When a storm swept through Jackson, Mississippi, it didn’t just knock out power, it exposed how vulnerable public safety communications can be when traditional backup systems fail. In a matter of hours, one of Jackson's critical services went offline, and the city's response system was forced to adapt in real time.
This isn’t an isolated issue.
From wildfires and winter storms to civil unrest and widespread blackouts, public safety networks are expected to perform under extreme conditions. Yet time and again, diesel generators and single-source power systems fail when they’re needed most. This is why reliable communication is the heartbeat of public safety.
At HCI Energy, we build hybrid power systems that keep communications online when the grid can’t. Our solutions combine multiple power sources with intelligent monitoring to support public safety infrastructure when it matters most.
In this article, we explore how mission-critical power systems break down and what you can do to make sure power isn’t the failure point when seconds count.
Many public safety agencies still rely on aging infrastructure: grid-tied power, diesel generators, and isolated UPS units. While these systems offer short-term backup, they weren’t designed for sustained crises, off-grid use, or fast recovery.
P25, FirstNet, and LMR sites are often located in remote or disaster-prone areas where power isn’t just unreliable, it’s unpredictable. Traditional power setups introduce critical risks, including:
These are operational liabilities for agencies tasked with life-saving communication.
That storm we referenced in Jackson? It did more than cut power. It took out the entire 911 system, highlighting exactly why layered power resilience is no longer optional.
When the grid failed, Jackson’s emergency dispatch center went dark—and when the backup generator didn’t start, 911 services were down for hours. Dispatchers had to rely on handheld radios, and residents were directed to call 311 or the Mayor’s office. The failure wasn’t isolated; it was a total loss of the system responsible for coordinating emergency response.
And this wasn’t a record-breaking disaster. FEMA reported 198 homes affected—56 destroyed, 64 with major damage. But the physical damage wasn’t the problem. This failure happened at the core of the city’s emergency operations, exposing just how fragile the supporting power infrastructure really was.
The outage made one thing clear: diesel generators alone aren’t enough. Fuel runs out. Maintenance gets missed. And when there’s no layered backup, even a smaller-scale storm can shut down essential services.
A hybrid power system could have changed the outcome. HCI Energy’s battery-first architecture, paired with generator support and optional solar input, provides built-in resilience. Even if one component fails, the others keep critical systems online. With real-time monitoring, teams can catch and resolve issues before they turn into outages.
What happened in Jackson wasn’t a fluke. It was a warning and a call to rethink how we power public safety communications.
HCI Energy’s Zero-Glitch Power Module (ZPM) is the core of every HCI power system and goes far beyond traditional UPS backup. Built specifically for public safety, military, and mission-critical applications, our hybrid solutions are designed for continuous, autonomous operation. Whether on or off-grid, the ZPM integrates multiple power sources in an intelligent, modular configuration.
✅ Uninterruptible Operation
With automatic failover and real-time power management, HCI's ZPM prevents dropouts that can sever critical links between agencies, dispatchers, and field responders.
✅ Pre-Positioned or Rapidly Deployed
Hybrid systems can be installed at existing sites or staged ahead of hurricanes, wildfires, or major events, ensuring P25 or FirstNet towers stay online when they’re needed most.
✅ On and Off-Grid Resilience
Our battery-first architecture reduces fuel dependency and extends runtime, delivering power continuity even in remote locations or during delayed refueling.
✅ Remote Monitoring and Alerts
Real-time diagnostics alert you to faults, fuel levels, or performance issues before they become outages.
✅ Data Capture
HCI Energy’s ZPM continuously captures system data, providing valuable visibility into long-term performance and operational trends.
Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (SWICs) are responsible for ensuring communications across agencies and jurisdictions. Yet without reliable power, even the best comms plan fails.
Hybrid power solutions extend the reach of P25, LMR, and FirstNet coverage to hard-to-access sites—mountaintops, wildfire zones, flood-prone regions, or remote tribal lands. Whether installed permanently or deployed in advance of a storm, HCI systems enable SWICs and local public safety agencies to deliver on their mission.
Let’s talk. Whether you’re a SWIC, DOT leader, public safety agency, or systems integrator—HCI Energy is your partner in powering the backbone of public safety.