BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County Emergency Management and first responders will soon have improved connectivity thanks to a donation of a Starlink RV unit facilitated by Joshua Ball, chief operating officer of SOAR, and Dalton Stevens of Stevens Media Services.
This effort addresses a critical communication gap that was brought to light last fall when an abandoned tipple collapsed at the former Pontiki Prep Plant, trapping two men beneath tons of steel and concrete. Emergency personnel arrived on-scene to find they were void of cellphone or internet service essential to coordinating logistics and rescue efforts.
Ball and Stevens delivered the Starlink RV unit Thursday to Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty.
The judge reflected on the difficulties during the Pontiki incident.
“Instead of being set up immediately, we were having to send people down the road to make calls,” Lafferty said. “There are several areas throughout our county that have no connection, so this mobile unit will help our emergency responders tremendously. We could not appreciate our folks at SOAR and Mr. Stevens more for donating this for us. We are grateful beyond words.”
The judge’s staff had recently contacted Ball inquiring about a Starlink RV unit for the EMS. Ball then reached out to Stevens, a valued partner of SOAR.
“Dalton volunteers his time and talent to various nonprofit organizations,” Ball said. “I knew he had a unit, so I inquired more about the cost and the equipment. When I told him why I was asking, he did not hesitate to offer to donate one of his dishes to Martin County EMS.”
Stevens’ company, founded in 2021 and based in Pikeville, is a full-service production and design agency. He vouched for the effectiveness of Starlink in the field.
“We’ve been fortunate to use Starlink numerous times and have seen its capabilities firsthand,” Stevens said. “Our hope is that this donation can help the Martin County EMS to better service their region without the restrictions or limitations of internet or cellphone service.”
In 2023, SOAR partnered with the Kentucky Department for Public Health to provide 30 Starlink services and one year of complimentary service to qualifying residents on Meathouse Road in Martin County. Ball recalled installing more than 20 Starlinks on one Saturday.
“It was humbling to see residents go from little or no connectivity to having among the highest speeds in the county within minutes,” Ball said. “This technology allows connectivity to be achieved in the most rural areas.”
Ball stressed the critical nature of connectivity during emergencies and disasters.
“We hope this technology will better equip our first responders to better serve the people and communities throughout Martin County,” he said.