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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesA charged phone is useful during a hurricane, but it cannot create a cellular signal, restore a failed internet connection or replace official emergency instructions. Prepare two separate things: power for your devices and more than one way to receive and send information. FEMA and Ready.gov guidance recommends a charged phone, backup charging equipment, a written communication plan, local alerts, and a battery-powered radio.
Complete the checklist before tropical-storm conditions arrive. Once an outage begins, conserve the phone for emergency communication, use messages for routine check-ins when service permits, and follow local authorities for evacuation, shelter and hazard decisions.
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What should you do first?
Before the storm, charge every phone and backup battery, test the cables and chargers, write down important contacts, and make sure emergency alerts are enabled. Put the phone-related supplies in the household emergency kit or go bag. FEMA’s hurricane checklist identifies a cellular phone, extra battery, chargers and important contact information as communications supplies.
Also prepare a non-phone information source. FEMA recommends a battery-powered AM/FM or NOAA Weather Radio with spare batteries. A radio does not depend on your phone’s battery or an app, so it remains useful when the phone cannot be charged or cellular and internet service is unavailable.
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How do I prepare my phone before hurricane season?
Charge and test every part of the charging setup
- Charge the phone to full capacity.
- Charge a compatible backup battery or portable phone charger.
- Pack the charging cable, wall adapter and any vehicle or other compatible charger you normally use.
- Connect each item and confirm that it actually charges the devices in your household.
- Keep the equipment together in the emergency kit so it can be found quickly.
FEMA recommends planning an alternative way to charge devices during an outage. The guidance does not specify a required battery capacity, brand, price or model. Choose equipment that matches your phone’s connector and charging requirements rather than assuming one cable fits every device. A power bank supplies stored electricity; it does not provide cellular coverage or guarantee that a message will transmit.
Store contacts in two forms
Keep essential numbers in the phone, but also write them on paper. Include household members, an out-of-area contact, work or school contacts, medical providers, utility providers and local emergency-management information. A written list remains available if the phone is lost, damaged or out of power.
Make a family communication plan
Agree in advance on who will contact whom, which person outside the affected area can relay updates, and where people should reconnect if they are separated. Decide how often to check in and what a short status message should contain, such as your name, location, condition and intended destination. Ready.gov preparedness materials recommend a family communication plan; local authorities’ evacuation and shelter instructions take priority over any private meeting plan.
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Review the plan with everyone
Do not leave the plan in one person’s head. Share the written contacts and check-in procedure with household members, including anyone who may be away at work, school or a care facility. Confirm that people know the out-of-area contact’s name and number, the planned meeting locations and the circumstances that require an emergency call. Revisit the plan when a phone number, address, school or medical need changes.
When should you do each preparation step?
Do the full setup during hurricane season, while electricity, stores and communications are operating normally. A seasonal check gives you time to replace a damaged cable, update contacts, install alert applications and test the radio. When a storm watch or warning is issued, repeat the operational steps: charge phones and batteries, place the kit where it can be reached quickly, verify alerts and tell family members when the next check-in will occur.
Do not wait for an evacuation notice to begin shopping or charging. Crowds, travel restrictions and an early power loss can make last-minute preparation impossible. Once officials issue an evacuation order, follow it rather than delaying departure to finish a charging routine.
How do I get hurricane alerts on my phone?
Use local emergency notifications
Sign up for alerts from your county, city, parish, tribe or other local emergency-management agency. Local systems can provide evacuation orders, shelter information, road closures and instructions specific to your area. Registration methods differ, so use the official local-government channel rather than an unverified app or social-media account.
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Keep Wireless Emergency Alerts available
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are geographically targeted messages delivered to compatible mobile phones. FEMA’s fact sheet dated June 26, 2020 describes WEA as free and says the alerts are not affected by network congestion. That description is tied to the 2020 fact sheet; phone compatibility, alert categories and local implementation can vary, so check your device’s current emergency-alert settings and your carrier’s documentation.
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Consider the FEMA app
Ready.gov’s FEMA App page, last updated October 29, 2024, describes an iOS and Android app that can provide National Weather Service alerts for up to five locations nationwide and nearby shelter information. Treat those as the features stated on that dated page, not as a promise that every alert or shelter listing will be available during a particular outage. Install and configure the app before the storm, allow notifications and location access where appropriate, and keep local-authority alerts enabled as well.
Understand what each alert can and cannot do
Local alerts are intended for decisions in your jurisdiction, while broader weather alerts can help you monitor locations where relatives live or where you may travel. WEA is delivered through cellular broadcast to compatible phones, not through a separate app. The FEMA app requires the phone, its battery and available data connectivity. A battery-powered radio supplies another route when the phone is dead or networks and internet services are unavailable. These channels complement one another; none should be treated as a guarantee that all warnings will arrive.
Which communication channels should you prepare?
| Channel | What it is useful for | What it depends on | Preparation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local emergency alerts | Area-specific evacuation, shelter and hazard instructions | Your local alert system and a compatible receiving device | Register before the storm and allow notifications |
| Wireless Emergency Alerts | Geographically targeted government warnings | A compatible phone receiving a cellular broadcast | Review emergency-alert settings; the FEMA description cited here is from June 26, 2020 |
| FEMA app | National Weather Service alerts for configured locations and nearby shelter information, as described by Ready.gov on October 29, 2024 | Phone battery, the app and available data connectivity | Install, update and configure it before conditions deteriorate |
| Text or messaging service | Short family check-ins and status updates | Working cellular or internet service and phone battery | Agree on a check-in format and keep messages brief |
| Voice call | Urgent or complex communication when a call can connect | Working phone service and network capacity | Reserve calls for emergencies |
| Battery-powered radio | Weather and official information when the phone cannot be charged or networks are unavailable | Its own batteries and a usable broadcast signal | Pack spare batteries and test the radio before hurricane season |
No channel is guaranteed to work throughout a hurricane. Use several routes without assuming that one can substitute for all the others. For example, a local text alert may provide an evacuation instruction, while a radio can continue supplying broadcast updates if the phone loses power. The distinction is about dependencies, not a promise that one channel is more reliable in every storm.
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Build a small phone-power kit
- Phone and protective case
- Fully charged compatible backup battery or portable charger
- Charging cables for the devices your household actually uses
- Wall adapter and any tested vehicle or other charging option
- Written emergency and family contact list
- Battery-powered AM/FM or NOAA Weather Radio with spare batteries
FEMA supports alternative charging and external power sources but does not prescribe a capacity. A larger battery is not automatically better if it is incompatible, uncharged or missing its cable. Test the complete setup before storing it, and recharge the backup battery after every use.
Plan charging priorities
During an outage, preserve enough charge for emergency calls, official alerts and essential messages. Charge the phone whenever a safe, functioning power source is available, but never use a generator, vehicle or improvised wiring indoors. Follow local safety instructions for generators, fuel and electrical equipment. If authorities advise evacuation, leave as directed rather than delaying to obtain another charge.
FEMA’s 2025 power-outage information guidance also emphasizes charging devices and planning backup power before an outage. It does not establish a universal runtime or a one-size-fits-all battery specification. Your phone model, battery age, signal conditions and use pattern all affect how long stored power lasts, so test your own equipment instead of relying on a promised number.
Protect the charging equipment
Keep the phone, battery and cables in a dry, reachable container. Floodwater, damp surfaces and wind-driven rain can damage electronics and create electrical hazards. Do not charge equipment in a wet area, near fuel or where a generator is operating. If the kit is carried during evacuation, keep cables together and protect connectors from dirt and moisture.
What phone settings help conserve battery?
FEMA recommends conserving mobile-device battery, but the cited guidance does not provide a device-neutral list of settings or tested savings figures. Use your phone’s own battery controls and practical judgment: reduce nonessential use, avoid streaming and gaming, close activities you do not need, and keep the screen off between necessary checks. Turn off features you are not using only if doing so will not prevent emergency alerts or your agreed communication plan from working.
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Do not disable emergency notifications merely to save a small amount of power. Keep the phone in a location where alerts can be heard, and check the battery periodically rather than continuously refreshing weather or social feeds. A radio with spare batteries can provide background information without consuming phone charge.
Set a household check-in schedule so nobody has to keep calling or refreshing an app. When service is intermittent, repeated attempts can waste battery without adding useful information. A short message at an agreed time is usually more efficient than a long conversation, provided the message actually sends and the situation is not urgent.
Will texts go through during a hurricane?
They may, but no one can promise that they will. FEMA’s March 2024 information sheet, How to Stay Safe When a Hurricane Threatens, says: Save phone calls for emergencies. Phone systems are often down or busy after a disaster. Use text messages or social media to communicate with family and friends.
Texts can be preferable for short check-ins when voice networks are busy, yet they still require a functioning cellular or internet path and enough battery. If a message does not send, do not repeatedly retry until the battery is exhausted; use the radio and official channels for instructions, and try again when service or power returns.
Use a simple check-in format
Agree beforehand on a message such as “safe at [location], power out, next check-in at [time].” Keep it short, avoid sending large attachments, and tell the out-of-area contact when you are safe. Do not post sensitive personal details publicly, and do not treat social-media reports as a substitute for instructions from local authorities.
When a call is necessary
Use a voice call for an immediate threat, a medical emergency or a situation that cannot be explained safely in a short message. Keep the call focused and end it when the essential information has been exchanged so the network and your battery remain available. If a call fails and the matter is not immediately life-threatening, send the agreed short message and wait for a better connection rather than making continuous attempts.
What should I do with my phone during the outage?
- Keep the phone dry and protected from wind-driven rain, flooding and debris.
- Check official alerts and trusted weather updates at planned intervals.
- Send brief family check-ins when service is available; reserve voice calls for emergencies.
- Conserve battery and use the radio when the phone cannot be charged.
- Follow evacuation, shelter and other directions from local officials, even if they differ from your household’s original plan.
Do not assume that a full battery means the phone will work. Power and network availability are separate problems: a backup battery addresses charging, while a damaged, congested or unavailable network can still prevent calls, texts, app updates and internet access.
Keep official information separate from rumors. Check the sender of an alert, compare it with local emergency-management instructions and avoid forwarding unverified claims. If the phone becomes unusable, the written contact list and radio provide continuity until power or service returns.
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How should I organize the emergency communication kit?
| Item | Why it belongs in the kit | Check before the storm |
|---|---|---|
| Cellular phone | Alerts, calls, messages and emergency information | Charge it; confirm emergency notifications are enabled |
| Extra battery or portable phone charger | Alternative charging during a power outage | Charge it and test it with the household’s devices |
| Compatible cables and adapters | Connect the phone to available power | Match connectors and replace damaged cables |
| Written contacts | Access to numbers if the phone is lost or dead | Update names and numbers |
| Battery-powered AM/FM or NOAA Weather Radio | Information source independent of phone battery | Test reception and pack spare batteries |
| Family communication plan | Agreed contacts, check-ins and reunification choices | Share it with everyone who may need it |
Keep the kit portable enough to take during an evacuation, but do not remove the radio or written contacts simply because the phone appears to be working. A kit is most valuable when conditions change quickly and one component fails.
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Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Waiting until the warning arrives
Storm conditions, crowds and outages can make charging and shopping difficult. Assemble and test the kit during hurricane season, not when winds are already increasing.
Buying a charger without checking compatibility
A battery that cannot connect to your phone is dead weight. Verify the connector, cable and charging method for every device you expect to use.
Assuming texts are guaranteed
FEMA recommends messages when phone systems are down or busy, but messaging still depends on service or internet access. Keep the radio and written contacts as backups.
Relying on one alert source
Local notifications, WEA, the FEMA app and broadcast radio serve different purposes and have different dependencies. Configure more than one route before the storm.
Confusing charging with connectivity
A power bank extends battery runtime; it cannot repair a damaged tower, replace an internet connection or bypass congestion. Plan for both power loss and communications disruption.
Ignoring official instructions
Preparedness tools support local emergency management; they do not override it. Evacuate, shelter or avoid areas when authorities direct you to do so.
Leaving the kit untested
A cable can fail, a battery can be empty and a radio can have corroded batteries. Connect each device, check the radio and replace anything damaged before hurricane conditions arrive.
A final pre-storm phone checklist
- Phone fully charged.
- Backup battery fully charged and tested.
- Correct cables, adapters and any vehicle charger packed.
- Emergency and family contacts written down.
- Family communication and check-in plan agreed.
- Local emergency alerts enabled.
- WEA settings reviewed on the phone.
- FEMA app installed and configured if you choose to use it; its listed features are from the Ready.gov page updated October 29, 2024.
- Battery-powered radio and spare batteries packed.
- Charging gear protected from water and easy to carry.
- Evacuation and shelter decisions left to local authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prepare my phone for a hurricane?
Charge the phone and a compatible backup battery, test every cable and adapter, write important contacts on paper, create a family communication plan, enable local alerts and review WEA settings. Pack a battery-powered radio with spare batteries as a non-phone backup.
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How can I keep my phone charged during a power outage?
Use a tested portable phone charger or other safe alternative power source. Keep the phone, cables and adapter together, conserve battery for alerts and emergency communication, and recharge the backup battery after use. FEMA does not specify a universal capacity or brand.
Will texts go through during a hurricane?
They may, and FEMA recommends texts or social media for family communication when phone systems are down or busy. Texting still requires a working cellular or internet connection and phone battery, so it is not guaranteed.
How do I get hurricane alerts on my phone?
Register for official local emergency notifications, keep compatible Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled and consider the FEMA app. Ready.gov’s page updated October 29, 2024 describes National Weather Service alerts for up to five locations and nearby shelter information in the app.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWhat should I put in a phone emergency kit?
Pack the phone, a fully charged compatible backup battery, working cables and adapters, written emergency contacts, your family communication plan and a battery-powered AM/FM or NOAA Weather Radio with spare batteries.
Is a power bank enough to stay connected?
No. A power bank supplies electricity but cannot restore a damaged or congested cellular network, internet service or broadcast signal. Prepare both backup power and multiple information channels.
Should I keep calling family during an outage?
Reserve voice calls for emergencies. For routine check-ins, send a brief message when service permits, follow the agreed schedule and avoid repeated retries that drain the battery.
The Bottom Line
Charge and test your phone system before the storm, keep written contacts and a family plan, enable several official alert routes, and pack a battery-powered radio. During an outage, conserve battery, use brief messages when service allows, reserve calls for emergencies and follow local authorities. Backup power improves readiness but cannot guarantee network coverage.
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