While temporary cell phone service has been restored to the west Kentucky tornado damage corridor, officials believe it could be no less than three-to-six months before reception levels return to pre-storm clarity.
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Regional Emergency Operations Center in Mayfield has noted that cell service providers have recently completed an initial round of temporary service restoration — as well as a first-round assessment of total network loss.
KYTC District 1 Representative Keith Todd said cell tower damage began in the Graves County area.
Todd added the cell and data service available at this moment is “the best that it can be” for the next three months, at least, as communication crews from all major carries have restored what can be restored and replaced with practical portable cell towers.
Cellular On Wheels (COW) units have been placed in Mayfield, Dawson Springs and Benton, as several in-use towers are performing sub-optimally and will have to eventually be replaced.
From there, however, west Kentucky’s digital infrastructure will understandably take time to repair.
Todd said a report from cell service providers indicated that mitigation strategies are in place for the physically damaged tower structures in Graves, Marshall and Muhlenberg counties, with long-term solutions already adopted until their structures can be repaired or replaced.
