Nov 10, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams
Extreme events will happen at unexpected or inconvenient times, and being properly prepared can help keep you connected and ease the stress of the situation.
Here are a few tips to help you get ready:
Enroll in emergency alerts
Opt-in to local alerts in the event of an emergency, like encroaching wildfires, extreme heat, and dangerous winter conditions. In the Canby area, Clackamas County’s emergency alert system can send notifications via text message, email, or phone to those that enroll in the system. Visit www.Clackamas.us/PublicAlerts to sign up. For those in the Mt. Angel area, alerts can be found on the Marion County ‘Alerts & Emergencies’ web page, or by registering with FlashAlert at www.FlashAlert.net.
Keep extra batteries, power banks, and solar chargers
Extra batteries can provide a connection when needed most. There are a variety of power banks that can hold one or more cell phone or device charges. Many have more than one charge port included, so you can give multiple devices with a USB cord some extra juice. Just remember to charge the power bank itself by plugging it into a wall outlet before you need it! In addition, solar chargers can be handy as they recharge using the sun, even when cloudy.
A generator may help keep your fiber Internet on
Lack of power can mean no heat, electricity, refrigeration, or Internet. A fuel-powered generator can provide a safety net in the face of an emergency. When power outages hit Clackamas County last winter, DirectLink fiber optic members, with their own on-site working generator, never lost their Internet connection. They were able to go online to check in with loved ones, keep food refrigerated, charge medical equipment, and heat their homes.
Please use caution when connecting a generator for backup power to your home. Learn more about generator safety here: Backup Generators | PGE (portlandgeneral.com)
Canby: 503.266.8111 | Mt. Angel: 503.845.2291
Extend your fiber Voice service battery backup time
The ability to connect to 911 is vital during an emergency situation. Cell phone providers can become overwhelmed with the number of users trying to make calls at once, so a landline can provide an additional safety net. All DirectLink Voice subscribers with a fiber optic connection to their home have an included 8 hours of standby battery power provided so the landline can still call 911 if necessary. Voice subscribers not on a DirectLink fiber connection may not be impacted by outages as traditional phone service has its own power supply.
For those on a DirectLink fiber optic Voice subscription, we offer an Extended Battery Backup product that increases capacity from 8 hours to 24 hours for added protection during power outages. Call your local DirectLink office to add Extended Battery Backup to your fiber optic telephone service today!
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