The Unaka Volunteer Fire Department (pictured above) is in a small corner of western North Carolina in Cherokee County. Serving 33 square miles and about 700 families, this rural department has a very limited budget and has never had a phone or internet service.

After Hurricane Helene, the NCCF Disaster Fund granted $75,000 to the Cherokee County Community Foundation affiliate for disaster related needs. The affiliate chose to grant the funds to the Cherokee County Emergency Management Office. Robin Caldwell, EM Director, and her staff, chose to use the funds to purchase two Viper radios and a Starlink internet receiver for each of the county’s fire departments. Some departments chose the mobile version, while Unaka chose a station mounted dish.

Though spared a direct hit by the storm, Cherokee County experienced long cellphone and some power outages that disrupted emergency services, school, business and daily operations of the fire departments.

Viper radios are very powerful and can transmit across the state and were extremely important during Helene for communication across agencies and distances during extended power and cellphone outages. These radios cost upwards of $5000 and are beyond the budget of many small departments.

The Starlink receiver means internet at the station, which is extremely helpful for training, Wi-Fi calling in case of emergency, and submitting state reports and required paperwork. It will also mean in case of a larger disaster or outage in the area that the station can open to the community and allow people to make phone calls, get news and weather or summon emergency services like ambulance and police.

Chief Chad McNabb, of neighboring department Hiwassee Dam, got two Viper radios and a mobile Starlink unit. He says, “The Viper radios really help move our departments into the 21st century.  The radio system performed great during Hurricane Helene and now we have radios that will allow us to stay connected to other responders within the state.  And a mobile Starlink allows us make Wi-Fi calls and use online references for things like hazardous materials and electric vehicle information when we are in areas with no cell service.“

Robin Caldwell is extremely grateful for the NCCF disaster grant, which gave her EM department the flexibility to do something for the fire departments to improve communications and preparedness that her annual budget does not typically allow. The Viper radios and Starlink internet receivers will be invaluable to Cherokee County in the future.