The Hurricane Helene Disaster Highlights An Unsung Hero In Most Smartphones

There have been countless reports of heroic rescues and herculean relief efforts in the hours and days since Hurricane Helene left a path of devastation in its wake along the Eastern U.S. And for some of those left in the wake of the storm, an unexpected lifeline had been in their pocket all along.

Message received

Whether you’re familiar with the term or not, chances are you don’t generally think of your smartphone as a satellite phone — or a “satphone,” as they're sometimes called. Such devices have long been portrayed in the entertainment industry as rugged, advanced, and expensive forms of communication to be used when all other means have failed.

For many residents, particularly throughout Western North Carolina, electricity, cell service, and other essentials like water, have all been disrupted due to the storm. As it turns out, though, many of them already had access to a satphone.

The term now refers to a feature that has found its way into many of the latest smartphones on the market. One Asheville, NC, resident shared an update on social media crediting his phone’s capability (as well as those of his friends and family) for allowing people to communicate during such a traumatic experience.

“This is literally saving lies,” Matt Van Swol added.

Do you have it?

The age and model of your phone will determine whether you’d have access to satphone capabilities in an internet outage. As a general rule, newer Apple and Google phones have this function built in, or at least available as an available installation. If you’ve got an iPhone 14 or higher, for example, you can install software that will allow your device to connect with satellites.

If you ever have to use it, expect a slow and laborious (but potentially life-saving) experience.

Chris Agee October 4th, 2024

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