What happens in a longer power cut.
Without power, Wi-Fi routers and landline phones stop working. Mobile masts often have their own power for a limited time only. After that, the mobile network gets weaker or fails entirely. And your phone only lasts as long as its battery.
Agree beforehand: your plan.
The most important part happens before anything fails. These arrangements help in any case, with or without an app:
- Agree on a meeting point Where do you meet if nobody can be reached? Ideally one place nearby and one further away.
- Who looks after whom Children, older relatives or neighbours who need help: agree in advance who goes to whom.
- Important numbers on paper A phone can run out of battery. A phone list on paper always works.
- Power for your phone A charged power bank, a car charging cable or a charger with a crank or solar panel.
- A battery radio So you can hear warnings and official advice even when internet and TV are down.
How anynear helps.
Your plan lives in your circle’s storage: meeting points, phone list, arrangements. Stored encrypted on your phones and readable without internet. How to set up an emergency folder
As long as internet is available somewhere, your messages travel through several locations in Europe, not a single server. If one fails, another steps in.
With a suitable radio, you can send short messages without any internet, as long as another radio is within range and your devices have power. More about radios
To be honest
There is no guarantee. Radio needs range and power. anynear is an additional way to connect, not a replacement for arrangements, supplies and official advice.
More about preparedness.
Germany’s Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) explains in detail how to prepare: with supplies, cash, medicines and important documents. It also offers a printable checklist (in German).