Dealing with disasters increasingly requires a smartphone – losing access can be a nightmare, but there are ways to prepare

This week, powerful storms across the Midwest knocked out power to half a million people; Tropical Storm Lala battered Hawaii; wildfires forced evacuations in the West; and an earthquake struck Colombia. According to The Conversation, these disasters illustrate how dependent we've become on smartphones for survival. We use phones to receive warnings, navigate evacuation routes, locate shelters, and call for help. But disasters are ruthless with technology—batteries drain without power, networks fail, devices get lost in the rush. This creates a new dimension of the digital divide: what happens when people who depend on technology suddenly can't access it? The Conversation argues the solution isn't abandoning smartphones but building redundancy. Digital alerts save lives, but they need backup channels that work without electricity or a device. New York City sends alerts through text, email, calls, websites, social media, television, radio, and community centers. Traffic signs flash evacuation details. Miami-Dade County layers digital alerts with TV, radio, and local networks. For yourself: keep a written list of essential contacts and medical information in a waterproof bag. Establish a family meeting point if communication breaks down. Know your evacuation routes and have multiple ways to access emergency information. Ask yourself: if I had to evacuate right now without my phone, what information would I need? Back that up now. When you receive an alert, check on neighbors who might have missed it—information still spreads when technology fails.

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