Weathering Hurricane Season: How to Stay Prepared and Stay Online

Hurricane season is a reminder that staying connected can be just as critical as boarding up your windows. A reliable emergency plan and a strong internet connection can make all the difference before, during, and after the storm. When a hurricane is on the horizon, every minute counts, and preparedness is key. While seasoned coastal residents may know their pre-storm checklist by heart, others may need a refresher. Here are some essential steps to help ensure you’re fully prepared and ready to weather the season with confidence: 

• Create an Emergency Plan – Identify evacuation routes & what to do if separated.
• Stock Up on Essentials – Ensure you have enough food, water, medications, and an emergency kit.
• Stay Informed – Monitor news, weather reports, and government advisories.
• Charge Your Devices – Make sure phones, laptops, and backup batteries are fully charged.
• Prepare Your Home – Secure windows and bring loose outdoor items inside.
• Backup Important Information – Save critical documents and files to cloud storage.
• Check on Neighbors & Pets – Ensure your vulnerable neighbors and pets are safe.
• Confirm Emergency Contacts – Keep contact information for family members and utility providers handy.
• Setup a Mobile Hotspot – If available, ensure your cell phone’s hotspot capability is turned on to act as a backup internet connection

You’ll also want to consider the potential impact on your connectivity and the effect this could have on your emergency response, as households rely on the internet for more than streaming and remote work. What happens if you temporarily lose access to news updates? What if you can’t reach your friends and family? These issues may arise if your home internet connection goes down. While no provider can guarantee a 24/7 connection, fiber providers have an advantage, even under challenging conditions. 

Fiber internet boasts a resilient design, with future-proof lines that are often buried and more resistant to damage. This allows the network to recover faster when disaster strikes. While severe storms can temporarily take down service for all utility providers, fiber internet users can regain a connection as soon as power in the area is restored. Alternatively, if your home internet is powered by cable, be prepared to experience an extended outage. These often older, above-ground networks are more vulnerable to wind, debris, and flooding.  

While fiber internet is more dependable, outages can still occur. To help customers prepare, Ripple Fiber will send prompt notifications prior to potential service disruption. Remember that if there is a power outage in your area, your internet service will be affected. If you experience connectivity issues after power is restored, wait 5 to 10 minutes before restarting your router by turning it off and back on. If service line repairs are needed, know that our crews are committed to restoring service as quickly as conditions allow.  

In times of uncertainty, uninterrupted access to key resources matters, and fiber networks are engineered to handle both high demand and severe weather. As you prepare for any natural disaster, we hope these tips serve as a helpful reminder to stay prepared, safe, and connected. Ready for an internet connection you can truly rely on? Check availability in your neighborhood today and experience peace of mind by switching to Ripple Fiber.