Tips for Emergency Use of Mobile Devices

During and After an Emergency

1. For non-emergency communications, use text messaging, e-mail, or social media instead of making voice calls to avoid tying up voice networks. Use these to let family and friends know you are okay. Data-based services like texts and emails are less likely to experience network congestion.

2. Keep all phone calls short. If you need to use a phone, try to give only vital information to emergency personnel and/or close friends or family.

3. If your call does not go through wait ten seconds before trying again.

4. Save your battery by lowering the brightness of your screen, placing your device in “airplane mode” and closing apps not in use (especially GPS apps).

5. If you evacuated and have call-forwarding option for your phone, forward all your calls to your cell phone number

6. Don’t use your mobile device to watch streaming videos, download music or videos, or play video games, as this can add to network congestion. Limiting use of these services can help potentially life-saving emergency calls get through to 9-1-1.