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Before severe weather arrives, charge every essential device, charge an external battery, save critical contacts, turn on more than one warning channel, and agree on a text-based family check-in plan. During the storm, preserve battery, keep calls short, use text for routine updates, and rely on a battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio if cellular service or electricity becomes unreliable. This guidance is U.S.-focused; elsewhere, substitute your local emergency-management agencies and alert systems.
Before the storm: complete this phone and communications checklist
Do these tasks while power, cellular networks and internet access are still working. A storm can remove any one of those services with little warning, so prepare more than one way to receive information and contact people.
- Charge phones, tablets and other essential devices to 100%. Include the devices household members will actually use for warnings, maps, medical information or communication. Remove unnecessary accessories that consume power and confirm that each device accepts its charging cable.
- Charge an external battery and gather compatible cables. Ready.gov recommends external power sources for outages. A USB power bank is a practical option, but capacity, output and cable compatibility differ; official guidance does not certify a particular size or model. Charge the bank before the storm, label it, and keep it with the cables rather than in a vehicle or another place you may not be able to reach.
- Save essential contacts on every relevant phone. Store household members, an out-of-town contact, your utility, building manager, health-care providers, school or workplace contacts, and local emergency-management numbers where applicable. Write the most important numbers on paper as well; a dead or damaged phone should not erase them.
- Create the family group text before conditions deteriorate. Add everyone who needs routine updates and agree that the group is for status messages, not long conversations. If a participant loses service, the remaining members can still see that person’s last message and know which people have not checked in.
- Choose an out-of-town contact if it suits your household. A person outside the affected area may be able to communicate when local networks are congested. Everyone should know the contact’s name, number and role, and should send the same concise status format to that person.
- Enable wireless emergency alerts (WEA). WEA messages are distributed by participating wireless providers. Check that government or emergency alerts are permitted in the phone’s notification settings, and review sound, vibration and do-not-disturb rules so an urgent warning is not silently filtered.
- Subscribe to local government notifications. County, city, state, tribal and campus systems may issue evacuation, shelter, road-closure or utility information that is not delivered through WEA. Confirm which jurisdiction covers your current location and add a second location if you regularly travel or care for someone elsewhere.
- Prepare the FEMA App if it is appropriate for your location. The FEMA App page, last updated October 29, 2024, describes real-time National Weather Service alerts for up to five locations nationwide, along with preparedness, communication-plan and shelter information. App functions and coverage can change, so open it before the storm, permit notifications and verify the locations you entered.
- Download or record what you may need offline. Save your household plan, prescriptions, insurance and identification details, meeting-place addresses and essential maps where your phone can reach them without a live connection. Do not assume that a map, web page or cloud document will remain available after an outage.
- Test an alternate information source. Install fresh batteries in a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio or test its hand-crank and charging functions. Keep spare batteries in a sealed, accessible container and identify a place where the radio can receive a clear signal.
- Tell household members how to conserve power. Decide which devices are essential, which features can be disabled and where the charging equipment will be kept. A plan made in advance avoids arguments over the last remaining battery percentage.
How can my family check in when calls are difficult?
Use a simple protocol that works with short messages. FEMA’s 2025 “Fact Sheet: Preparing for Emergencies: Get Tech Ready” advises using text messages, social media and email to connect with friends and family during emergencies. FEMA also notes that texts require less network bandwidth than voice calls, which can give a message a better chance of getting through when many people are calling at once. It is an increased chance, not a delivery guarantee.
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Agree on one message format
Ask each person to send a message containing their name, location, condition and next action. For example: Sam — home — safe, power out — staying in place; next update 8 p.m. Keep the wording short enough to send repeatedly and clear enough for an out-of-town contact to understand without follow-up questions.
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- Send a routine check-in by group text first.
- If the group text fails, try a one-to-one text or email instead of immediately making repeated calls.
- State when the next update will be sent, even if there is no new information.
- Do not send large photos, videos or unnecessary attachments while networks are congested.
- Tell the group if you are moving to a shelter, losing battery, or becoming unable to respond.
Use calls only for a purpose
FCC and FEMA guidance says to keep emergency calls brief. Make a necessary call, state the essential facts, confirm the next action and end it. Avoid repeated redialing: a failed attempt does not prove that the network is permanently down, and many simultaneous retries can add congestion. Use 911 for a life-threatening emergency. Text-to-911 availability is determined locally; check your emergency communications authority rather than assuming it works everywhere.
Decide when silence means “check again”
Set a schedule that matches the hazard, such as an initial message when everyone reaches a safe place and another at a specified time. Do not interpret a missing text as proof that someone is injured: the phone may be out of battery, outside coverage, damaged or unable to send. If a person’s safety is in doubt, use the appropriate emergency service or local welfare-check process rather than filling the channel with repeated non-emergency calls.
How do I keep my phone charged during a storm?
Preserve the charge already in the phone before connecting a backup source. Turn on low-power mode, reduce screen brightness, shorten the screen timeout, close location-heavy apps, disable Bluetooth or Wi-Fi when you are not using them, and prevent automatic photo or video backups. Keep cellular service enabled if you need warnings; switching to airplane mode can save power only when you are deliberately offline and checking for messages is not needed.
Use an external battery deliberately
Connect a charged power bank when the phone is low enough that you still have time to complete an emergency call or send a status message. Keep the bank dry and ventilated, use its intended cable and stop using equipment that becomes unusually hot, swells or smells damaged. A power bank is not a guarantee of a full recharge: its usable energy, output and the phone’s charging rate vary. Recharge the bank from wall power before the storm, not after the outage begins.
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Understand the time estimates without treating them as promises
FEMA’s January 2025 Power Outage Incident Annex describes a typical smart device as possibly holding a charge for about 5 to 8 hours, while warning that communication quality and runtime depend heavily on local preparedness and conditions. That range is not a dependable runtime for your particular phone. The same annex estimates that, in a scenario without significant infrastructure damage, Emergency Alert System and IPAWS dissemination may be most effective during roughly the first 4 to 8 hours after power loss. This is incident-planning information, not a household guarantee that alerts or towers will remain available for that period.
Consider other charging sources and their constraints
| Backup source | What it can do | What it depends on | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB power bank | Recharge a phone or other USB device without a wall outlet | Pre-storm charging, compatible cables and sufficient output | Finite capacity; no source of new energy during a long outage |
| Vehicle charger | Charge a compatible phone from a vehicle’s electrical system | Safe access to a vehicle, a compatible adapter and enough fuel or battery | Never run a vehicle in an enclosed space; travel may be unsafe or prohibited |
| Solar charger | Produce charging power from sunlight | Usable sunlight, correct connectors and time exposed in a safe location | Cloud, rain, shade and storm conditions can make output slow or unavailable |
| Hand-crank charger | Provide limited power through manual cranking and sometimes other charging functions | Physical effort, a compatible cable and a working device | Usually slow; test it before the emergency and do not assume it can run every device |
| Household generator or larger battery system | Power multiple devices when installed and operated correctly | Fuel or stored energy, safe placement, ventilation and equipment compatibility | Requires careful safety practices; it is more than a simple phone backup |
FEMA’s outage annex also identifies car batteries, solar chargers and hand-crank devices as possible ways to recharge. Their usefulness depends on access, weather, compatibility and safe operation. Do not leave a phone or battery where rain, floodwater or heat can damage it.
What should I do if cell service is down?
First determine whether the problem is your phone, your local signal or the wider network. Check the battery, cable, airplane-mode setting and notification permissions. Move only when it is safe; a higher or more open location may help, but do not leave shelter during lightning, flooding, high wind or an evacuation order just to find a signal.
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Wait before retrying, then send a short version through a different channel such as email or a group message. A delayed text may eventually arrive, and repeatedly sending the same long message can consume power and add traffic. If you receive a message, acknowledge it with a brief confirmation so others know the channel is functioning.
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If voice calls fail but data works
Use text, email or an approved messaging service for routine information. Keep the conversation factual and small. Do not rely on social media as your only source: account access, data coverage and official posting schedules vary, and a public post may expose a household’s location.
If both cellular data and voice fail
Switch to the alternate information path you prepared: a battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio, local broadcast radio or television where power is available, and official announcements at a safe shelter or community location. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards uses weather-office transmitters for weather and public-safety messages. FEMA’s National Public Warning System page says designated stations reach more than 90% of the U.S. population, but that figure does not promise reception at every location or on every radio.
Specialized satellite communications and amateur radio can provide additional options, but they are not effortless phone replacements. Satellite equipment may require a clear view of the sky, compatible hardware and a paid service; amateur radio requires suitable equipment, power, operating knowledge and, for many uses, licensing. Treat them as planned capabilities rather than emergency purchases made during a storm.
Will I still get emergency alerts if the power goes out?
Possibly, but no single channel is guaranteed. Your phone may continue receiving WEA messages while its battery, nearby network equipment and alert distribution systems remain available. Radio and television broadcasters can carry Emergency Alert System messages when they have power and a functioning feed. Local government systems have their own coverage, enrollment and infrastructure limits.
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| Alert path | Best use | What to set up | Failure to plan for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Emergency Alerts | Urgent government warnings targeted to compatible phones | Permit government alerts and review notification behavior | Dead battery, unavailable provider service or local coverage limits |
| Local government notifications | Evacuation, shelter, road and community-specific instructions | Enroll with the correct city, county, state, tribal or campus authority | Wrong jurisdiction, delayed registration or an unavailable local system |
| FEMA App | National Weather Service alerts for up to five locations and preparedness information | Install, allow notifications and verify locations before the storm | Changing app functions, data access or phone battery limitations |
| NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards | Independent weather and public-safety information | Test a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and keep spare batteries | Weak signal, damaged transmitter, no battery or poor reception at your location |
| Broadcast radio or television | Continuing local briefings and EAS messages | Keep a battery-powered receiver or another safe way to listen | Power loss, damaged facilities or a failed feed |
Because each path has a different failure mode, keep at least one phone-based channel and one independent, battery-powered information source. Follow the most recent official instruction you can receive, especially for evacuation or sheltering.
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Make the lock screen useful
Where your phone permits it, add an emergency contact or medical-information entry that can be viewed from the lock screen. Avoid displaying sensitive personal data publicly. Confirm that household members know how to access the emergency-information feature on their own devices.
Reduce avoidable battery drain
- Use low-power mode and a dim screen.
- Disable automatic updates, cloud photo uploads and video autoplay until power and connectivity return.
- Limit streaming, gaming and flashlight use; use the flashlight only when needed for safety.
- Keep the phone dry and above possible floodwater, not loose in a pocket with wet clothing.
- Check battery percentage at agreed times instead of waking the screen continuously.
Keep a paper fallback
Write down names, phone numbers, meeting places, medications, allergies and the out-of-town contact. Include the local emergency number if you are outside the United States, since emergency numbering varies by country. Store the sheet in a waterproof pouch with identification and the radio batteries.
A practical communication plan for the first 24 hours
Before conditions worsen
Send one group message confirming that devices are charged, the meeting place is known and the next check-in time is set. Keep the message short so everyone can find it later. Listen to an official forecast and note whether authorities have issued a warning, watch, evacuation order or shelter instruction; do not substitute a social-media rumor for an official update.
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During the outage or severe weather
Stay in the safest location identified by local authorities. Use the radio for broad updates and the phone for targeted communication. Send only the status information others need, and conserve the phone for warnings, navigation and emergencies. If you must call, keep it brief. A life-threatening situation belongs with 911, not a family group chat.
After the immediate threat
Send a concise “safe,” “need assistance” or “moving to shelter” message and include your next check-in time. Avoid unnecessary travel to restore contact. Check official utility, road and shelter information before leaving, and keep the radio and power bank available until authorities indicate that conditions and communications are stable.
Common preparation mistakes and fixes
- Only one person knows the plan: Put the written plan and contact list where every household member can find them.
- The power bank is empty: Charge it during routine weather preparation and periodically check stored equipment.
- Alerts are muted: Review WEA, app and local-notification permissions before the storm, including do-not-disturb exceptions.
- Everyone calls at once: Use the agreed group text and out-of-town contact, reserving calls for urgent needs.
- The radio was never tested: Insert fresh batteries, tune it before the storm and identify a backup location if reception is poor.
- A charger is incompatible: Match connectors and output to each device, and keep at least one known-good cable with the phone.
- The plan assumes a universal service: Verify local alert coverage, network status and text-to-911 availability for your area; these services differ geographically and can change.
Final check before severe weather arrives
Your household is better prepared when every person can answer four questions without searching: Where is the charged phone and power bank? Which channel carries routine check-ins? Who is the out-of-town contact? What is the independent source for warnings if the phone fails? Charge first, establish the text protocol, enable multiple alerts and keep a radio available. Those modest steps address the most likely communication failures without assuming that any single device or network will work throughout the storm.
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