Your landline might not be there for you when the power goes out

Dec 5, 2018
Are IP phone lines as reliable as the old tech in emergencies?
Susan Schiff Faludi/Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Three ways to optimize tech for an emergency

Sep 8, 2017
During a disaster, digital records, messaging, even social media are all pretty handy.
A woman looks at a smart phone as it charges while staying with other flood victims at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Barely anyone used text-to-911 during Hurricane Harvey

Aug 30, 2017
Only a handful of texts were sent to 911.
A Sheriff's boat rescues people after Hurricane Harvey caused heavy flooding in Houston, Texas on August 28, 2017.
Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

As 911 outages increase, FCC considers new rules

Aug 24, 2015
The system is moving from analog to digital. The in-between phase has weak spots.

Cell phone dead zones bring a call for more towers

Nov 11, 2014
There are large areas of the country where you still can't get a cell phone signal.

Ebola is scaring people away from ERs

Oct 6, 2014
If patients avoid the ER, it could mean big revenue losses for hospitals.

Nearly half of American households are financially insecure

Sep 18, 2014
New research indicates even many middle class families don't have enough saved for an emergency.

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How your cellphone could create an emergency telecom network

Jun 20, 2013
One of the hardest things to do in the wake of a disaster is communicate. Now researchers in Boston have a plan to address that with something called an ad-hoc network.

Using Twitter to summon emergency help

Dec 18, 2012
On the face of it, it sounds crazy: Your house or apartment is on fire, and rather than phoning the emergency services, you tweet them. But that is what the London Fire Brigade is mulling over.

FCC considering plan to launch floating cell towers

Jun 8, 2012
In the event of natural disaster, drone planes and weather balloons could restore communications.