Dealing with disasters increasingly requires a smartphone – losing access can be a nightmare, but there are ways to prepare

A string of August 2026 disasters — Midwest storms cutting power to a half-million people, Tropical Storm Lala battering Hawaii, western wildfire evacuations, and an earthquake in Colombia — underscored how central smartphones have become to surviving emergencies.

Researchers note that phones can be lost, drained, or cut off from service exactly when they're needed most, exposing a new dimension of the digital divide. Recommended fixes include printed contact lists, agreed-upon meeting points, backup radio and TV alerts, and community centers acting as charging hubs.

Programs like New York's Notify NYC and Miami-Dade's alert system already combine text, television, and radio to reach people without relying solely on cell service.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.