### Apple’s Satellite Messaging Service Crucial Amid Hurricane Helene Aftermath

Apple's satellite messaging service has proven indispensable in the wake of Hurricane Helene, assisting residents in North Carolina, where approximately 370 cell towers are entirely non-operational, and an additional 103 are relying on backup power. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has extended its disaster recovery plan to several states, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

The FCC released a detailed analysis of the affected areas, indicating that 90% of cell sites are down in the most severely impacted counties. Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties are experiencing particularly dire conditions, with functioning cell sites in the area plummeting to 10% or fewer. The telecommunications blackout extends beyond cell towers, with two local television stations and two FM radio stations also out of service in North Carolina.

Internet service providers, prepared with contingency plans such as backup generators and fuel supplies, have been unable to maintain service due to the extreme flooding. Local ISP Skyline highlighted the extent of the devastation, reporting facilities submerged in chest-deep water, rendering backup generators useless.

Apple's Messaging via satellite service, introduced with iOS 18, is playing a vital role in enabling communication in these crippled areas. The service allows residents to check on the safety of friends and family during this critical period. Dee Davis, president of the Center for Rural Strategies, emphasized the human impact of being unable to communicate during natural disasters, recalling his own experience of losing a close friend during the 2022 Kentucky floods.

Additionally, Apple is contributing to the relief efforts to support the affected communities. For further insights into Apple's initiatives and technological advancements, tune in to 9to5Mac’s YouTube channel, where British technology writer and EU Editor Ben Lovejoy regularly provides updates and reviews.