One year ago, Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina, leaving behind a landscape forever changed. In the wake of the storm, families, businesses and entire communities faced devastation, loss and uncertainty. Homes were damaged, essential infrastructure was destroyed and daily life was interrupted in ways we could never have imagined.
But amid this devastation, the enduring spirit of Western North Carolina shone brighter than ever. At AT&T, we witnessed firsthand how neighbors joined together, how first responders worked heroically and how innovation and determination paved the way for recovery.
In the immediate aftermath of Helene, AT&T’s commitment to keeping people connected was put into action. Our Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) team mobilized assets and specialized equipment in areas that were severely impacted. Our teams worked tirelessly to restore connectivity and ensure critical communications services were available.
For first responders, FirstNet®, Built with AT&T played a vital role in ensuring they had connectivity to reliably communicate and respond to emergencies. With the FirstNet Response Operations Group™ (ROG) working around the clock to respond to more than 220 requests from public safety agencies across the southeast region of the country, including more than 125 requests in North Carolina, it became the largest response in the history of FirstNet. This helped ensure that first responders, law enforcement and emergency personnel could communicate efficiently, effectively and safely.
And beyond the FirstNet ROG deployments, the North Carolina 9-1-1 Board, part of the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT), was able to make sure callers were connected to 9-1-1 through their existing Next Generation 9-1-1 infrastructure provided by AT&T ESInet. Thanks to the resiliency and redundancy of this network, NCDIT had no reports of 9-1-1 calls not being delivered.
One of the most inspiring moments came in the Lake Lure and Chimney Rock areas, where washed-out roads made traditional network repairs nearly impossible. Refusing to let obstacles stand in the way, our team partnered with local professional kayakers to safely transport fiber cables downriver to reconnect one of our critical network facilities, known as our Central Office. It was a powerful demonstration of collaboration and creativity in the face of adversity.
While the past year has been a journey of rebuilding, it has also been a story of remarkable progress. While recovery efforts are still ongoing, communities are rebuilding, local businesses are reopening and the sense of connection across Western North Carolina is stronger than ever.
At AT&T, we are proud of our continued investments in the region. From October 2024 through June 30, 2025, AT&T has invested more than $35 million dollars into our wireless and wireline network in Western North Carolina. Additionally, we have added and upgraded more than 64 cell sites to increase capacity and coverage, as well as brought AT&T Fiber to more than 15,000 homes and businesses in the region.
We are honored to play a role in helping rebuild and connect these communities by delivering the reliable, high-speed connectivity that families, residents, first responders and businesses rely on every day.
As we reflect on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, I am deeply grateful for the dedication of our AT&T employees, the leadership of local officials, the courage of first responders and the resilience of residents.
AT&T remains committed to connecting North Carolina, not just in times of crisis, but every day. And together, we are connecting more North Carolinians to greater possibility.
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