How To Use Your Cell Phone During Hurricane Irene

Major cell phone carriers all have issued advisories, action plans and preparation tips for cell phone use during Hurricane Irene. 

Basic guidance includes: keeping phones, batteries, chargers and other equipment dry, consider waterproof accessories to protect devices and in case of lost power, keeping wireless phone batteries and additional backup power sources fully charged.

Specific emergency preparedness tips from carriers include:

1. Maintain a list of emergency numbers - police and fire agencies; power and insurance companies; family, friends and co-workers; etc. - and program them into your phone. 

2. Distribute wireless phone numbers to family members and friends. 

3. Download a wide variety of weather- and safety-related apps for smartphones, tablets and other devices.  Many apps in Apple's iTunes App Store are free, such as The Weather Channel App. Consider fee-based apps as well, including Hurricane Tracker for $2.99. Don’t forget the free Patch App in the iTunes Store to stay in touch with all Patch hurricane coverage, and more, in your community.

4. Back up your address book to any cloud application to which you may have access.  That stores a phone's address book on a secure server in case the phone is lost or damaged.

Once a storm is on the way:

1. Limit non-emergency calls to conserve battery power and free up wireless networks for emergency agencies and operations. 

2. Send brief text messages rather than voice calls.

3. Forward your home phone calls to your wireless number if you evacuate. 

4. Check weather and news reports on wireless phone applications when power is out.

5. Forward your home phone to your wireless phone if you are to evacuate your home

Guidance on cell phone usage during the storm from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon’s Hurricane Irene information is below.  

AT&T Wireless:
Preparing for Hurricane Irene

Sprint:
Sprint Continues Preparations for Hurricane Irene’s Landfall on Atlantic Coast

T-Mobile:
T-Mobile Preps Storm Response Ahead of Irene; Issues Tips for Customers

Verizon Wireless:
Verizon Networks Prepared to Serve Customers as Hurricane Irene Approaches East Coast