No signal, no aid: Why communication is the most critical asset during emergencies

Digital Humanitarian

The calm after the storm starts with a signal.

Dana Yaari sits down with Armando Samayoa, Regional Director at Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF), to explore what it truly takes to reconnect a community in the aftermath of a disaster.

From the moment Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas in 2019, TSF mobilized lightweight satellite gear, hopped helicopters, and raced to restore communication on the ground in Abaco, where teams were stranded without a lifeline back to headquarters.

Armando shares what goes into those critical first 15 minutes of connectivity, how TSF equips local responders to sustain these systems long after the initial emergency, and why digital access has become as essential as food or water in disaster zones. You'll gain a closer look at how humanitarian technology has evolved, and why preparedness is no longer optional when lives are at stake.

You’ll learn:

• What it takes to restore communication in a matter of minutes
• Why digital access is essential for both responders and survivors
• How new satellite tech is reshaping what’s possible in disaster zones
• Why preparing for the next crisis starts long before it hits

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Welcome to Digital Humanitarian, Armando Samayoa

(00:29) Why communication is the first thing lost

(01:11) Inside TSF’s response to Hurricane Dorian

(02:31) Getting to Nassau and gathering intelligence

(03:55) No signal from responders already in Abaco

(05:24) How TSF became crisis response tech experts

(08:49) The 25-kilo suitcase that changes everything

(10:03) Setting up connectivity in just 15 minutes

(13:19) Finding help when formal systems fall short

(18:04) The future of connectivity in disaster response

(25:23) What it feels like to bring relief during emergency response

Resources:

• Connect with Armando
• Learn more about TSF
• Connect with Dana
• Learn more about mondayERT