Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system in which a communications architecture is designed to provide two-way communications to general public and government subscribers during a catastrophic event when landline and cellular communications are disrupted. A communications architecture includes an airborne platform deployed during a catastrophic event, a communications system housed on the airborne platform, one or more receive and transmit antennas mounted on an exterior of the airborne platform, a ground communications control system in a direct or indirect line of sight with the airborne platform, system software to implement a transfer of messages from a subscriber's personal device to the communications system, and device application software installed on the subscriber's personal device.