Why You Need a Communication Plan Before Emergencies Hit
When a hurricane knocks out power, a wildfire forces evacuation, or a winter storm disables cell towers, your phone becomes the most important tool you own. But the time to figure out how to stay connected is not during the emergency — it is before one ever happens.
Every year, millions of Americans experience communication disruptions during natural disasters and severe weather events. In 2025 alone, FEMA responded to over 100 federally declared disasters across the country. Cell towers go down, internet service fails, and suddenly the device you rely on for everything cannot make a basic phone call.
A prepaid phone offers several unique advantages as part of an emergency communication strategy that postpaid plans and apps alone cannot match.
Why Prepaid Phones Are Ideal for Emergency Preparedness
No Monthly Bill When Not in Use
Postpaid plans charge you every month whether you use the phone or not. A prepaid phone can sit in your emergency kit and only cost you money when you activate or refill it. Some prepaid plans let you maintain service for as little as $5 to $10 per month, making it an affordable backup.
Works Without a Credit Check or Account Setup
During an emergency, you might need to get a phone activated quickly for a family member, neighbor, or someone who lost their device. Prepaid SIMs can be purchased and activated in minutes at convenience stores or online — no credit check, no waiting period.
Network Flexibility
Prepaid MVNOs operate on multiple networks. If AT&T towers are down in your area but T-Mobile towers are still working, having a prepaid phone on a different network than your primary phone gives you a backup path to connectivity. Nexitel offers plans on both AT&T and T-Mobile networks, so you can choose whichever provides better redundancy for your location.
Building Your Emergency Communication Plan
Step 1: Identify Your Communication Circle
Write down the people you need to reach during an emergency. This typically includes:
- Immediate family in your household
- Extended family in other states or countries
- An out-of-area contact who can relay messages (someone far from your region who is unlikely to be affected by the same disaster)
- Neighbors or close friends nearby
- Children's schools and emergency contacts
For families with members living overseas, having a way to make international calls is critical. During Hurricane Maria in 2017, Puerto Rican families on the mainland struggled for weeks to reach relatives on the island through traditional phone lines.
Step 2: Write Down Key Phone Numbers
This sounds basic, but most people cannot recite a single phone number from memory beyond their own. If your smartphone dies and you have no charger, you need numbers written on paper.
Create a laminated card with:
- All family members' cell phone numbers
- Your out-of-area contact's number
- Local emergency management numbers
- Your insurance company's claims line
- Utility company reporting numbers
Keep a copy in your emergency kit, your car, and your wallet.
Step 3: Set Up a Backup Calling Method
Your primary phone might lose service, run out of battery, or get damaged. Having a backup calling method is essential.
Option 1: A dedicated prepaid backup phone. Keep a basic phone with a Nexitel prepaid SIM in your emergency kit. Basic phones can hold a charge for days compared to smartphones that die in hours.
Option 2: VoIP as a secondary line. If you have any internet access — even slow WiFi from a neighbor's generator — a VoIP service like NexiTalk can make calls when cellular networks are overwhelmed. VoIP routes calls through the internet, bypassing congested cell towers entirely.
Option 3: WiFi calling on your smartphone. Most modern smartphones support WiFi calling. If cell towers are down but you can access any WiFi network, your phone can still make and receive calls. Enable this feature in your phone's settings before you need it.
Step 4: Plan for International Communication
If you have family abroad, disasters create an especially stressful communication gap. International cell rates during emergencies can be devastating — some families have reported bills exceeding $500 after making desperate calls during a crisis.
Prepare in advance:
- Set up a VoIP account now. NexiTalk plans start at $4.99 per month and let you call over 50 countries. Having an active account means you can start calling the moment you get internet access.
- Pre-load airtime on family phones abroad. Use Nexi Volt to keep your overseas family's prepaid phones topped up. If they need to call you during an emergency, they will have credit available.
- Agree on a check-in schedule. Decide in advance that you will call at a specific time each day during a disaster. This reduces anxiety and prevents constant calling attempts that drain batteries.
Step 5: Keep Your Devices Charged
A phone without battery power is just a paperweight. Include these in your emergency kit:
- A portable power bank with at least 10,000 mAh capacity
- A car charger for your phone
- A hand-crank or solar-powered radio with USB charging port
- Extra charging cables for your phone type
Turn on battery saver mode during emergencies. Close unnecessary apps, reduce screen brightness, and disable Bluetooth and location services to extend battery life by 30 to 50 percent.
What to Do When Cell Networks Are Overloaded
After a major disaster, cell towers that are still functioning get overwhelmed by call volume. Here are practical strategies:
Send Texts Instead of Calling
Text messages use far less network bandwidth than voice calls. During network congestion, texts often get through when calls cannot connect. Send short, informative messages: "We are safe. At the shelter on Oak Street. Call tomorrow at 8am."
Use VoIP Over Any Available Internet
Even slow internet connections can support VoIP calls. Public WiFi at shelters, businesses with generators, or even a neighbor's hotspot can be enough. This is why having a VoIP service like NexiTalk already set up is valuable — you do not want to be creating accounts during an emergency.
Try Calling During Off-Peak Hours
Network congestion peaks during daytime hours. Try making calls early in the morning or late at night when fewer people are using the network.
Register on the FEMA Safe and Well Website
The American Red Cross operates a Safe and Well registry where you can let people know you are okay without needing to call each person individually. Register online or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.
Preparing Your Family
Practice Your Plan
Run through your emergency communication plan with your family at least once a year. Make sure everyone knows:
- The out-of-area contact person and their number
- Where the emergency phone numbers card is kept
- How to use WiFi calling on their device
- The family meeting point if you cannot communicate at all
Include Children and Elderly Family Members
Teach children old enough to use a phone how to make an emergency call. For elderly family members who may not be comfortable with technology, a simple prepaid phone with large buttons and pre-programmed speed dial numbers can be a lifesaver.
Keep Overseas Family in the Loop
If you have relatives abroad, make sure they know your plan too. Share your out-of-area contact's number with them so they have someone to call if they cannot reach you directly. Keep their prepaid phones topped up through Nexi Volt so they always have calling credit available.
Your Emergency Communication Checklist
Use this checklist to make sure you are prepared:
- [ ] Emergency contact numbers written on a laminated card
- [ ] Out-of-area contact person designated and informed
- [ ] Backup prepaid phone charged and stored in emergency kit
- [ ] VoIP service account created and tested
- [ ] Portable power bank fully charged
- [ ] WiFi calling enabled on all family smartphones
- [ ] Overseas family phone balances topped up
- [ ] Plan reviewed and practiced with all family members
Get Started Before the Next Storm
Emergency preparedness is something everyone intends to do but few actually complete. The good news is that setting up a communication backup takes less than an hour and costs very little.
Start with a Nexitel prepaid plan as your backup line, add NexiTalk for affordable international calling over WiFi, and use Nexi Volt to keep your family abroad reachable. When the next emergency hits, you will be glad you planned ahead.