Power outages and downed lines aren’t rare around here. Whether it’s a summer thunderstorm, a winter ice snap, or something bigger, most of us have been through at least one stretch without power or a working phone. Catawba County Government posted a set of emergency preparedness tips this week focused specifically on technology, and they’re worth passing along to Sherrills Ford, Terrell, Monbo, and Long Island households alike, whether you’re out near the water or further back from it.
Text first, call second
When an emergency hits, mobile networks get overloaded fast. Text messages use less bandwidth than phone calls, so they’re more likely to get through when everyone in the area is trying to reach someone at once. If your Wi-Fi is still working but cell service is jammed, turn on Wi-Fi calling. It’s also worth picking an out-of-state contact as a check-in point. Local lines tend to jam first, so a relative or friend a few states away can help your family relay messages to each other.
Keep devices charged before you need them
Charge everything ahead of severe weather, not after the lights go out. Keep a portable charger in the car, and if the power does go, switch phones to low-power or airplane mode to stretch what battery you have left. A basic backup power bank is a cheap and easy addition to any emergency kit.
Back up the documents you’d hate to lose
Insurance policies, IDs, medical records, even your pet’s paperwork: most phones can scan and store these as photos or through a scanning app, either on a password-protected drive or in the cloud. It takes a few minutes and saves a lot of stress if you ever need to grab and go.
Write it down, too
Electronics can fail or get left behind. A written family emergency communication plan, with phone numbers and a meeting point, is worth keeping in a purse, a glovebox, a backpack, and wherever else makes sense for your family. Ready.gov has free printable templates, including one for kids, and it’s worth updating the list at least once a year.
Source: Catawba County Government, “Be Tech Ready-Emergency Preparedness” (published September 14, 2026).
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