Windows Phones in times of emergency

Information technology shouldn't be a surprise when someone comments that your Windows Phone is a great communications tool. From using the Phone as a phone to call friends, family and associates to checking your email to updating your Facebook Condition, your Windows Phone keeps you in touch. While the abilities and capabilities of communications is tremendous during day to day life, it can as well be very helpful in times of crisis. I personally discovered how useful my Windows Telephone can be during recent events in my home State.

On April 27, 2022 the Southern States experienced a severe weather outbreak of historic proportions where storms produced a record 3 hundred twelve tornadoes. Alabama experienced a tornado outbreak that the State and possibly the nation has never seen earlier. One tornado tracked on the basis for over one hundred thirty miles in North Alabama destroying everything in its path. Some other traveled over fourscore miles destroying communities in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. While property harm was extensive and catastrophic, the greatest loss was that over 300 perished in these storms.

That day started for me around five:45am when the first line of storms came through my neighborhood and produced a tornado with winds reaching 120mph. Nosotros lost power as these storms tossed trees effectually as if they were lucifer sticks. With no power, my Samsung Focus became my simply means of communication. While I can't say that ane application was more important than the adjacent, my Windows Phone helped me stay in touch with family unit, check on the severe weather, and arrive around the house when nighttime vicious.

Continued afterwards the break

Disasters

In any disaster situation, communications is an essential that volition help you through things. From hurricanes to tornadoes to blizzards to a traffic blow communications tin can bring help to you lot, directly help to where it's needed, permit you know that friends and family are alright, and warn you lot of potential threats that may be headed your style.

Granted, in some situations the harm can be so wide spread that jail cell towers are destroyed. In my area, there were towers that went down and reception was spotty at all-time. In these situations, you lot Windows Phone volition probable practice y'all no good to communicate with but it can however come in handy with the apps on your telephone.

Hither are a few areas in which my Windows Phone helped me and might help you should you in times of emergency.

Conditions Apps

The selection of weather related apps is rather abundant at the Marketplace. Some cover but the basics such as Weather4me, while others get into more detail or solely focus on atmospheric condition radar. For days the local weathermen had been cautioning everyone that the day would get-go with intense storms that would continue to form throughout the 24-hour interval. Even though the morn storms had passed, we knew more than was heading our fashion.

Without power, our sources of conditions data was limited. Analog goggle box is a affair of the by and I came to detect that portable, digital set up televisions are not very reliable. Reception can be choppy and in an emergency, information technology tin exist frustrating to loose the point just as the weatherman is about to update you on the path of a tornado.

Applications such every bit Weatherbug, The Weather Channel, and RadNow are adept apps to have when you need to stay in bear on with weather conditions.  Both Weatherbug and The Conditions Channel apps have severe weather condition alerts that can come up in handy.

Additionally, you have online resources such as Accuweather.com and Intellicast.com that you can access from Windows Explorer. Local news channels may also take conditions sites to keep you informed. In Alabama, Alabamawx.com is a web log site, run by a local news station'due south atmospheric condition team, that offers continuous updates during severe weather events. I was able to use all of these to continue informed on the weather situation every bit the solar day progressed.

Communications

The tornado outbreak impacted basically the upper 2 thirds of Alabama. Personally, I had relatives in Tuscaloosa and Cullman (2 areas severely impacted by tornadoes) that I needed to get in touch with. We also had friends and relatives from out of State who were concerned about our welfare. Where before my Windows Phone was primarily a source for weather condition information, now it became a primary source for advice.

Text Messaging

While we never completely lost wireless service, at times information technology was challenging to get a proficient signal. We went through periods where damage to the organisation or high volume on the system made outgoing calls impossible.

Remember your Windows Phone can send out text messages to let your friends and family know y'all're alright. When vocalization reception kept breaking upwardly, a SMS message went through without a problem. Even when a data connection was tough to sustain, that curt little information outburst seemed to go through but fine. Remember, you're not looking for a drawn out conversation, instead a short message to allow everyone know you're all the same live and confirmation that they are alive as well.

Facebook and Twitter

The Facebook and Twitter apps were keen resources to use for a broader base of information. Facebook and Twitter became a fashion to communicate with friends from out of Land. It also gives you the means to hands share photos taken from your Windows Phone camera.

Electronic mail

For many, email is a principal source of communications. It helps us keep in touch with work, friends, and family unit. During the recovery phase of a disaster, electronic mail can not only assist you stay in touch with piece of work, friends and family but also assistance with the recovery efforts.

You can use your Windows Phone camera to document whatever storm damage and email the photos to your insurance agent. If you demand to written report a hazardous situation to local authorities, emailing them a picture is an ideal way to report the situation. While a call to 911 can alert them of the situation, a picture can assist emergency responders appraise the situation and ship the necessary resource.

Speaking of insurance claims, USAA and GEICO have Windows Phone apps that will help you lot with filing claims.

Utilities

We make lite of novelty applications that appear on the Marketplace but when yous've lost ability and you demand a low-cal, those little flashlight apps really come in handy.

From the Avatar Gadgets to Mobile Torch, using your Windows Phone as a light can come in handy. They became particularly handy when the demand calls more for a lantern than a spot low-cal (i.eastward. lighting up minor rooms such as the bathroom).

We spent five days without power and my Windows Telephone came in handy for the most simplest of tasks; helping to pass the time. There was plenty of make clean up in the neighborhood to deal with but at night when it was no longer rubber to run a chainsaw, finding a game to play on my Windows Telephone helped ease the tension and stress of the moment. It brought a footling normalcy into the night.

Batteries don't last forever

Obviously, with no power to your firm your Windows Telephone won't last long. Windows Telephone 7 has very skillful power management features but in that location are some things yous can do to assist extend your batteries life time.

• If y'all have your email client set to automatically cheque email, turn that off or set it to a longer duration to help conserve power.
• Lower the intensity of your screens brightness. If you are using the white theme background, switch it to black. Black pixels require no energy.
• Use data sparingly. While watching a Netflix Film might exist entertaining, it volition also suck the life out of your battery.
• Shorten your screen time out menstruation.

You'll be surprised how many volition forget about the motorcar charger. When your battery get'due south low, plug information technology up to your motorcar charger and permit it feed off the auto battery. Just recollect afterwards to run your car for a few minutes to replenish the car bombardment. If yous're having to drive to the shop or check on a friend, plug your telephone up to the car charger.

I know in some communities "charging stations" have been established by volunteer organizations where you tin have your portable electronics for a quick accuse. Wireless carriers besides brought portable cell towers/repeaters and charging stations into area to non but aid with poor coverage simply also to help recharge batteries.

Parting Thoughts

Whether it is a blizzard, tornado, hurricane, or a traffic accident your Windows Phone tin come in handy and help you go through the issue. I have a new appreciation for a lot of things after final week and the usefulness of my Windows Phone is one of them. I am grateful that my family and friends survived these storms and that with the capabilities of my Windows Phone as a communications tool, that "not knowing" menses was shortened considerably.

I hope that anyone reading this who was effected by these storms made it through them alright. If you've gone through times of crisis and found your Windows Telephone to be a useful tool, experience free to share your experiences in the comments section.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-phones-times-emergency

Posted by: mcelroywitaysen.blogspot.com

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