transported much needed supplies including food, water and fuel to Ci’s Naples location which provides ongoing maintenance and support to Collier County’s radio system. Ci delivered an additional supply of portable radios and hundreds of batteries throughout the southwest portion of the state, including Naples and Marco Island, to further enable communications.
“The safety of our citizens and our first responders is always our top priority,” stated Ci Vice President of Service Mike Reed. “As the storm drew closer, we worked with our customers along both coasts to confirm that their Emergency Operations Centers had the proper resources to prepare themselves in the event of impact. We stationed personnel at EOCs in Volusia, Brevard and Collier Counties during the hurricane. Since then, our employees have remained committed to doing whatever they can to resolve issues resulting from storm damage in Collier County and throughout the state, to ensure all impacted radio systems are fully operational.”
Harris Corporation worked closely with Ci to provide emergency response assistance to State and County users of the State Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) that were impacted. The SLERS system covers 58,000 sq. miles and supports 23,000 radio users including 7,000 state law enforcement users. Three Ci employees were among the first on the Harris response team that traveled to south Florida and down to the Keys where the need is most urgent. Harris’ responders brought back-up generators and 200 radios to Monroe County public safety agencies. Conditions were so challenging that some members of the team had to travel by boat, working in cooperation with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC). There were many areas that were impassable which made customer sites unreachable by any other means.
According to Steven Williams, Harris’ Operations Manager for Florida SLERS, “As of early September 16, all sites were restored except for two in the Florida Everglades; which were not accessible at that time. The SLERS system is providing communications in the Keys not only for its customers, but for other agencies who did not have communications.” Williams added, “I am very proud of everyone involved in this effort, and applaud the level of commitment they have demonstrated to our public safety community and their families.”
About Ci
Communications International (Ci) is a leading supplier of mission critical communications systems for the public safety, transit and utility industries. Dedicated to ensuring customers have the tools they need to keep people safe, Ci works with top manufacturers to provide best in class technologies and comprehensive solutions. Established in 1975, Ci is an employee-owned company with over 160 employees and nine locations. For more information, please visit www.ask4ci.com.