Reliable cell service is non-negotiable, no matter the weather.
At many businesses, employees are on the go. Team members travel from appointment to appointment, and store location to store location. A smartphone allows them to establish a mobile office and continue working while not physically sitting at a desk. Cellphones provide quick, remote access to company emails, documents and cloud-based software programs while allowing employees to call clients and text customers.
Hurricanes and tropical storms, though, disrupt cell service. That brings communication to a screeching halt.
John Joyce, CEO of CRS Technology Consultants, addressed the topic during a recent Tech Bytes segment on Gulf Coast News in Fort Myers. The segment, titled “How to keep your phone service on during a storm,” offered tips to maintain communication and reassess priorities during times of crisis.
During and after major weather events, communication outages impact everyone. Case in point: Hurricane Ian. The 2022 storm wiped out cell service for tens of thousands along Southwest Florida’s coastline.
“We were in the stone ages,” John recalls. “We looked up and suddenly we were in a pre-cellphone world in a moment.”
Calls didn’t connect. Texts didn’t go through. Social media updates never posted. Internet browsers spun and spun before timing out.
Why cell service is spotty
Cell service is spotty, at best, during and after a hurricane. John recalls the digital impacts created by Hurricane Ian.
“It was a powerful storm,” he says. “Think about when a regular thunderstorm rolls through the area… we have power flickers, internet outages and things like that, but after a hurricane, major infrastructure gets impacted.”
Wind and flooding damaged cell phone towers. Those towers need power, but electricity was out and many generators failed.
“These wireless devices? The truth of wireless technology is there is a wire behind it,” John points out. “We walk around and think there is this magical connection to outer space where we get internet, TV and phones from, but really, there is a cell tower with fiber and data and electricity. These are all things that can be impacted by the storm, so when the power goes out, when there is flooding, when the generators fail… When the infrastructure behind the technology fails, we go back in time.”
Learning experience
From a meteorological standpoint, every hurricane is difficult. From a digital standpoint, every storm also is different. However, each weather event provides a valuable learning experience.
John notes these two lessons:
- Send texts before the storm telling co-workers and family members if you’re hunkering down at home or evacuating, and where you’re going. Include a line that if you don’t respond immediately, it’s likely because cell service is down. That way, they don’t assume the worst.
- Before the storm, change your voicemail to state your location and whether you are evacuating. This message still plays to callers even if their call doesn’t reach you. Pre-recording a message provides a simple status update for family, co-workers, clients and customers.
Communication do’s and don’ts
Cellular use peaks during major events like breaking news, election nights, holidays and sports championship games. Hurricanes also cause spikes in cellular data as people read or watch the news and communicate with others.
Below are a few do’s and dont’s to consider as hurricanes approach.
DO use text as your primary method of communication. Phone calls and Facetime use more bandwidth.
DON’T text photos or videos. That consumes valuable bandwidth.
DO prioritize communication. Reach out to people who will be thinking about you.
DON’T post content on social media unless it’s to alert media or emergency personnel of a serious threat to public safety. People already know it’s windy and rainy.
DO connect to Wi-Fi if it’s still available. This reduces demand on cellular towers.
DON’T browse the internet or scroll through social media because you’re bored. Think about greater good. There might be people in the community who are trying to contact 911 or first responders trying to assess the situation.
“Only send the important stuff,” John advises. “Posting to Instagram can probably wait until the lights come back on. Make sure that the bandwidth that is available is reserved for the emergency messages you need to try to get out or that your friends and neighbors are trying to get out, but also so that firefighters and police and EMS can do what they need to do after a storm.”
The last part is extremely important. Overwhelming the infrastructure is a big reason why cell service slows significantly.
“The carriers are fighting the same aftermath that we are,” John says. “There are little things that we can all do that add up to make recovery efforts a lot more effective.”
There is one device that did still seem to work after Hurricane Ian – the landline.
“Funny enough, there have been times when that’s all that works,” John says. “As those old telephone lines are becoming more and more scarce, we have to think about how do we stay in touch when the technology disappears.”
Helpful tips: Charging, upgrading and talking
Smartphone users must be both proactive and reactive to continue using their devices. Below are several tips to navigate potential disruptions caused by hurricanes and tropical storms.
Charging
- Tip: Stay fully charged. “If the power goes out, make sure your phone is charged all the way until 100% until the power goes out. That extra 10 or 20% can mean hours on the other end of the storm.”
- Tip: Fully charge power banks and even old laptops. Those devices can be used as chargers. “Batteries, batteries, batteries. It is a paperweight if it’s not charged.”
- Tip: Consider a solar-powered generator. Most models don’t produce enough power to run major appliances, but they can charge electronic devices and run fans.
- Tip: Close all apps and browser windows, and shut off automatic updates. They could still be running in the background and consuming battery life.
Upgrading
- Tip: Invest in a new smartphone. iPhone 14s or newer and certain Android 12s or newer come equipped with built-in emergency SOS texting. These devices use satellites in the sky to connect to emergency dispatchers. “Many models now have built-in satellite radio. You’re definitely not going to send a video or a photo, but you can send emergency messages and contact first responders.”
- Tip: Consider Starlink. Satellite internet was once considered too slow and too expensive. Today, speeds and prices are comparable to traditional hard-wired internet services. For businesses, this can be a reliable backup when traditional service experiences an outage.
- Tip: Research LoRa (long range) technology. These small devices use radio communication technology to send short text messages to other devices.
Talking
- Tip: Talk to your neighbors after a storm. One of them might have a cellular connection through their service provider. Or better yet, they might have Starlink satellite service.
- Tip: Try Wi-Fi calling. If you’re able to connect to the internet, this option might allow you to connect.
Today, our cellphones are everything – telephones, computers, cameras, TV stations and newspapers. For many individuals, it’s their primary communication device. We need them to work in good or bad weather, and work 24/7. Prepare now while skies are blue to increase the likelihood that you’ll remain connected after the next storm.
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