MARION COUNTY, Ill. — Marion County's Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is highlighting the critical role of FirstNet in maintaining reliable communications throughout one of the most active tornado seasons in Illinois history.

With Illinois recording a record 178 tornadoes by July 2026—far surpassing its historical annual average of about 50 tornadoes—Marion County emergency officials have relied on FirstNet to coordinate response efforts, issue public warnings, and maintain communications during rapidly evolving weather emergencies.

"Out of more than 100 tornadoes in Illinois this past year, we have never lost FirstNet coverage," said Andrew Strong, Director of the Marion County Emergency Management Agency. "When tornadoes strike, commercial communications can be disrupted, but maintaining connectivity is essential for coordinating emergency response and keeping our communities informed."

The network enabled Strong to continue directing emergency operations even while traveling outside Illinois. During an April 2026 trip to Boulder, Colorado, Strong monitored National Weather Service updates, coordinated conference calls with his emergency management team, and prepared for severe weather impacting Marion County—all using his FirstNet-enabled device.

Throughout the tornado season, the Marion County EMA used FirstNet connectivity to:

• Monitor real-time weather conditions and emergency alerts.

• Coordinate response efforts with local and state agencies.

• Issue evacuation and shelter-in-place notifications through the county's public alert system and social media channels.

• Activate outdoor warning sirens remotely from any location.

• Maintain operational communications during severe weather events.

The agency has also integrated FirstNet Fusion into its operations, providing secure, mission-critical communications across wireless and land mobile radio (LMR) systems. The platform recently supported a multi-agency response to a fatal traffic incident by enabling emergency responders, law enforcement, utility crews, towing services, and the county coroner's office to communicate securely and efficiently throughout the operation.

According to Strong, the platform's secure push-to-talk and messaging capabilities improve coordination while reducing reliance on conventional radio channels.

As extreme weather events continue to challenge emergency responders, Marion County's experience demonstrates the importance of resilient, interoperable communications that enable public safety personnel to remain connected regardless of location or operating conditions.