Emergency planning is often about surviving without technology. When a major disaster strikes, electricity and cell service may be down for hours or even days. But you can and should have technology-based backup plans, like keeping your cell phone working until you can contact your family again and making sure you have a way to receive emergency updates.
This is our technology survival list, and it's in addition to the basics recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency: Not everyone has the budget to stuff their bag with new technology, so do what you can and check with your local agencies to see if they're offering free supplies.
Prepare for disasters appropriately
First, knowing worst- and medium-range scenarios can help you prepare for the disasters that are most likely to occur where you live. There are obvious ones, like hurricanes in Florida, but there are plenty of other situations to consider, according to DeeDee Bennett Gale, an associate professor of emergency management at the University at Albany.
For example, the US East Coast recently battled wildfire smoke, a problem closer to home for residents of California, Oregon and Washington. Last year, Chicago fled tornadoes and Vermont was hit by floods.
First, check your state's emergency management site — many states have tools that allow you to look up your address to see the risk in your exact location, and they'll also give you recommendations on how to prepare or mitigate damage.
Keeping Your Tech Dry (or Cool or Warm)
According to the World Health Organization, the most common natural disaster is flooding. Other disasters that can occur almost anywhere include record-breaking heat waves and winter storms that bring rain and freezing temperatures.
So keeping your phone in the right temperature and humidity should be a top priority – even if most modern phones claim to be waterproof, you should still try to keep them as dry as possible.
Pack some large Ziploc bags – in case of flooding or rain you can throw your phone, cords and batteries in them, but you can also use them to hold important documents in case of evacuation.
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If you want to buy something more advanced, look for a bucket-style dry bag that's large enough for your laptop and phone, or a waterproof sleeve for your smartphone with a visible screen. Surf and outdoor stores are a great place to start. If you're in an area prone to high water, look for a dry bag that's designed to float.
Smartphones can also stop working if they're too cold or too hot, usually outside the range of 32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping your phone warm is easy — just put it neatly in a pocket close to your body or wrap it in a cloth. Keeping it cool is harder, but you can use anything that will reduce the temperature inside an insulated cooler bag. Follow the same rule with spare batteries — they'll lose capacity if they're too cold and can fail if they're too hot.
Avoid sudden or drastic changes in the temperature of your device. If your phone is overheating, don't put it in the refrigerator. More heat advice can be found here.
Listen to NOAA Weather Radio
Radios last much longer than smartphones and can be an important source of emergency updates from organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Any big-box retailer carries a variety of weather band radios that are powered by hand cranks or replaceable batteries.
Recommended brands include Midland and Eton, with basic models starting at $25. Similar radios can be found online or at major retailers like Walmart and Target. As with anything purchased from online marketplaces, be wary of low-quality or fraudulent brands when preparing for an emergency.
Backup Battery and Other Power Options
Experts recommend planning for at least 72 hours after an emergency occurs. If you've used a modern smartphone, you know that the battery life is typically one day. While there are ways to extend battery life, you still need to plan ahead and have a backup power source.
Everyone should have a spare battery (also called a power bank) that can charge at least one smartphone. Look for a charger with at least 10,000 mAh, which is enough capacity to charge a smartphone twice. Most quality power banks will hold a charge for a long time, but to be safe, check and charge one in your emergency kit every 3-4 months. Choose a well-known brand, such as Mophie or Anker, at least for your emergency kit.
If the power goes out at home, you might find a working outlet somewhere else, so pack a power cord along with the brick in your spares kit. A multi-USB or USB-C charging cable has multiple ports in one place so you can charge a variety of gadgets.
If you're interested in extra gadgets and have the budget, you can also purchase a solar charger that will allow you to charge your phone with sunlight. Solar chargers are subject to time of day, location, and weather, so they're not as reliable as pre-charged batteries.
Pack your phone with essentials
If you have cell service, you can receive emergency updates from local and state emergency agencies, including evacuation orders. Notifications include those you opt in to and those you previously turned off. FEMA recommends you start by opting in to basic alerts by texting the following to 43362: Text “PREPARE” to receive preparedness tips. After a disaster, text “SHELTER” and your zip code to find local shelter options. Text “LIST” to see more options.
Next, sign up for all local emergency alert options that you can. Here are the basics about emergency alerts.
If you have power but no internet access, your phone is still a valuable resource. Download offline versions of maps for your area in advance on Google Maps or Apple Maps. Get the American Red Cross First Aid app, which works offline. Finally, create a plan for everyone in your family in advance and save it on everyone's devices so they know where to meet.
If something happens to your home in a disaster, having important documents will make recovery much easier. Photos of the inside and outside of your home, your passport, insurance documents, etc. – store it all in the cloud and you can access it if something happens to your phone.
Provide alternatives to the technologies you rely on
In addition to thinking about how to keep your technology working, have a plan for what to do if it doesn't. Do you use Apple Pay or Samsung Pay a lot? Widespread power or cell outages would force many stores to revert to cash payments, says Bennett Gayle. If possible, keep emergency cash in your emergency bag. Pack as much as you think you'll need for three days.
Parents should plan ways to entertain their children beyond video games and TV shows. What goes in the kit will vary depending on the child's age and should be updated as the child grows, but start with staples like paper and drawing supplies, books and puzzle magazines, and playing cards.
