In this paper, we describe how satellite communications may contribute to disaster management. During emergency situations, satellite communications present many advantages in supporting or replacing a terrestrial infrastructure (if any) subject to destruction or saturation. However, devising the right deployment model deserves close scrutiny in order to fit the responders' needs and sustain financial viability. After reading the paper, we expect that the answers to the following questions will be made clear: what are the roles of telecommunications in emergency situations? How can satellite technologies help? How to mitigate the cost of deploying and using satellite facilities? Who are the actors currently involved in emergency telecommunications and more specifically satellite-assisted emergency telecommunications? Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.