INFRASTRUCTURE
Internet or cellular outage
Communications are down. Fall back to radios, printed contacts and pre-agreed plans.
Official evacuation orders and immediate life-threatening hazards take priority over this guide. Call 911 in an emergency.
1WHAT TO VERIFY
- Use a battery radio to check whether the outage is local or widespread.
- Do not act on unverified social media posts or forwarded messages.
2IMMEDIATE ACTIONS
- Switch to your pre-agreed family plan: meeting points and check-in times.
- Try text messages, they often get through when calls cannot.
3HOUSEHOLD SAFETY
- For life-threatening emergencies, try 911 from any phone; some carriers route 911 even without service.
- Know where the nearest fire station or hospital is in person.
4COMMUNICATIONS
- A phone app cannot communicate over a disconnected network, rely on physical radios.
- FRS radios need no license; GMRS needs an FCC license; amateur radio needs a license exam.
- Keep printed copies of key phone numbers.
5SUPPLIES
- NOAA weather radio, two-way radios, spare batteries, printed maps.
6SHELTER OR EVACUATION
- Outages alone rarely require evacuation; follow official instructions.
7BUSINESS CONTINUITY
- Use backup internet (alternate carrier hotspot or satellite) if available.
- Post status notices physically at your location.
8RECOVERY
- Review what failed and add redundancy to your communication plan.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
General educational guidance. Not a substitute for official instructions or professional medical advice.