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Billions of dollars lost. Entire neighborhoods devastated. Precious human and animal lives cut short. Hurricanes have always been a primary concern for Houston.
From Hurricane Ike in 2008 to Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the damage was not only physical. It disrupted daily life in unimaginable ways. When fiber lines, cell towers, and internet hubs went down, residents faced widespread Houston hurricane internet outages. Families were unable to reach their loved ones, emergency calls failed, and many were left stranded amid flooding and collapsing infrastructure.
It was complete chaos.
It proved that hurricane preparedness in Houston is about more than stocking up on bottled water. Reliable internet and home security systems have become essential lifelines during storms. In response, internet service providers have started hardening networks, relocating crucial infrastructure to higher ground, and deploying mobile towers for emergencies.
The Impact of Hurricanes on Connectivity in Houston
While we do know that losing connectivity is expected during natural disasters such as hurricanes, the question remains: What really happens to the internet?
Knocked-out Lines and Towers
The rapidly blowing winds, excessive flooding, and harsh storms impact the fiber lines, cell towers, and internet hubs. This leads to widespread outages that don’t just last hours, but days – sometimes even weeks.
Overloaded Networks
The widespread panic impels thousands of Houston residents to attempt to reach their loved ones. When power is restored, the internet service slows down due to the overloaded network.
Smart Home Operations Halted
Smart home technology is becoming more widespread in Houston. This means that everything in their homes relies on a good internet connection. Smart locks, thermostats, cameras, and lighting all fail without internet or electricity.
Increased Security Risks
Given that a notable number of Houston homes are smart homes, hurricanes, floods, and storms expose the residents to security risks. This happens because the smart security systems in Houston, including alarm systems and surveillance cameras, stop functioning.
During an emergency, the last thing you want is for your smart doorbells and security cameras to go offline. There’s nothing worse than being “blind” in your time of need.
Failure of Remote Monitoring
When hurricane alerts are sent, many residents evacuate for shelters. However, they believe they can keep monitoring their homes through Wi-Fi and smart sensors. But with such widespread outages and connectivity failures, the homeowners are unable to check the condition of their homes.
How To Deal With a Houston Hurricane Internet Outage?
Hurricane preparedness in Houston is crucial not only to stay connected but also to stay safe.
Your First Priority: Backup Power Sources
One of the first things that you need to do as a Houston resident is to invest in getting backup power sources. These power sources may include generators and battery systems.
By doing so, you ensure that your modem, router, and other devices that need to stay connected to the internet to function will operate seamlessly.
Another smart choice to keep the internet working during hurricanes is to invest in solar backup systems.
Choosing an Alternative: A Cellular Hotspot
There is a non-zero chance that fiber and cable lines will crash during natural calamities. This is where a mobile hotspot can prove helpful. You can even opt for a dedicated 4G/5G device in this hurricane season to create an alternative internet connection.
If you do your research, you may even find some service providers in Houston that offer “outage insurance” with LTE failover routers that automatically switch to cellular networks during storms.
Building a Shield: Hardening Your Home Network
As the hurricane season progresses (and September being a peak risk month), you must act quickly and work to strengthen your home network. You can do this by elevating your modem, router, and wiring at a height that is above flood-prone areas.
If you live in a ground-level home or even in a basement, the best way to save your home’s network from a Houston hurricane internet outage is to install waterproof casings for wiring and equipment.
Being Smart: Secure Smart Home Systems
Home security during storms in Houston gets disrupted, especially in smart homes. This happens due to the failure of locks, alarms, and cameras. Some devices offer offline (if limited) functionality, so check all your smart home components to know which ones work without Wi-Fi.
Additionally, you may want to adjust your systems to switch to cellular backup when you know a storm is on its way.
Staying Ahead: Choosing the Best Internet to Tackle Hurricanes in Houston
The obvious precaution here is to opt for the best internet. Some internet service providers are better prepared for the hurricane season in Houston. They have hardened infrastructure and faster recovery times.
You need to compare the different internet providers in Houston and even survey the reviews to choose one that has the highest potential to withstand storms, floods, and high winds.
What Next?
With a reliable internet provider and the right safeguards in place, your smart home and security systems stand a much better chance of staying online – even during the worst weather events.
That’s where SmarterHome.ai comes in. Our expert agents help Houston families compare providers, evaluate plans, and choose the most resilient options before disaster strikes.
Don’t wait for the next outage. Prepare your home, your family, and your internet connection today!
