Cell outage previews what can happen in a disaster
A widespread telecommunication outage that affected tens of thousands of customers in the United States on Thursday raised a question for many – What should I do when I can’t use my cellphone?
While cell service in the U.S. is typically fairly dependable and Thursday’s issues were limited in scope, there’s a long list of potential emergency situations when cell phones could become unreliable, according to Alyssa Provencio, professor at the University of Central Oklahoma who oversees the disaster management certificate program.
Communication issues are the norm in a disaster, not an anomaly, Provencio said.the challenges people faced on Thursday ranged from nuisances to serious communication issues and can be a learning experience for the future in case of a big emergency, Provencio said.
“Use this experience to inform future action,” Provencio said. “If you are having difficulty today, then you’re likely going to have it again at some point.”
On Thursday, some local emergency service providers told people if they needed to reach 911, they should try calling from a landline or ask someone else to call for them. They could also try calling 911 using Wi-fi, the Oklahoma City Fire Department said.
Last summer, devastating wildfires that swept through Maui and killed over 100 people also caused widespread chaos and confusion.
To prepare for these scenarios, people should think about what resources are already at their disposal.
Complicating matters, disasters can also bring long-lasting power outages on top of cell service disruptions, said Deedee Bennett Gayle, a professor in the University at Albany College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity.
“Right now, we are asking people to consider that possibility. If you don’t have access to power for 72 hours, are you able to figure this out for yourself?” Bennett Gayle said.
Here’s a few simple items that can help make your life safer and less stressful in the case of a disaster:
● Cash: It’s a good idea to have cash on hand in case you can’t use mobile payment options or ATMS are down, said James Kendra, co-director of the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware.
● Paper copies of important documents: “One of the things that I stress to everybody is to have paper copies of all of your important documents,” he also said. That means a printed out bank statement so you have all your account numbers, a printed insurance statement, phone bill and mortgage or rent documents, so that you have the numbers available you might typically go online to get.
● Landline: If you don’t have a landline, you might still be able to use your cell to send SMS text messages or use Wi-fi to send messages or make calls.
● A radio: This is always a good thing to have to receive emergency updates, Provencio said, but if you don’t have one in your home, chances are you do have one in your car.
● Other supplies: Learn more about packing a go-bag and gathering sheltering-in-place supplies.
Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY