Starlink Offers Free Service to Victims of Hurricane Helene

Starlink announced on Oct. 2 it will offer one month of free internet in Hurricane Helene disaster areas.

The free service will be available to new customers who order through the Starlink website and to customers who activate a kit they already have, whether it was donated or purchased at a retail store. Existing customers may also be eligible.

The announcement comes after more than 500 Starlink kits were distributed throughout the disaster area by private relief organizations.

The federal government also delivered 140 Starlink systems throughout the area, in addition to the 40 that were already in place.

How to apply for free Starlink service

If you don’t have a Starlink kit but you need one, visit Starlink and enter your address. From there, click Order Now, and you’ll see a Helene Relief option at checkout, with a link telling you what will happen after your 30 days are up. You’ll have to pay $299 for the kit plus taxes, and you may have to wait a week or two for delivery.

If you already have a kit, access the deal by visiting https://www.starlink.com/activate. You’ll need your unique Starlink Identifier if it’s new, or will need to complete a transfer process if it’s been used before. Follow the onscreen instructions and look for the Helene Relief option at checkout.

If you are already a Starlink customer, you may be eligible for the free month of service, but you’ll need to put in a support ticket to request it.

Where did networks go down after Hurricane Helene?

Internet service and mobile phone service went down in all five states where disasters were declared following Hurricane Helene. By Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reported the following:

The FCC calculated the following outage percentages based on the number of towers down in each state:

• Florida: 3% (down from 36.7% the day before)
• Georgia: 7% (down from 21.9% the day before)
• North Carolina: 3% (down from 48.7% the day before)
• South Carolina: 5% (down from 7.1% the day before)
• Tennessee: 2% (down from 12.4% the day before)
• Virginia: 5% (down from 3.5% the day before)

Internet service also went down throughout the disaster area. The following chart shows where outages occurred and recovery progress as of Oct. 2, 2024.

How to get help from the federal government

If you have access to the internet or a cell phone signal, you can contact FEMA for additional help. The toll-free number is +1-800-621-3362.

It may take a while for the agency to get to your case. In the meantime, take photos of the damage and contact your home insurer.

You can also get emergency help from the Red Cross, and it’s free. Find a shelter or call +1-800-RED-CROSS (+1-800-733-2767) if you or a family member needs help.