Weather the Storm: Why Staying Connected Matters in Hurricane Season
In 2024, Hurricane Beryl knocked out power for more than 2.6 million people across the Houston area, with some outages lasting close to two weeks. It was a stark reminder of how quickly a storm can cut a community off from the warnings, updates, and emergency information that keep people safe.
With hurricane season here, it’s important for Houston residents to stay connected to one another for warnings, updates, emergencies, and more. Blue Stream Fiber is here to support its communities so residents can maintain their internet access. For Community Boards and Property Managers, creating emergency storm plans and choosing a provider with infrastructure made for storm readiness ensures your community is protected on every level.
Preparation means a clear plan to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a major storm, from communication protocols to resident updates to restoration timelines. But even the best plan depends on infrastructure that can hold up when the weather turns. That’s where your internet provider matters, and where Blue Stream Fiber is built to deliver.
How does Blue Stream Fiber provide storm resilience?
Built for Extreme Weather
Our network is engineered to withstand severe weather conditions, including Category 5 hurricanes.
Proactive Generator & Power Continuity Strategy
We conduct pre-storm generator testing, fuel planning, and strategic generator placement for rapid deployment to accelerate restoration. Post-storm, extended-run protocols, and refueling plans help maintain service when commercial power is unavailable.
Backup Systems & Network Monitoring
A centralized Network Operations Center continuously monitors weather conditions and network performance, so issues are identified and addressed as safely and quickly as possible.
WiFi Hotspot & Temporary Connectivity Support
When needed, we deploy alternative solutions such as temporary WiFi hotspots, satellite connectivity, and prioritized restoration for critical community needs.
Local Crews & Trusted Vendor Partnerships
We maintain local crews and trusted vendor partnerships to support post-storm access and faster restoration.
Help Your Residents Prepare
Community readiness starts at the household level. Share these steps with your residents to help them get storm-ready:
- Know your risk. Encourage residents to sign up for Ready Harris Alerts, download the FEMA mobile app, or visit noaa.gov for real-time updates on developing storms.
- Know your evacuation zone. Direct residents to ReadyHarris.org for more info and the Hurricane Evacuation ZIP Zone Map to find their zone and evacuation routes by ZIP code.
- Prepare a home and supply kit. Recommend at least 7 to 10 days of supplies, including medications, battery-powered chargers, pet supplies, and cash. Remind residents to plan backup power for critical devices like their internet router and modem so they can stay connected when it matters most.
Hurricane season can be unpredictable, but being prepared makes a difference. Blue Stream Fiber has built infrastructure for durability and a response strategy designed to keep your community connected this season.
Start the conversation today to make sure your community is ready and reliably connected: bluestreamfiber.com/Houston.