What kind of lighting and communication do you have in case of a power outage? How will your plans hold up during a long-term outage?
Cell Phones or Land Lines?
Today less than half the population uses landlines at all. Typically, landlines have been the most reliable method of communication during an disaster. But having a mobile, always-accessible phone is a good thing. In fact cell phones can be very useful during an emergency.
The Good
Cell phones can be very useful in an emergency. They can provide on-the-spot information.There are dozens of apps that are helpful during an emergency, such as this one from FEMA that gives you weather alerts and helps you locate emergency services and shelter during a disaster. Cell phones are also valuable if you’re in a situation where you are unable to communicate with emergency personnel or relatives. Note your ICE (In Case of Emergency) contacts in your contact list so that emergency personnel know who to contact if you are unable to tell them. Make sure the kids also have your number stored in their phones as ICE as well. So for example, their contacts would read “ICE Mom” or “ICE Dad”.
The FCC has tips to help you make the most of your cell phone during an emergency Most smart phones today have an FM chip that allows you to hear FM channels. The FCC recommends that you activate the FM chip to enable you to receive broadcast news.
Some people will have a cell phone to use just in case of emergencies. If you’re considering
a cell phone for emergency use only, a pay-as-you-go or subscription phone is your best deal. Some programs (such as Tracfone) can cost as little as $20 for both the phone and service for one year.
The Bad
But cell phones are also vulnerable during a power outage or other crisis. The first problem will be keeping your phone charged during a power outage. You can prepare by having a solar- or crank-powered battery charger.
The Ugly
But power loss is not the cell phones’ only vulnerability. Transmitting towers can be damaged or destroyed during ice and wind storms or tornadoes. Even if the transmission
towers continue to function, often they are jammed with overuse. During the attacks on 9-11 calls wouldn’t go through because the system so overloaded. During Hurricane Katrine, 70% of the towers went down and were down for days. If your only means of 
communication is a cell phone, you may find yourself severely hampered during a disaster.
So what about landlines?
Landlines can also be vulnerable during a disaster. Some newer types of phone service, such as Voice over IP (VoIP), require power to operate, while the older phone lines (usually copper, usually buried) are less likely to be disrupted. Also, be sure to have at least one corded phone in your house, as cordless phones will not work during a power outage.
You will need to consider what your needs might be during a disasters and decide if what you have is adequate. This is the month to prepare for an extended power outage.
