UpOnly Learning Presents: Family Emergency Guide — Natural Disasters, Power and Internet Outages

Family Emergency Guide

Internet and Phone Outages

Last checked: October 26, 2026

Official guidanceThis guide summarizes official guidance. It does not replace instructions from local officials. In the United States, call 911 in an emergency. If your 911 call does not go through.

Related pages: Emergency Kit Checklist · Communication Plan (including 911)

What it is

  • CDC says winter storms can bring "loss of communication services."[1]
  • For hurricanes, the American Red Cross says, "Be ready to live without power, water, gas, phone, and internet for a long time."[2]
  • The FCC says internet phone (VoIP) service "may not work during a power outage or when the internet connection fails or becomes overloaded."[3]
  • The FCC and FEMA say many cordless phones need electricity.[4]

Before

  • The FCC and FEMA say to find out whether your home phone is internet-based (VoIP) or traditional copper-wire service, and to ask your provider if you're not sure.[4]
  • The FCC and FEMA say internet-based home phones need a battery or other backup power during outages; test it, and know how long it lasts.[4]
  • The FCC and FEMA say traditional landline service may work during a power outage, possibly with a corded phone.[4]
  • The FCC says to keep at least one corded telephone that does not depend on electricity.[5]
  • The FCC says medical alert systems usually need a working phone line, so have a backup such as a cell phone.[5]
  • The FCC and FEMA say to charge your phone, laptop, or tablet before a storm and to consider extra batteries, a solar charger, or a car charger.[4]
  • The FCC and FEMA say to keep a battery-powered radio or portable TV for emergency news.[4]
  • The FCC and FEMA say to write down important phone numbers on paper.[4]
  • The FCC says VoIP users should give their provider an accurate street address so 911 responders can find them.[3]

During

  • The FCC and FEMA say to limit non-emergency calls and keep needed calls short.[4]
  • The FCC and FEMA say texts may get through when calls don't, though they may be delayed.[4]
  • The FCC says that if a call fails, try text, email, or a landline.[5]
  • The FCC and FEMA say to use Wi-Fi if your cell network is struggling, and that secure Wi-Fi may still work during an outage.[4]
  • The FCC and FEMA say that if you have no signal, consider turning your phone off so the battery doesn't drain while it searches.[4]
  • The FCC and FEMA say to wait 10 seconds before redialing.[4]
  • The FCC and FEMA say not to go to your car to charge phones or listen to the radio if it isn't safe, and to watch for carbon monoxide, especially in enclosed spaces.[4]
  • The National Weather Service says NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts public safety information "such as AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages."[6]

After

  • The FCC and FEMA say that once power returns, reconnect your phone's backup battery so it can recharge.[4]
  • Ready.gov says to use texts or social media to communicate after a hurricane and save calls for emergencies.[7]

911 during an outage

  • The FCC says VoIP 911 may not work if your power or internet goes out, and that a traditional landline or a wireless phone can serve as a backup.[3]
  • The FCC says that where text-to-911 is available, call if you can, because voice calls are preferred.[8]
  • See If your 911 call does not go through on the Communication Plan page.

Sources

Last checked: October 26, 2026. Each numbered source below was opened and checked on the date shown. Numbers in brackets in the text, like [1], point to this list.

  1. [1] CDC, About Winter Weather
    Published by
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/about/index.html
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  2. [2] American Red Cross, Hurricane
    Published by
    American Red Cross
    Level
    Not a government agency (non-governmental organization)
    Found at
    www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/hurricane.html
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  3. [3] FCC, VoIP and 911 Service
    Published by
    Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/voip-and-911-service
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  4. [4] FCC/FEMA, Tips for Communicating During an Emergency (PDF)
    Published by
    Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and FEMA
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/fcc-fema_tips_for_communicating_during_an_emergency.pdf
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  5. [5] FCC, Tips for Communicating in an Emergency
    Published by
    Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.fcc.gov/reports-research/guides/tips-communicating-emergency
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  6. [6] National Weather Service, NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
    Published by
    National Weather Service (NWS)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.weather.gov/nwr/
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  7. [7] Ready.gov (FEMA), Be Prepared for a Hurricane (info sheet, PDF)
    Published by
    Ready.gov (FEMA)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/ready.gov_hurricane_hazard-info-sheet.pdf
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  8. [8] FCC, What You Need to Know About Text-to-911
    Published by
    Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/what-you-need-know-about-text-911
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026

We check every line against official sources. If you ever spot an error (rare, but it happens), send us a screenshot through our form and we’ll fix it.