How to prepare for a loss of communications
What is the risk? A major incident like a storm, flood, or technical failure could damage phone lines, mobile masts, and internet cables, leading to a wide-scale loss of service .
This would affect your ability to make calls, use the internet, access online services, or even pay for things in shops.
What you can do to prepare:
- Have non-digital backups:
- Radio: Keep a wind-up or battery-powered radio. This is the most reliable way to get news and updates during an incident.
- Contacts: Write down a list of essential phone numbers (family, doctor, insurance) on paper and keep it in your 'grab bag'.
- Cash: Keep a small amount of cash at home. If the internet is down, card machines in shops will not work.
- Plan ahead:
- Household Plan: Agree with your family on a meeting place in case you can't contact each other.
- Power Bank: Keep a power bank charged so you can power your phone as soon as the signal returns.