When communications are down
What to do when mobile phones, landlines and the internet are not working during an emergency.
Life-threatening emergency?
If you have a life-threatening emergency and cannot call 999:
- Go to your nearest neighbour
- Go to your town or village muster point
- Use emergency signals to attract attention
Town and village muster points
Where to go if phones and the internet are down.
Radio
For news when nothing else works.
BBC Radio Cumbria
- 95.6 FM (Alston area)
- 96.1 FM (North Pennines)
- 1458 AM (medium wave)
Community radio
- CB radio channel 9 (emergency)
- PMR446 channel 8
Emergency signals
Sounds and colours everyone should know.
- 1 longWhistle or horn
Calling for attention - 3 shortEmergency – help needed
SOS signal - 2 longAll clear
Move to muster point - RedRed flag or light
Danger – do not approach - WhiteWhite flag or light
Need assistance
Message runners
When all electronic communications fail, we rely on a network of volunteers to carry written messages between areas.
Step 1
Write your message clearly, including: To, From, Date, Time and how urgent it is.
Step 2
Take it to your nearest muster point or hand it to a runner.
Step 3
Runners take messages to the Emergency Control Centre.
Prepare now
1. Equipment to have ready
2. Things to know
Phones, signal and alerts
Things to sort out now, before the signal goes.
- Emergency Alerts on your phone
The government can send a loud alert to phones in an area where lives are at risk. It needs mobile signal, so also sign up for flood warnings and keep a radio. - Cannot speak on the phone? Register to text 999
For deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired people. Text "register" to 999 now, before you need it. - Landlines are going digital
A digital landline will not work in a power cut unless it has a back-up. If you have no mobile signal, your phone company should offer you a battery back-up. - Check mobile signal where you live
Ofcom's map shows which networks work at your postcode, indoors and outdoors.
Please print this page and keep it in your emergency kit.