Hurrican Harvey - Network Status (FCC)

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1

Hurrican Harvey DIRS report

5 radio stations out of service (WKNC, KKTX, KUNO, KKWV, and KAYK)
149,909 cable and wireline subscribers out of service (5 switching centers
out of service, and 38 switching centers on backup power)
4% of cell sites out of service (Aransas, Reugio and San Patricio, TX have
more than 50% of cell sites out of service)
9 PSAPs out of service or calls re-routed to another PSAP

Aransas, TX is very rural, with only 19 cell sites, 18 out of service.

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-346368A1.pdf

2

Hurricane Harvey DIRS report August 27, 2017:

17 PSAPs impacted, 1 out of service, 16 with partial service or re-routed to another PSAP
At least 148,565 cable and wireline subscribers out of service (11 switching centers out of service, and 21 switching centers on backup power)
4.1% of cell sites out of service (Aransas, Calhoun, Refugio, and San Patricio in TX have more than 50% of cell sites out of service)
9 radio stations out of service (KJOJ-FM, KKTX, KUNO, KPRC, KKWV, KAYK, KZFM, KKBA and KEYS)

News reports also say 1 TV station (KHOU) out of service, but not reported in the DIRS status.

https://www.fcc.gov/file/12806/download

3

KHOU's local transmitter (Missouri City I think is where it's at) seems to
be back on the air, but with all production from WFAA out of Dallas.

4

KHOU had a tweet with video showing the water flooding into their
offices/studios and staff having to leave.

https://twitter.com/sallykhou11/status/901805513905668096

I guess this is where disaster tolerance/recovery plans really kick in.

5

Large network provider in the middle of this... This event will re-write all of our DR plans... Telecom and communication systems are holding up extremely well with high water and multi-county power outages caused by high-water... I commend all those out in this responding to immediate needs of their fellow citizens directly and the countless other setting at home in front of their PC monitoring things and making sure systems and emergences are being dealt with. Proud to see everyone working together.. That is the way it should be.

6

These held up well in previous examples as well.... until their
batteries ran down. So we'll have to see if they continue to be
operational as the water drains away.

7

Tropical Storm Harvey FCC DIRS and FEMA Operations report August 28, 2017:

Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts between August 25-28 issued by NWS Houston (and surrounding metro area)

154 tornado warnings
149 flood warnings
67 flash flood warnings
27 reported tornados
5 civil emergency messages (at request of local authorities)

268,000 customers without electric power
1,828 people in shelters

16 PSAPs impacted, 1 out of service, 16 with partial service or re-routed to another PSAP (six PSAPs back in service, and five others added)

At least 189,487 cable and wireline subscribers out of service (19 switching centers out of service, and 22 switching centers on backup power)

4.7% of cell sites out of service (Aransas, Calhoun, and Refugio in TX have more than 50% of cell sites out of service)

9 radio stations out of service (KKTX, KUNO, KPRC, KKWV, KAYK, KMKS, KZFM,
  KKBA and KEYS)

1 TV station previously out of service, back in service (KHOU now broadcasting from University of Houston, with assistance from remote news staff in Dallas and San Antonio)

https://www.fcc.gov/file/12809/download

8

Tegna, ownership group of KHOU, had a news report
that the news studio for KHOU was setup at a "PBS station
in Dallas", with satellite uplink to KUSA (Denver).
Master Control is running at KUSA Denver for KHOU
service area, with satellite back to the transmitter
for KHOU.

According to the FCC filing, the transmitter is located SW of Houston near Fresno, TX
at 29deg 33min 40secN 95deg 30min 4sec W
Google Maps does show a tower there.

9

How badly was terrestrial telecom infrastructure affected?

- R.

10

High Water and loss of power has been biggest issue. Fiber is water proof just need to power to light it up. To many roads are blocked to even try and get generators dispatched. Link to power grid and link to flood gauges

http://gis.centerpointenergy.com/outagetracker/
https://www.harriscountyfws.org

Robert Jacobs | Network Architect & Director

Direct: 832-615-7742
Main: 832-615-8000
Fax: 713-510-1650

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