Creating and Enhancing Network Resilience Can Curtail Threats From Natural Disasters

As climate change intensifies, natural disasters are becoming more frequent and destructive. Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and tornadoes are increasingly challenging network infrastructures. According to international insurance company Munich Re, global natural disasters in 2020 caused $210 billion in damage. Because reliable network connectivity is essential for emergency services and community recovery this ignites an essential question:

How do we ensure that our broadband networks are resilient enough to withstand such disasters?

In the latest episode of "Wavelengths," by Amphenol Broadband Solutions, host Daniel Litwin, the voice B2B, spoke with Richard Murtha, Senior Vice President of OSP Engineering and Construction at Kinetic by Windstream. Together, they talked about the strategies necessary for building resilient networks capable of withstanding natural disasters and discussed key lessons learned from real-world events.

Some points of their discussion:

• Murtha explaining the importance of collaborating with local communities and evaluating environmental risks, such as flood zones and storm-prone regions, to harden networks.
• His experience with FEMA and numerous telecom roles, and how networks can be rebuilt and fortified following catastrophic damage, such as during Hurricane Michael in Florida.
• The financial considerations of network maintenance and resilience, particularly in underserved areas prone to disasters.

Richard Murtha is the Senior Vice President of OSP Engineering and Construction at Kinetic by Windstream. He has an extensive career in telecommunications, from his early days at New York Telephone to leading large-scale operations at Kinetic by Windstream. He has managed network resilience efforts in regions affected by hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding and worked with FEMA on disaster recovery during Hurricane Michael.