How to handle hurricanes' utility and service outages

Damage and debris from Hurricane Charley in Punta Gorda, Fla. (Orlando Sentinel)





Your cable TV service will be out as long as you have no power. If cable service is not restored once power is back on, call your cable company.


Call your local trash hauler to find out when pickup will resume. Meanwhile, double-bag all garbage in plastic bags and keep the bags in covered containers. Bag or box items such as broken parts of windows, doors and mirrors separately for safe handling. Spray the insides of the containers with insect repellent to control pests. If the smell becomes unbearable, find a neighbor with a pickup truck who can haul the garbage to a central collection point. Or, ask a hurricane volunteer from outside the area to take a few sacks of trash back home.

Natural gas



Call your local phone company to report problems and schedule repairs. Be patient; it may take a while. Cordless phones won't work if the electricity is off, so it's a good idea to keep a corded phone in your home. It will work in the event power is out but phone lines are open.

Cell phones

Cell-phone service can be spotty after a storm. However, text messages often go through even when voice connections can't be made.