On Monday, the White House announced that numerous Starlink satellite systems, which provide high-speed internet access, are currently operational in North Carolina, with over 100 additional units on their way to areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.
This announcement coincided with remarks from former President Donald Trump, who claimed he had spoken to billionaire Elon Musk about setting up internet access, incorrectly stating that the systems had not yet been deployed. “I just spoke to Elon,” Trump stated. “We want to get Starlink hooked up because they have no communication whatsoever, and Elon will always come through. We are going to try and get the Starlink in there as soon as possible.”
However, the Biden administration clarified that these arrangements had already been put in place prior to Trump’s comments. A White House spokesperson emphasized on social media that “this is already happening,” referencing a press statement released Monday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
According to the FEMA statement, 40 Starlink satellite systems are available in North Carolina to assist with responder communications, and an additional 140 units are being dispatched to help restore communications infrastructure.
Hurricane Helene has wreaked havoc across the U.S. Southeast, resulting in over 100 fatalities across six states and severing communication and road access in some regions of western North Carolina.
Musk has endorsed Trump in the upcoming November 5 elections, where Trump will face off against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Starlink, Musk’s satellite broadband initiative, is part of SpaceX and controls nearly two-thirds of the world’s active satellites, providing the only high-bandwidth internet service that covers the entire planet.
In response to the storm, Trump visited a furniture store in Valdosta, Georgia, that had been damaged by the hurricane. Helene made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Thursday night, with storm damage estimates ranging from $15 billion to over $100 billion, according to insurers and forecasters.