Emergency services seeks DIN/Starlink grant for portable continuity system; commissioners ask IT to vet compatibility

Beaufort County emergency services staff presented a state/local cybersecurity and continuity grant opportunity for a distributed emergency network (DIN) system that pairs a portable server with Starlink terminals and accessories.

Staff said the grant—structured as 70/30—was originally for about $42,000 with the federal/state share at roughly $29,400 and the county match at $12,600. The DIN system would include ruggedized hardware, Starlink terminals, portable power stations and data cabling so county agencies could restore telephone, Internet access and data sharing in the event of cyberattacks or infrastructure failures. Staff emphasized contingency uses such as search‑and‑rescue mapping, offline file sharing and temporary incident command connectivity.

Several commissioners urged that county IT review the proposal to ensure compatibility with existing backup systems and to avoid unintended integration issues; one commissioner said she would not vote to approve the purchase unless the county’s computer expert gave explicit approval. Emergency services staff said they had consulted with IT staff (Sherry) informally and would return with her formal review. The board scheduled the item for the next meeting so IT can provide a written compatibility check and staff can present any revised procurement details.

The board did not approve grant acceptance or expenditure at this meeting; staff said the grant and equipment could be revisited once IT signoff is documented.