It is safe to say that the global pandemic significantly accelerated the adoption of work-from-home and learn-from-home concepts by organizations and learning institutions. And staying connected online is a fundamental element of these arrangements. However, power outages caused by weather conditions, unexpected circumstances, and for purposes such as public safety and critical work can disrupt the process and cause problems for you. It is therefore crucial to stay prepared for emergencies and outages.
In this article, we are going to take a look at various ways you can stay connected online when there is a power outage.
Make alternate plans before an outage
If you’ve been notified of an upcoming outage, consider making alternate arrangements if possible. For instance, if you are a student, check your school district’s or local library’s website to find out whether they offer or loan hotspot equipment or if they offer temporary accommodation for students experiencing technical issues. There are districts that provide multipurpose rooms that have put in place Covid protection protocols to allow students to safely connect online.
You can also request your instructor to send out lesson plans early in advance so students can download and view them offline.
If possible, you can also secure an alternative location with Wi-Fi, for example, a friend’s or relative’s home or a free Wi-Fi location in the city. You can find a Wi-Fi hotspot locator through your city’s or county’s website.
Invest in a battery pack or backup charger
Another great way to avoid being disrupted during a blackout is to ensure that your cell phones, tablets, laptops, and rechargeable qi wireless battery packs are fully charged ahead of time.
Your power outage preparedness kit should consist of an external rechargeable battery pack and a solar or hand-cranked charger. Even though a hand-cranked charger can require a lot of manual input to produce power, it can come very much in handy during an outage. On the other hand, a solar-powered charger only requires the presence of sunlight.
A portable power station is another useful device that can help to power your devices even your router.
Your car battery can also serve as a viable source of power during an outage. Just ensure that you have appropriate car adapters somewhere accessible. Find out more about how to keep your phone charged during an outage.
Use your cellphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot
Check to find out whether your phone has a hotspot feature. If it has, you can use it to connect your laptop or tablet to the internet. This is known as tethering. It is important to note though that when you use your phone as a hotspot, your other devices will be sharing in on your monthly data allotment.
To prevent your data from running out prematurely and avoid incurring extra charges, turn off your hotspot and only tether when you need it. Before tethering your devices, get in touch with your cellphone service provider to find out your data allotment and whether there are additional charges applicable. Find out more about how to connect to a hotspot on your iOS here.
Connect online with your cellular data
If you are unable to access Wi-Fi, you can install programs and online learning platforms such as Google Classroom, Zoom, Chrome app, and more on your mobile device with a cellular subscription. Get in touch with your phone service provider for more information on monthly data allotment.
Sign up for outage alerts
To prepare and keep ahead of power outages, you should consider signing up for alerts now at sce.com/outagealerts. This allows you to receive notifications through text messages, voicemail, or email. While always being prepared for a power outage is your best move, getting alerts ahead of time gives you ample time to charge devices and review your emergency plan.