When Things Go Wrong, Tech Can Save You — If It's Ready
A practical guide to power outages, storms, wildfires, and staying connected when the grid goes down.
Six things to do this weekend
The work you do calmly today is what protects you in the chaos of tomorrow.
Save emergency contacts to your phone — and write them on paper
Phones die and get lost. Print a small card with three key numbers (a family member, a neighbor, and your doctor) and keep it in your wallet.
Set up Medical ID
On iPhone, Medical ID shows your meds, allergies, and emergency contacts on the lock screen — even if your phone is locked. First responders are trained to look for it.
How to set up Medical IDEnable Emergency SOS
Hold the side and a volume button to call 911 and notify your emergency contacts with your location. Practice so muscle memory takes over when stressed.
Charge backup batteries now — not when the storm hits
Stores sell out the day before any major weather event. Keep at least one 10,000 mAh power bank charged at all times — it covers 2–3 full phone charges.
Save important docs to cloud AND keep an offline copy
Driver license, insurance cards, prescriptions, deed, and birth certificates. Scan to iCloud or Google Drive, then keep a USB stick or printed copy in a waterproof bag.
Set up "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) contacts
Add the letters "ICE" before a contact name (ICE Mom, ICE Spouse). It is the universal signal for first responders going through your phone.
What actually keeps your phone alive
Real product picks at three price tiers. Pick one — anything is better than nothing.
Anker PowerCore 10000
~$22
Pocket-sized, ~3 phone charges, drops in a glove compartment without taking up space.
Anker PowerCore 26800 PD
~$70
Charges phones, tablets, and most laptops. ~7 phone charges. Best single-purchase for most households.
Jackery Explorer 500 / EcoFlow River 2
$300–$500
Power station that runs a CPAP, mini-fridge, lights, and dozens of phone charges. Pair with a small solar panel for multi-day outages.
Solar chargers
Goal Zero Nomad 10 (~$80) or BigBlue 28W (~$70). Slow but works for days. Best as a top-up for a power station, not a primary phone charger.
Car chargers
Keep one USB-C and one USB-A car charger in your glove box at all times. Your car becomes a power source as long as you can run the engine 15 min an hour.
Hand-crank radio + charger
Eton FRX3+ or Midland ER310 (~$50). NOAA weather alerts, AM/FM, USB phone charging, flashlight, and SOS siren. The single most useful disaster gadget.
When storms are forecast: Charge every device to 80%+ the night before. Modern phones can ride out 3–4 days on Low Power Mode if you start full and don\'t stream video.
The apps to install before, not after
All free. Download them now — app stores get jammed when everyone tries to install at once during a real event.
FEMA
Real-time NWS alerts for up to 5 locations, shelter finder, disaster resources, and survival tips.
Get the appRed Cross Emergency
40+ severe weather and emergency alerts, family-safety check-ins, and step-by-step "what to do" instructions.
Get the appNOAA Weather Radar
Live radar, NWS alerts, and storm tracking direct from the National Weather Service.
Get the appWatch Duty
Free, ad-free wildfire tracking app run by trained reporters. Real-time fire location, evacuation orders, and air quality.
Get the appWaze
Driver-reported road closures, downed trees, gas-station availability — invaluable for evacuating around hazards.
Get the appBackup ways to stay reachable
Cell, satellite, paper, and offline. Layer them — you only need one to work.
Cellular hotspot from your phone
Most US phone plans include hotspot — Settings → Personal Hotspot. Lets a laptop, tablet, or smart-home hub use your phone's cell connection when home internet is down.
Satellite messaging (iPhone 14+)
Emergency SOS via Satellite works when you have no cell signal at all. Free for at least 2 years on every iPhone 14 or newer. Newer iPhones also support iMessage via satellite.
Physical meetup plans
Pick two locations — one near home, one outside the neighborhood — where family will gather if phones fail. Practice it once a year with kids and grandparents.
Offline Google Maps
Download your home region in Google Maps before disaster strikes (Profile → Offline maps). GPS still works without cell service — you just need the map data already saved.
Downloaded content
Save Netflix shows, Spotify playlists, audiobooks, and a few movies to your phone before storm season. Outages are easier on kids and elderly family with familiar entertainment.
For anyone in fire country
Fire moves faster than any other natural disaster. Real-time information is the difference between safe evacuation and being trapped.
Watch Duty
The single most trusted wildfire app in the western US. Free, ad-free, run by a non-profit with trained dispatchers.
VisitCal Fire
For California residents — official incident map, evacuation orders, and Ready For Wildfire planning tools.
VisitGenasys (Zonehaven)
Used by many western counties for evacuation zones. Find your zone now so an alert during a fire makes sense instantly.
VisitRecovery checklist
Find power and WiFi
Libraries, big-box stores (Costco, Walmart, Target), Starbucks, and many municipal cooling/warming centers offer free outlets and WiFi after disasters.
Use FEMA's Disaster Recovery Center finder
fema.gov/locations shows in-person help centers after federally declared disasters. Bring ID, insurance info, and a list of damages.
Register for FEMA Individual Assistance
If your area is declared a disaster, register at disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. Eligible for grants for housing, repairs, and personal property.
Document damage with photos
Take wide and close-up photos of every damaged item before you clean up or throw anything away. Insurance claims and FEMA both need visual evidence.