How to Get Free Starlink Service After a Natural Disaster

SpaceX and Starlink have historically been proactive in providing emergency assistance during natural disasters, often offering free internet service during and after these events. Hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, and wildfires have prompted Starlink to activate free service when local infrastructure is damaged. Traditional ISPs often suffer outages during and after a natural disaster and can take time to resume operations. Since Starlink only needs a reliable 

This response has made owning a Starlink dish worth it if you live in an area susceptible to one of these events, even if it's not your primary internet provider. Starlink has previously deployed free service to the Southern U.S. after multiple hurricanes and during the 2025 Los Angeles fires, as well as dozens of others worldwide.

Follow this page for the latest information on where Starlink is available for free in the event of a natural disaster in the U.S.

When Starlink determines an area is experiencing an ongoing emergency due to a natural disaster, it responds by issuing service credits to current Starlink customers, even if they don't have an active subscription. If you're in a qualifying area, Starlink will notify you about the free service credit on your account, which will be automatically applied to your next billing period.

If you're in one of these areas, but not yet a Starlink customer, you can still sign up and contact support to see if you qualify for a retroactive service credit.

Contact Starlink support to see if you qualify for a replacement dish. Starlink will likely consider replacements on a case-by-case basis.

Starlink does not provide free hardware directly, but it has coordinated with local governments, response teams, and non-profit organizations to distribute Starlink kits when necessary. Contact local authorities to see whether Starlink kits are included in emergency distributions.  

Starlink can be a vital lifeline during an emergency situation, when local infrastructure is down and other lines of communication are out. If you own a Starlink dish, even if it's not your primary internet source, here are a few tips for preparing and using it in an emergency.

• If you're not actively using your Starlink dish, store it in a secure but accessible location. 
• Store the Starlink dish with the accompanying router, power supply, and cords. 
• Keep a portable power source, such as a battery, generator, or solar charger, in case of power outages to power the Starlink and maintain a consistent connection.
• Become familiar with quickly setting up your Starlink and using the Starlink app.
• Never endanger yourself while setting up the Starlink. Make sure you're safe and setting it up in a secure location.
• If rationing power is a concern, power the Starlink only for urgent communications to emergency services.