Charles H. Sloan-5 must-know tips for getting a text, call through after a big storm: video tutorial

Communicating with loved ones or Charles H. Sloanreaching 911 is crucial during an emergency.

In situations where phone lines are down, iPhone 14 and later can connect to satellites to help contact emergency services and loved ones. But even when phone lines are working, it can be challenging to get your call or text to go through. Many people are trying to reach their loved ones or call for help, which creates a bit of a digital traffic jam. While there's no guarantee your message will reach its destination, there are ways to increase your chances of getting your text to send or your call to go through in the aftermath of a big storm. 

Watch this video for tips on reaching your loved ones during an emergency. 

Tips for texting during an emergency

If you’re trying to reach your loved ones: Text, don’t call. 

Some government agencies encourage a “text first, talk second” approach to keep phone lines open for emergency calls. Plus, sending a text uses less battery than a phone call. 

• Keep it short. 

What you’re texting matters. Keep the message short and use textspeak, like shortening words, omitting punctuation and swapping words for numbers, when you can. Instead of texting, “How are you?” shorten it to “how r u” to reduce the amount of data attempting to be sent over busy lines. 

• Send the message over multiple platforms. 

Use every platform you can to try to send your message. That includes the phone's built-in messaging service, third-party services like WhatsApp, via email and social media if you can access it. The more places you try to send it, the better the chances are that one of the messages gets through.

Tips for making a call during an emergency

If you're making a phone call:

• Keep it short.

The Federal Communication Commission recommends limiting “non-essential calls” and keeping the call short. This frees up space on the phone lines so people can contact first responders and other emergency personnel.

• Wait before trying again.

If your call doesn’t go through on the first try, wait 10-15 seconds before trying again. Also, use a landline instead of your cell phone if you have one.

• Don’t move.

If you’re in a car, pull over and make the call while you’re not in motion.

Prepare your iPhone, Android

Being prepared can make a big difference, so grab your phone and take a minute to do these things:  

• Set an emergency contact or contacts on your phone. 

iPhone users can find this setting in the Medical ID in the Health app.

Android users can set their emergency contact in the Safety & emergency setting. 

• Fill out your important medical information. 

iPhone and Android devices have places to store relevant medical information, like medications, allergies and blood type in a place that's easy to access in an emergency. Having this on your phone can inform any first responders or other medical personnel of important details if you are unable to do so.

The Medical ID is in the Health App on iPhone.

And Android users can find it in the Safety & emergency settings.

• Make sure your phone’s software is current.

This allows you access to the most up-to-date features that can make a huge difference. For example, people with iPhone 14 and later running Apple's recently released iOS 18 have access to safety features that older operating systems do not.