As Hurricane Milton barrels through Florida’s west coast with 120 mph winds, the importance of being prepared has never been clearer. If you’re in the Tampa or St. Petersburg areas, where extremely dangerous winds are now spreading, sheltering in place is essential. But what happens if you lose mobile or Wi-Fi coverage during this intense storm? Here’s how Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone can be a crucial lifeline in case traditional communication methods fail.
With the possibility of multi-vortex tornadoes and storm surges adding to the danger, now is the time to make sure your iPhone is ready. Here’s how to prepare your iPhone for Emergency SOS via satellite:
How To Prepare Your iPhone For Emergency SOS via Satellite
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Step I: Set Up Medical ID and Emergency Contacts
Before the storm hits full force, take a few minutes to update your Medical ID and emergency contacts in the Health app. In case of an emergency, these will be shared with responders, ensuring they have critical information if you’re unable to communicate.
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Step II: Try The Satellite Demo
Familiarize yourself with the Emergency SOS feature by trying the built-in demo. This will show you how to position your iPhone to connect to a satellite, a crucial skill if you’re stuck without a signal during the storm. You can access the demo by going to
Settings > Emergency SOS > scroll down and tap Try Demo.
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Step III: Charge Your iPhone
Make sure your phone is fully charged and keep a portable battery pack handy. Emergency SOS via satellite will require enough battery power to send crucial information to responders, and the last thing you want is a dead phone in a crisis.
How To Use Emergency SOS via Satellite
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Step I:
Always try calling emergency services first, even if there’s no coverage.*
Step II:
If the call doesn’t go through, tap “Emergency Text via Satellite.” Follow the on-screen prompts to answer a few quick questions about your situation.*
Step III:
Your iPhone will guide you on how to position it to connect with a satellite. Once connected, your location, medical information, and the nature of your emergency will be shared with emergency responders.*
Step IV:
You can also choose to alert your emergency contacts and share your location and emergency details with them.Why It Matters
Apple’s satellite messaging feature has emerged as a crucial lifeline for survivors in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Introduced via the iOS 18 update, the Messages via Satellite feature for iPhone 14 and later models allows users to stay connected even when they’re off the grid without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. This feature, however, is only for non-emergency contacts.
Both Emergency SOS via Satellite and Messages via Satellite are free of cost for two years after activating. This valuable feature can be a life-saver in the face of natural disasters like Hurricane Milton.
Be prepared, stay safe, and remember, communication is key during emergencies.
