Belden donates bulk Cat 5e riser cable, REVConnect connectivity infrastructure to aid in wildfire, hurricane disaster recovery efforts

On Dec. 19, Belden announced its partnership with the Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (ITDRC), and that the company is furnishing cabling and connectivity solutions at no cost to assist with disaster-recovery efforts from the Camp Fire in California and recent hurricanes in the southeast United States. Belden is supplying its Category 5e riser-rated cable and REVConnect Connectivity Solutions to ITDRC to support vital connectivity infrastructure in impacted locations.

Per a Belden statement, "ITDRC’s 1,000+ volunteers have established approximately 75 temporary sites for hurricane recovery in the last two months across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. With more requests coming in for assistance after recent wildfires in California, ITDRC’s supply stocks were depleted. By donating these products, Belden helped ITDRC continue to provide secure connectivity for survivors, officials, medical staff, first responders and volunteers."

Belden provided bulk Category 5e riser-rated cable and REVConnect Connectivity Solutions that enabled ITDRC to establish temporary connectivity infrastructure for evacuation shelters and campgrounds, donation warehouses, recovery centers and command centers in areas impacted by disasters. Establishing Internet-connected networks free of charge in these locations helped emergency responders continue to locate occupants, keep residents in contact with family and friends while providing access to updated condition information, restore connectivity in remote areas, provide wireless service in places where cellular signals weren’t available, get schools and hospitals back online and help officials locate equipment and other resources.

“Deploying Belden’s REVConnect makes the most sense for rapid deployment in these disaster-affected areas,” says Roger Rustad, western division director of ITDRC. “It’s safer, easier to use and allows us to leverage more volunteers who have varying technical skills.” REVConnect’s simplified termination process is designed to allow people with a wide range of experience levels to complete terminations.

To learn more about how Belden and others are helping ITDRC establish and repair IT systems, visit www.itdrc.org.