When Hurricane Helene hit Appalachia on Sept. 26, it devastated entire towns with flooding and widespread structural damage. Regular cell phone and internet systems slowly crawled back online. As of Oct. 6 -- more than a week after Helene made landfall -- Mitchell County, North Carolina, still had 50% of cell sites out of service, while Yancey County had 72% of cell sites out of service, according to the US Federal Communications Commission.
Hurricane Milton, which hit as a Category 3 hurricane, spun through Florida on Oct. 9 and wreaked additional structural damage -- including mass power outages.
Even while internet and cell services return to normal, those in the path of the storm can get free Wi-Fi and internet usage while recovering from the hurricane's lasting damage. Five top internet service providers throughout Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida are still offering relief services to survivors of either Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton.
Locating local internet providers
Additionally the FCC expanded the Lifeline discount to victims of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Whether or not you were previously eligible for the $9.25 monthly discount on your internet bill, you can now enroll in the Lifeline program if you're receiving aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Individuals and Households Program.
Scroll down for the ISPs providing free service.
Locating local internet providers
Optimum
Optimum is offering all current customers in North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene one month of free internet service.
Optimum is waiving all charges for lost or damaged equipment and extending the free month of service to TV and Optimum Mobile packages as well.
Additionally, Optimum is offering free Wi-Fi and charging stations in Hendersonville and Franklin, North Carolina, at the following locations:
- Optimum Retail Store, 451 N. Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792
- Optimum Office, 717 S. Grove Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792
- Blue Ridge Mall, 1800 Four Seasons Boulevard, Hendersonville, NC 28792
- Optimum Retail Store, 247 Sloan Road, Franklin, NC 28734
Spectrum
Spectrum has opened 90,000 free Wi-Fi access points. Originally, the access points were slated to close on Oct. 7, but according to Spectrum's website, Spectrum "will keep them open in communities impacted in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida." Users affected from either Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton can make use of the access points. Additionally, Spectrum is waiving data usage for all mobile customers.
You can find an access point via the Spectrum Out-of-Home Wi-Fi map.
Starlink
Starlink, one of the first major ISPs to respond and the only ISP to partner with the US government, offers free Starlink internet service for the rest of 2024 to those impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Current customers are eligible for the service as well. Just note that if you're not receiving a Starlink kit from FEMA or an organization that you'll have to foot the costs of the $349 equipment charge yourself.
You can check your eligibility on the Starlink site. If you think your address is eligible, but you don't have a "Hurricane Relief" option, you can create a customer support ticket.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile is offering charging stations and free Wi-Fi hotspots in North Carolina and South Carolina. The stations are located in Asheville, Black Mountain, Fletcher, Weaverville (all in North Carolina) and Greenwood, South Carolina.
Additionally, T-Mobile is making use Starlink satellites to provide satellite-to-cell services for those affected by both Hurricane Helene and Milton.
Verizon
Verizon is offering 24/7 free power and Wi-Fi stations in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. You can find a location on Verizon's update page.
Verizon suffered severe network outages following Hurricane Helene and says it's restored more than 78% of the sites that were affected by the storm. Verizon offers free domestic calling, texting and data usage for all postpaid customers from Sept. 28 to Oct. 27.
Xfinity
Xfinity is also offering a number of free Wi-Fi access points, but only through Georgia, South Carolina and parts of Eastern Tennessee. There are more than 250,000 Wi-Fi hotspots located in public spaces and free to noncustomers. To find a hotspot near you, you can navigate to Xfinity's map.
Xfinity opened an additional 362,000 throughout Florida for survivors of Hurricane Milton.