When storms are in the forecast, most people reach for flashlights and batteries. Some may grab a surge protector for the television, too. Those things are important in storm prep, but they only cover part of what you need. Your digital preparedness is also vital, including your ability to reach family and get information when the power and WiFi are unreliable. Build a digital emergency kit before the weather emergency happens so you’re prepared.
1. Back Up What You Can’t Recreate
Insurance policies, identification, medical records, and account information are things you may need in a hurry. You may forget paper copies in a filing cabinet during an evacuation, and a photo on a dead phone will not help when you need it most.
Tip: Keep digital copies somewhere you can access without home power or WiFi. In instances where you have cell service, cloud storage works well, as does sending an email to yourself. You can also keep a USB drive with your physical go-bag.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Operation HOPE created a free template for this. They call it the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit.
2. Staying Connected Takes More Than a Charged Phone
Technology like WiFi calling, smart home devices, and some medical alert systems depend on your internet staying up. If your home phone runs over fiber or another connection that is not old-style copper, it needs its own power. Without that power, it will not work during an outage. A charged phone battery is not enough on its own, and even if you plan to use a mobile hotspot, that will drain your phone battery fast.
Tip: Consider purchasing a separate battery backup or portable power station for your router if staying online during an outage matters to you, or if a medical device, work, or WiFi calling requires it. Size it to how long you need it to last.
The FCC explains what backup power does and does not cover for phone service that is not old-style copper.
3. Download Your Maps Before You Need Them
Map apps need a live data connection to load new areas. During a storm or other emergency, cell towers can go down, or too many people trying to connect at once can overload them. That could leave you without directions right when you need to evacuate or find an open shelter.
Tip: Download offline map coverage for your county as soon as forecasters issue a weather watch. Do the same for any likely evacuation routes. Waiting until the warning stage can mean trying to download data over a connection that is already struggling. Finally, keep a current printed map in your vehicles. (This is handy when you travel in areas without cell service, too).
The FEMA App is a useful companion for shelter locations and alerts. It works with limited connectivity once you download it.
4. Sign Up for Alerts Before You Need Them
Wireless Emergency Alerts arrive automatically to your devices and cover things like extreme weather and evacuation orders. Local government, school, and utility alerts work differently. Those require you to sign up in advance. They add extra warning time beyond what arrives automatically.
Tip: Check your phone’s notification settings to make sure you have turned on Extreme and Severe alerts. Some people turn them off by accident. Then sign up separately for your local emergency management and utility outage alerts, since those are not automatic. A battery-powered or hand-crank radio is worth keeping, too (check out this list of the best emergency radios for 2026). It can still get emergency broadcasts if your phone battery runs out.
The FCC’s guide to Wireless Emergency Alerts covers what arrives automatically. Ready.gov’s alert sign-up page covers what you need to sign up for yourself.
5. Know How to Report an Outage Before You Have To
Phone lines jam up fast after a storm. This happens when everyone calls in the same outage at once. Knowing your provider’s reporting tool ahead of time saves time. That might be an app, a text line, or a website. It saves time for you and for the crew working to fix it.
6. Build a Family Communication Plan
Heavy call volume can congest cell networks during emergencies. Text messages often go through when phone calls do not. Agree on an out-of-town contact together in case a local outage jams the phone lines. Decide on a local meeting place in case you cannot reach someone nearby.
Tip: Fill out a family communication plan together as a household. Keep a printed copy in case a phone is dead. Save an In Case of Emergency contact in every phone. Choose one out-of-town contact as your single point person. Long-distance calls and texts often connect when local circuits cannot.
Ready.gov’s Family Communication Plan includes a free fillable card designed for exactly this.
Preparedness Means More Than a Flashlight
Flashlights and battery packs protect your gear and get you through the dark. The steps above protect something different: your information and your ability to reach your loved ones. That matters every bit as much once the storm passes. A little preparation now means one less thing to worry about later.