What to Do When a Typhoon Causes Power Outages, Internet Failures, and Loss of Mobile Signal: A 72-Hour Family Emergency Kit and Offline Guide to Seeking Help
Key SummaryWhen a super typhoon makes landfall, power outages that take base stations offline, citywide water and electricity cuts, and phones turning into useless "bricks" are not far-fetched. How can you prepare your phone for power conservation and download offline maps before a typhoon? Which eight essential items must a 72-hour family emergency kit contain?
Why can a super typhoon cause a complete loss of mobile signal?
When a Category 15–17 super typhoon (such as RAMMASUN in 2014, MERANTI in 2016, DOKSURI in 2023, or YAGI in 2024) strikes directly, damage to the municipal power grid can cause outages, while communication base stations can generally operate on batteries for only 4–8 hours. Once a base station's tower antenna is blown out of alignment by strong winds or its fiber-optic cable is severed by fallen trees, extreme conditions can emerge, including power outages, water disruptions, internet failures, and blocked roads in parts of the affected area.
Phones and Communications: Four Essential Settings Before a Typhoon Makes Landfall
- Download offline maps and emergency contact numbers in advance: Download an offline map package for your city in a mapping app; write down the phone numbers of the local flood control office, power utility emergency repair service, property management office, and family and friends on a sheet of paper (in case you cannot remember the numbers after your phone shuts down).
- Keep a power bank of 20,000 mAh or more and cash in small denominations: Mobile payments cannot be used when power and internet services are down, so every household should always keep RMB 300–500 in banknotes on hand for buying water and food after the typhoon.
- Enable "Super Power Saving Mode" when the signal is weak: When a base station goes offline and the signal is extremely weak, the phone will continuously search for a signal at maximum power, consuming battery at more than three times the normal rate! If you have confirmed that the entire surrounding area has lost internet access, you can temporarily enable airplane mode, then turn it off every one to two hours to try sending or receiving text messages (text messages require far less channel bandwidth than WeChat and voice calls and are often the first service to recover).
- Use satellite communications as a backup: If your phone supports BeiDou short-message service or Tiantong satellite communications (such as Huawei Mate/Pura series models, overseas versions of the iPhone 14 and later, and newer flagship phones), you can send an emergency message containing your latitude and longitude coordinates from an open area near a window.
Standard Checklist for an Eight-Piece 72-Hour Family Typhoon Emergency Kit
| No. | Item | Key Specifications and Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hand-crank generator and solar-powered emergency radio | When all base stations are offline, FM/AM radio is the only channel for receiving government disaster-relief instructions |
| 2 | High-intensity flashlight or camping lantern (never light candles!) | During a typhoon, air currents can swirl unpredictably indoors and outdoors. Lighting candles carries a high risk of causing a fire, while fire engines may be unable to reach the scene. |
| 3 | High-frequency emergency whistle | If you are trapped in a damaged building, a whistle can penetrate noise far more effectively than shouting for help and requires very little energy. |
| 4 | Waterproof first-aid kit and prescription medications for chronic conditions | Iodine, gauze, adhesive bandages, antidiarrheal medication, antipyretics, and family members' antihypertensive medication or insulin (at least a seven-day supply) |
| 5 | Heavy-duty wide-area cloth tape and large garbage bags | Seal leaking window gaps and secure loose objects; during a water outage, place garbage bags over toilets to maintain sanitation when using them. |
| 6 | Cut-resistant gloves and multifunctional Swiss Army knife | Protect your hands from cuts and infections when clearing broken glass and snapped branches after a typhoon. |
| 7 | Waterproof pouch for important documents | Keep identification cards, property ownership certificates, insurance policies, and bank cards together in a sealed waterproof pouch and carry them with you at all times. |
| 8 | High-calorie emergency food and drinking water | At least 2 liters of drinking water per person per day, plus energy bars, canned food, or chocolate |