Living in El Paso, I never experienced severe weather. Except for dust storms (more like dirt storms!) and 100+ degree heat, we rarely faced the kinds of natural disasters that other regions experience, like hurricanes, floods, or blizzards. Getting rain and snow was such a delight and something I looked forward to because they happened so rarely. But since moving to San Antonio, and now working in Austin, witnessing natural disasters has become far more personal. Affected areas are no longer just places I hear about in the news—they’re my hometown and towns nearby that I know and have driven through, like Kerrville. 

When Winter Storm Uri hit Texas in February of 2021, knocking out power, bursting pipes, and closing streets, many of us were cast into a chasm of isolation and uncertainty. Afterwards, whenever I spoke with friends and family who went through the storm, one topic came up every time: how vulnerable we were when our technology went out. 

The recent flash flooding in Central Texas was a reminder of how quickly emergencies can unfold, not only upending our safety but also disrupting the technology we rely on every day often when we need it the most. Every crisis is different and communities know their needs best. At the same time, understanding what technology resources exist during emergencies can make a significant difference in staying connected, accessing help, and beginning recovery.

Thinking back on Winter Storm Uri and the tragic flooding in Central Texas, I’ve been reflecting on the urgent needs people face during crises and the practical technology resources that can help.

Communication

One of the most pressing needs in a crisis is being able to stay in communication with others before, during, and after the event. The following tools can offer valuable ways for staying connected with family, staff, patrons, and the community. 

• Large Group Texting Apps: GroupMe; Discord; Remind. These are free group chat apps great for larger groups and large-scale coordination.
  • Useful for communicating with faculty and staff, family, or patrons to send alerts, share updates, assign tasks, and more. 
  • GroupMe and Discord support thousands of recipients, while Remind only allows up to 150 recipients with the free account. 
  • GroupMe and Discord require users to download the app, but Remind can be used without an app download. 
  • People can join with usernames instead of phone numbers, protecting privacy in large groups. 
  • Apps can be used from laptops, tablets, or shared devices, which is helpful when cell phones are not accessible.
  • Sharing multimedia like photos, documents, and maps is more seamless than through SMS texting.

• Social media management tools: Buffer; Vista Social  Save time coordinating updates across platforms with these free, multi-platform social media management tools. 
  • Post simultaneously rather than doing it individually on each platform.
  • Schedule posts ahead of time to publish later.

• Emergency Communication Devices: Walkie-talkies; Zello app; portable radios. It’s a good idea to have alternatives to mobile phones, such as two-way radios and portable radios, for safety, communicating faster, and keeping up with important information. These devices come in handy when cell networks fail.
  • Best affordable walkie-talkies – Walkie-talkies provide instant, push-to-talk communication—no waiting for call connections—and they have long battery life.
    • Zello app – Free walkie-talkie app. Although this app relies on cellular data or Wi-Fi, when networks are available, it provides the same instant push-to-talk communication as traditional walkie-talkies.

• Best Portable Radios for Emergencies and Every Day Use – Portable radios are a good way of staying informed about important information. Additionally, many radios come with added beneficial features such as a flashlight, real-time NOAA weather alerts, an SOS alarm, and multiple power sources like hand cranks, solar panels, rechargeable batteries, and USB charging ports for mobile devices.

• Translation tools: Google Translate; Google Lens; Microsoft Translator In crisis situations, it’s vital that everyone has access to information, and breaking down language barriers is important. These apps are useful for both spoken and written translation, offering real-time conversation translation and instant-documentation translation.

Power

Maintaining access to power sources is essential during critical situations. This ensures that you stay connected and informed, but planning ahead is key. The power resources below will help keep your devices charged and ready to go when you most need them.

• Best portable power banks
• Best multi-device charging units
• Best portable power stations

Crisis Resource Mapping

Libraries can create maps that can be shared with patrons and the community showing open shelters, food distribution sites, blocked roads, and more with mapping tools like the ones below.

• Google My Maps
• uMap

Reliable Information Resources

Having reliable, up-to-date information can be life-saving. Below are some resources that can be helpful during crises.

• Local Weather Apps – National weather apps are a great resource and pairing them with local weather apps provides an extra layer of awareness. Local weather apps often excel at providing real-time updates and community-specific alerts.
  • e.g. KSAT Weather App
• Ready.gov – Up-to-date federal emergency information.
  • Emergency Alerts
• 211 Texas – Information on crisis/emergency resources, shelters, food, aid services, mental health support.
• State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry – Assistance for individuals with mobility needs, medical conditions, or communication needs during emergencies.

Bonus Resource:

• Natural Disaster Preparation Supplies

Going from El Paso’s predictable weather to Central Texas’ more aggressive climate has highlighted how quickly life can change. While we can’t predict when a crisis will happen, exploring and acquiring practical emergency tech resources can help us stay prepared for when it does. If you have other tools or ideas you’d like to share, feel free to send them to etdominguez@tsl.texas.gov.

Wishing strength and safety to everyone affected by the July floods.