Telepeer

Disaster-ready connectivity for Southern California

April 17, 2026

From wildfires fueled by heat and drought to floods and debris flows following record rainfall — and the ever-present risk of earthquakes — natural disasters are an ongoing reality in Southern California. For both residents and business owners, year-round preparedness isn’t just important. It’s essential.

Before, during, and after an emergency, reliable connectivity can make all the difference. Cox Communications is committed to keeping people, businesses and essential services connected — supporting families, remote work and learning, and first responders through even the most extreme circumstances.

To provide resilient service during a disaster, Cox continues to invest in network and product upgrades. Over the last 11 years, Cox has committed more than $19 billion to these efforts. These investments aren’t just about gaming and productivity at work, but rather they’re designed to handle maximum strain such as that which can come with an emergency.

With wildfire risk now a year-round reality in Southern California, Cox takes a proactive approach to preparedness. Through regular readiness drills, business continuity planning, and cross-department collaboration, employees are trained to respond effectively to many types of natural disasters.

During high risk weather events like Santa Ana winds, utility providers may initiate Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition. When this happens, even in areas where Cox is required to maintain backup power for its network, your home equipment may not work unless you have a backup power source on your premises. Cox coordinates closely with local utilities and public safety agencies to monitor events and protect its infrastructure.

While Cox is at the ready as a community partner, there are things community members can do on their end to better prepare for an unexpected event.

Keep a corded landline and battery backup for phone service. Cox Voice customers should have a corded phone on hand and a fully charged backup battery for their phone modem. Call 855-324-7700

Follow and get updates on Cox’s social media accounts especially @coxcalifornia. In the event of a PSPS, wildfire, or other natural disaster, Cox will post service updates, tips, and other important information on this handle.

Download Cox apps. Don’t wait until there is an emergency to get Cox apps.

The Cox app gives you the ability to check on outages, stay up to date with text alerts, and manage accounts.
The Cox Contour app lets customers access the latest news and weather anytime as well as stream their favorite content on smartphones and tablets.

Stay connected with Cox’s WiFi backup internet service. Cox now offers Stay Connected, a WiFi backup solution powered by unlimited 4G LTE cellular data and a four-hour battery. This service automatically switches to cellular internet when your primary connection goes down keeping you online during outages caused by power shut offs or natural disasters.

Keep a portable generator on hand. Back-up power? Yes, please. If your power goes out, a generator may prolong your services if your Cox service location still has power. Check your generator’s owner’s manual for details on power capacity and safe operation.

Update contact information. Get ahead of wildfire season and update your preferred contact information with Cox to receive emergency and outage notices.

Be aware of disaster relief protections. You could be eligible for consumer disaster relief protections if your Cox Voice service goes out during a state of emergency declared by the California Governor’s Office or the President of the United States. Disaster relief protections include a waiver of a one-time activation fee for establishing remote call forwarding.

Know your evacuation zones and key emergency contacts. Identify nearby evacuation areas, emergency shelters, and public safety phone numbers, save them in your phone, and keep a printed list handy along with a well-stocked emergency go-bag.

The news and editorial staffs of the Orange County Register had no role in this post’s preparation.

Orange County Register

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Disaster-ready connectivity for Southern California

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