Advanced Command Force: Building a Resilient, Off-Grid Solar-Powered Communications Network for Texas Disasters

Advanced Command Force (ACF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit disaster response charity based in Poteet, Texas, serves communities across the entire state. When disasters strike—whether hurricanes, floods, wildfires, or severe storms—traditional communications often fail first. Cell towers go down, power grids fail, and first responders lose critical coordination. ACF is addressing this vulnerability head-on by developing a robust, mobile, off-grid solar-powered communications network designed to keep vital links alive when everything else goes dark.

The Critical Need for Resilient Communications

In Texas’s vast rural and suburban areas, reliable communications can mean the difference between life and death. During major events, overwhelmed or damaged infrastructure leaves small departments, search-and-rescue teams, and communities isolated. ACF’s network provides backup and interoperable radio communications, data connectivity via Starlink, and command support that integrates with local Incident Command Systems (ICS) and Joint Information Centers (JIC). This “force multiplier” approach allows ACF to deploy rapidly and support agencies without adding burden.

Current ACF Communications Infrastructure

ACF has already built a foundational network of repeater towers that operate independently of the commercial grid:
Mobile Solar-Powered Repeater Towers 1 and 2: Two light towers converted into fully mobile, solar-powered repeater platforms. These units feature solar arrays for primary power, battery storage for extended operation, and Starlink satellite internet for backhaul and data connectivity. They are designed for rapid deployment to disaster zones, providing on-site VHF/UHF/DMR repeater coverage where traditional systems have failed.

Permanent Tower in Poteet: A fixed installation at the ACF base in Atascosa County (South Texas) serves as a reliable hub. Like the mobile units, it incorporates Starlink for resilient connectivity.
All towers are linked together through secure networking (including Tailscale VPN configurations for multi-site operations), creating a unified private communications backbone. This allows seamless handoff and extended coverage across regions, supporting DMR digital radio systems, analog VHF, GMRS, and interoperability bridges for agency radios (such as P25 systems used by fire, police, and EMS).
The setup emphasizes off-grid resilience: solar power with battery backup, Starlink for internet-independent data and coordination, and rugged repeater hardware that continues operating during prolonged outages.

How the Network Works in the Field

When deployed, ACF’s mobile repeater towers:
Provide immediate radio coverage for first responders, volunteers, and command staff over wide areas.
Maintain voice and data links via Starlink even when cellular service is unavailable.
Integrate with ACF’s broader assets, such as the Storm 1 Mobile Emergency Operations Center (MEOC), vehicles equipped as mini-repeaters, drones for situational awareness, and weather monitoring tools.
Support hybrid analog/digital operations and private frequencies for operational security.
This infrastructure has been purpose-built for “Almost Disasters”—those tipping-point moments when small departments start to get overwhelmed—delivering early intervention, real-time coordination, and mental health accountability for responders.

Future Expansion: More Mobile Towers for Statewide Impact

ACF is actively planning and building additional mobile repeater towers to expand deployment capacity. The goal is a growing fleet of rapid-response units that can be positioned strategically across Texas during large-scale events. These future towers will maintain the same core features—solar power, Starlink connectivity, and secure linking—while incorporating lessons from current operations for even greater reliability and coverage.
By scaling this network, ACF aims to achieve high-availability communications corridors (such as Poteet-Houston and toward the Hill Country) and support rural counties that often receive help last.

Why This Matters for Texas Communities

ACF’s communications network is more than hardware—it’s a commitment to community resilience. It ensures that when the grid and cells go down, critical information still flows: resource requests, evacuation coordination, search-and-rescue operations, and public safety updates. As a no- or low-cost partner to local agencies, ACF helps bridge gaps in underserved areas while building pre-disaster relationships through training, exercises, and capability demonstrations.

Get Involved with Advanced Command Force

Whether you’re a local emergency manager, potential partner, donor, or volunteer, ACF welcomes collaboration. 
Follow us on social media for updates on deployments, training, and the next expansion of our solar-powered repeater network. Together, we can build stronger, more resilient Texas communities—one reliable link at a time.

Advanced Command Force (ACF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.