Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday announced that he is going to make Starlink internet services available in all areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Musk said in a post on X that Starlink internet services will be available 'regardless of payments' following a software update, which is currently in the works. "We are making a system update to allow all Starlinks in the affected areas to work, regardless of payment," Musk wrote. "Software update hopefully completed tonight. Tomorrow at the latest."
The announcement came amid a back and forth between Donald Trump and the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration over Starlink access in areas affected by the second deadliest hurricane to hit the US, after Hurricane Katarina. Trump, while on a visit to the hurricane affected areas in Georgia, told the media that he "just spoke to Elon" about providing internet access through Musk's Starlink satellite systems. Shortly after, a White House spokesperson posted on social media that dozens of Starlinks have already been deployed in affected areas in North Carolina, while 100 more are on the way for the other affected states. Hurricane Helene Death Toll Climbs To 160The death toll from Hurricane Helene climbed to 160 on Tuesday, making it the second deadliest hurricane after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 which killed more than 1833 people. The most affected state in terms of deaths was North Carolina, with 73 people, followed by South Carolina with 36. 25 people died in Georgia, while Florida, where the Hurricane made landfall, saw 15 deaths. Tennessee and Virginia had nine and two deaths, respectively.We are making a system update to allow all Starlinks in the affected areas to work, regardless of payment.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 1, 2024
Software update hopefully completed tonight. Tomorrow at the latest. https://t.co/RcSwU54DtL
