14 STARKE, Florida – For more than 15 years, the Regional Emergency Response Network (RERN) revolutionized disaster response for high impact states like Florida. The RERN is a large vehicle, staffed by a minimum of four personnel, capable of providing telephone, radio, video teleconferencing and internet connectivity to responding agencies.
Over the years, technology has evolved and the mission has changed. In the wake of Hurricane Michael, county Emergency Operations Centers throughout the panhandle went completely dark, void of all means of communication. Signal units scrambled to mobilize specialized Soldiers to restore services, bringing with them equally large and outdated equipment. The lessons learned from Hurricane Michael, coupled with an operational cost upwards of $2500 a day per RERN, led the Florida National Guard G6 to obtain the same capability but in smaller, more modular, package known as Joint Tactical Expeditionary Kit (JTEK).