Hurricane Harvey has wreaked havoc with some communications systems, including those relied upon by energy companies, throughout the affected Houston area. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai and the FCC’s operating bureaus are preparing to handle requests for emergency authority to restore service and facilities in connection with the hurricane.

In addition to affecting cellphone networks and 911 facilities, many energy companies may find that the storm and resulting floodwaters have damaged or displaced internal communications infrastructure that enables employees to communicate at a distance, connect multiple company locations, or track assets. FCC-licensed wireless systems and devices also are used for monitoring, telemetry, and in industrial control systems such as a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA).