Communication Failures Hinder Rescue at Killen Generating Station

On December 17, 2025, local and mutual aid rescue teams responded to a building collapse at the shutdown Killen Generating Station in Manchester. During the effort to locate and free workers trapped inside, some first responders encountered serious communications problems that complicated coordination and situational awareness.

A Manchester area firefighter responding on the county radio channel reported a lack of connectivity while approaching the scene, saying "None of us have any internet back here. No cell service," and "I'm having a hard time copying you. Just a second. We're almost to you." Those intermittent radio and cellular failures prompted Hamilton County Search and Rescue, operating as USAR, to rely on the statewide MARCS radio system and to bring a repeater to boost performance for low band radios. AT&T deployed a temporary cell tower on site to improve coverage during the response.

Adams County Commissioner Ty Pell described the scope of the problem, saying about half of Adams County is a dead zone for either internet or cell phones and noting limitations even with recently upgraded radios. "Our concern is that with the service that we've got it could cost someone their life," Pell said. Sheriff Kimmy Rogers reported that the most serious coverage problems occur in rugged and isolated parts of the county and that deputies have previously lost cell service during other incidents.

Emergency communications failures in rural areas have policy implications for public safety planning, equipment investment, and interagency interoperability. The quick arrival of USAR teams with MARCS radios and a repeater helped bridge gaps for this event, but temporary measures do not address the underlying infrastructure shortfalls that affect response times countywide. For residents, the episode highlights the limits of relying on cell service in emergencies, especially in remote areas where responders and callers alike may be offline.

County leaders and state regulators will face questions about where to prioritize funding for permanent coverage improvements, how to expand interoperable radio access across jurisdictions, and how to ensure mutual aid teams can plug into reliable communications without delay. The collapse response in Manchester has renewed urgency around those decisions and their direct effect on public safety in Adams County.