Verizon Wireless wrote a press release to offer cell phone tips to prepare for unpredictable summer weather, most of which I found pretty basic but still interesting nonetheless.

• Keep wireless phone batteries fully charged.

The last thing you want during an emergency is to run out of battery.

• Have additional charged batteries and car-chargers available for back-up.

That way your cell phone will work until you run out of gas 🙂 You can buy spare cell phone batteries and cheap chargers here.

• Keep spare wireless phone batteries, chargers and other equipment in a dry, accessible location.

Failing this, maybe you can still save your wet cell phone.

• Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers — police, fire and rescue agencies; power companies; insurance providers; family, friends and co-workers — and program them into your phone.

That is actually a very useful tip. Most of us tend to keep only our friends and family numbers programmed into our phones, but you can store business and emergency phone numbers there too.

• Distribute wireless phone numbers to family members and friends.

Pretty obvious, and make sure you have theirs too.

• Forward your home phone calls to your wireless number if you will be away from home or are forced to evacuate.

And answer selectively using caller ID. You still don’t want to be bothered by work if you’re on a getaway trip.

Thanks Verizon!