Are You Ready In The Winter-Time-Technology-Wise? -From Shelley Wolfe

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  Winter Ready Anywhere

  Winter storms don’t look the same everywhere—snow, ice, flooding, wind, or extreme cold—but one thing is always true:

  When power or internet goes out, reliable information becomes essential.

  
  

  Prepare Your Phone Before the Storm Hits

  🔋 Charge Early

  As soon as severe weather is in the forecast:

  • ✔ Fully charge your phone

  • ✔ Charge tablets, laptops, and battery packs

  • ✔ Keep chargers in one easy-to-find place

  Cold weather drains batteries faster—so starting full really matters.

  
  

  🔋 Turn on Low Power or Battery Saver Mode

  This helps your phone last longer by:

  • Reducing background activity

  • Limiting automatic updates

  • Saving power for emergencies

  Turn this on before electricity is lost.

  
  

  📻 Why Radio Is Still One of the Best Emergency Tools

  Radio remains dependable because:

  • ✔ It works when the internet is down

  • ✔ It doesn’t rely on Wi-Fi

  • ✔ It uses very little power

  • ✔ Many stations stay on air during emergencies

  A battery-powered or car radio can be just as important as your phone.

  
  

  National Stations Everyone Should Know

  These outlets provide consistent emergency information across the U.S.:

  • NOAA Weather Radio — 24/7 official weather alerts

  • National Public Radio — national updates plus local partnerships

  • CBS, ABC, and Fox News Radio — emergency coverage that local stations often rebroadcast

  
  

  How to Find the Right Local Station for You

  Before storms arrive, search online for:

  • “Emergency radio station near me”

  • “Local news radio + your city and state”

  Look for:

  • ✔ AM/FM news or talk stations

  • ✔ Public radio

  • ✔ Emergency broadcasters listed by your city or county

  Once you find them, program two or three stations into your car or home radio ahead of time.

  Massachusetts Examples:

  • South Shore: WATD 95.9 FM

  • Greater Boston/North Shore: WBZ NewsRadio 1030 AM

  Other regions will have similar emergency broadcasters—your local ones matter most.

  
  

  Using Technology Wisely During Power Outages

  📱 Smart Phone Tips

  When electricity is limited:

  • ✔ Text instead of calling (uses less power)

  • ✔ Lower screen brightness

  • ✔ Check updates periodically—not constantly

  • ✔ Use a flashlight or candles instead of your phone’s light when possible

  Turn off notifications from shopping, game, and social media apps—but leave emergency alerts on.

  If you use social media for updates, pick just one platform to avoid draining your battery.

  Consider setting up a small neighbor text chain for essential updates only—support each other without wearing devices down.

  
  

  📻 Radio + Phone = The Best Combo

  • Use radio for continuous weather and safety updates

  • Use your phone for:

    • Emergency calls

    • Text check-ins

    • Utility company alerts

  Write important phone numbers on paper and keep them in a grab-and-go notebook—even if they’re saved digitally.

  
  

  Simple Emergency Tech Prep

  ✔ Keep a Mixed Toolkit

  Have both modern and traditional tools:

  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio

  • Flashlight

  • Extra batteries

  • Portable phone charger

  
  

  ✔ Write Down Key Information

  Paper still works when devices don’t:

  • Emergency contacts

  • Utility company numbers

  • Local emergency station frequencies

  
  

  ✔ Sign Up for Local Alerts

  Many cities and counties offer:

  • Text alerts

  • Phone notifications

  • Emergency systems

  Search: “local emergency alerts + my city/state”—usually on your local government website.

  
  

  Quick Winter Safety Checklist

  • ✔ Charge devices early

  • ✔ Enable Low Power Mode

  • ✔ Know national stations like NOAA Weather Radio

  • ✔ Identify 2–3 local stations

  • ✔ Text instead of calling

  • ✔ Keep emergency info on paper

  • ✔ Silence unnecessary apps—don’t shut everything off

  
  
  
  

  

  Paul Ponders Radio Show on WATD, 95.9 FM From 12:08-1:00 PM on Saturdays, presented by Northeastern Fence & Supply Corporation of Saugus, "where they have fences for your kids, dogs, and ugly neighbors."