During the recent wildfires that have been happening across California, PG&E instituted power blackouts in an attempt to prevent further fires. As these PG&E outages happened, many found that they were suddenly without cell phone reception. In an age where we are more reliant on cell phones than ever before, having no access to services on our phone is a real concern.

Why did this happen, and how do we prevent this from happening again?

Why is Cell Phone Reception Important in a Wildfire Situation?

Your cell phone is a vital tool when you’re under the threat of a wildfire. Many Californians have signed up for emergency alerts, that should keep you informed about the situation. These are vital as they’re the quickest way to alert residents should a fire be coming their way.

Of course, you’ll also need your phone if you need to call the emergency services. In normal situations, if your phone can reach cell service, then you can call 911 on it.

In fact, an estimated 80% of all 911 calls are made on cell phones. You don’t even need a currently working cell plan in order to do this, as the number should be reachable in all situations. If an emergency occurs, you’ll need to call 911 quickly, and the quickest way these days is from your cell phone.

Why Did Cell Service Go Down?

When power blackouts were put into practice, they affected cell towers all over California. Most people would assume they would keep working during a blackout. In some cases, this is true. Most cell towers will have a backup generator that will kick in when the main power goes down.

The problem is, these generators can’t last long enough. In some cases, the generators run out of fuel in a day or two. In others, they lasted merely hours. After that, cell services to everyone in the area is cut off, keeping them from vital info and the emergency services.

The companies maintaining the towers know this, and will try to get trucks out to the towers to refuel the generators. The problem is, they can’t always get to them. Often, roads will be blocked off, trees felled, and inoperative traffic lights will hinder their progress. It’s not always possible to keep the cell towers going in such an emergency.

Who is at Fault?

Who is it that’s at fault for this cell phone outages? There’s no denying that without the power outages, they wouldn’t have happened. There have been lots of outspoken people who have been against the PG&E power outages, saying that they were causing more problems than they were solving.

It’s true that without power, many people are vulnerable. The elderly, or ill people relying on power to help them, are already going to be in danger with fire coming their way, will be even worse off without power. Without a reliable cell phone service, they’re even more stranded as they won’t be able to call for help if they need it.

Most of the blame, however, has been placed at the feet of the cell tower operators. Major cell companies such as T-Mobile and AT&T have been criticized for the way they have handled these situations. The fact that so many cell towers barely have a day’s back up power is not enough for many, including legislators. There have been calls for the cell companies to improve these services.

What Can Be Done to Stop a Repeat?

Before the recent wildfires last year, a bill was introduced requiring that all cell towers have at least 48 hours of backup battery power, in case of emergency. With the fires and the events that have happened since though, this is now thought not to be enough.

Others believe that the onus rests of PG&E to find the solution. While the outages showed the weaknesses in the cell tower system, there’s clearly the larger issue of the power being out in the first place. Many are calling for PG&E to find more reasonable solutions, rather than shutting off power in the event of fire.

There are companies who are looking for other answers, to address the lack of power. The California Energy Commission have given a grant to Caban Systems of Burlingame to create solar batteries for cell towers in California. The hope is that these batteries will extend the backup batteries when the power is out in a cell tower’s area.

What You Can Do in the Event of PG&E Outages

What should you do if you’re worried about a blackout knocking out the power in your area? You don’t want to be without a line to the outside world if that happens.

Firstly, if you’re not already signed up to emergency notifications, ensure that you are now. You don’t want to be uninformed if a fire is heading your way. You’ll see everything that comes through before the backup batteries run out on the cell towers. With any luck, you’ll get the call to evacuate well before you’re in danger, so you’ll be able to get to safety once you have no power.

If you don’t already have a landline installed in your home, it’s well worth considering doing so. They don’t cost much more to install, and having it there is peace of mind. Even if the power goes out, you should be able to use your landline to call for help if you need it. If you do this, be sure to buy an older style set with a cord, as cordless models won’t work in blackouts as they need to be charged.

The recent power outages and cell tower disruptions have shown that lots needs to be done to keep Californians online during a crisis. PG&E needs to find more elegant solutions, cell companies need better battery backups, and you’ll need to have a plan in case the cell towers go down. If you’re ever in doubt, evacuate and head to your local shelter to find out what’s happening in a blackout.