March 28, 2024

Mobile device helps keep you informed during severe weather

U.S. Cellular on Severe Weather Awareness Week

How do you check the daily weather forecast? The internet, newspaper, radio, social media and television are great resources. Don’t forget about that device in your pocket or purse — a smartphone.

A recent U.S. Cellular survey indicated that 93 percent of smartphone owners use their device to check the weather forecast once a month or more.

In honor of Severe Weather Awareness Week March 27-31 in Iowa and Nebraska, U.S. Cellular offers the following tips to help you track turbulent weather:

Access Social Media — Social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, have become a preferred way to quickly get and share information. During severe weather, they can help provide real-time updates and keep you in contact with loved ones.

Ample Accessories — An extra battery is ideal if you need to use your phone during a storm and can't charge it. It's also a good idea to carry a car charger, in case you lose power and are unable to charge a mobile device indoors.

Check Weather, News Apps — The Weather Channel and AccuWeather have reliable and popular apps that provide weather updates anywhere. Local media outlets also have apps to ensure you will have the latest news at your fingertips.

Prepare — You can share severe weather preparedness tips on social media using the hashtag #SevereWeatherPrep. Ready.gov encourages families to develop and practice an emergency plan. Residents should make a family emergency plan and be informed about emergency alerts.

Text to Stay in Touch — Texting can be helpful during severe weather. If phone service is impacted because of a storm or high call volume, text messages could still go through because they require less network bandwidth than calls.