With Hurricane Milton set to become the second major hurricane to hit the US in under a month, the nation’s infrastructure is under strain. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, when power and cellphone service are out, connecting to 911 and friends and family from your smartphone via satellite can be a literal lifeline.

Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite (on the iPhone 14, 15, and 16) and Google’s Satellite SOS (on Pixel 9 phones) can connect you with emergency services when you don’t have cell service or Wi-Fi. These services don’t require any setup — just dial 911 from a supported phone to reach emergency services over text message using satellite communication.

A new Messages via satellite feature on newer iPhones launched this...

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