When powerful tornadoes ripped through Western Kentucky, vital communication networks went down. To help get the region’s first responders, government, and emergency management officials back online, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service worked with the Starlink team at SpaceX. 

Starlink provided kits which use advanced satellites in a low orbit to enable high-data-rate internet, in strategic Western Kentucky locations. Starlink has internet relay satellites around the globe.  These kits provided immediate internet to their local communities at a time when their entire grid was off. 

A 4-H alumnus reached out to McCracken County 4-H Youth Development Agent, Brittany Osborne to facilitate the support with Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service. 

“The UK Cooperative Extension Service has an office in each of the affected Kentucky Counties,” she said. “This effort just makes sense and empowers us even more to do what we do best to help our neighbors and communities. I'm thankful to everyone involved and the positive impact this will make in a time of devastation is immeasurable.”

The Starlink kits remained in the affected areas for a minimum of two months, some more, while they provided the link to get government and humanitarian teams on the grid to serve their communities. To maximize reach, UK worked closely with Kentucky Emergency Management and Connected Nation, a nonprofit that provides tools and resources to help local communities, states and federal agencies create and implement solutions for their broadband and digital technology gaps. 

“We are so grateful that Starlink has provided this connectivity to our hard-hit communities,” said Laura Stephenson, associate dean and extension director for the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “4-H creates lifelong, servant leaders and this is a great example of how 4-Hers answer the call to help, even after they leave our system.”

One year later, local and state emergency management, as well as the University has since purchased Starlink as their primary source of internet. This satellite internet has provided rural areas access to technology and communications that were not accesible or reliable before.