REVEALED: How to get internet access if Hurricane Debby knocks out your power as severe storms prepare to hit the East Coast

Americans are bracing for major power outages as Hurricane Debby barrels through the East Coast this week.

The storm, considered a Category 1 storm, made landfall along the Gulf Coast on Monday, leaving nearly 200,000 residents in Florida and Georgia without power.

While downed power lines typically take users offline, major wireless carriers, including Verizon, AT&T and Spectrum, offer options to get users back on the internet.

The best method may be a hotspot on a smartphone, which can be used to relay Wi-Fi to other connected devices. However, companies have taken extra precautions in case the East Coast is hit harder than predicted.

Hurricane Debby has been downgraded to a tropical storm, but is still capable of bringing heavy rains and sustained winds of up to 73 mph (117 km/h). The storm is expected to hit eastern North Carolina and Virginia and linger into Thursday night.

Wind gusts of over 40 miles per hour could cause severe flooding, downed trees, and power outages. These four mobile carriers have taken steps to help keep you connected.

Verizon customers

Verizon customers who want to get a head start can purchase a hotspot device for a one-time payment of $79.99 or $2.22 per month for 36 months. This gets you unlimited Wi-Fi.

The company’s cell towers are equipped with generators and backup batteries, allowing the Orbic Speed ​​Mobile Hotspot to continue providing connectivity even if the power lines to your home are down.

Phones with existing hotspots can also be used to connect tablets and laptops to the Internet, as long as Verizon’s mobile phone locations are still working.

AT&T customers

Like Verizon, AT&T customers can use their wireless device or hotspot to connect to the Internet, as long as the company’s regional networks are still functioning.

AT&T customers can use their device’s hotspot data instead of Wi-Fi during a power outage

AT&T is preparing its networks by first testing high-capacity backup batteries at its cellular sites and distributing generators to areas at risk of power outages so they can be activated immediately if the system fails.

In 2018, the company even went so far as to bring charging trucks with WiFi connectivity to the Raleigh area when Hurricane Florence hit, and repaired cell towers when weather permitted.

Spectrum Customers

Spectrum offers customers with an Unlimited or Unlimited Plus mobile subscription the option for a mobile hotspot.

Once five to ten gigabytes of data are consumed, the Internet speed is reduced from one gigabit per second (Gbps) to 600 kilobits per second (Kbps) for the duration of the billing cycle.

These plans also offer unlimited calling, texting and data, but once they reach 30 or 50 gigabytes respectively, the speed also drops to 600 Kbps.

T-Mobile offers backup technology such as generators and batteries at its cell towers to keep customers connected

T-Mobile customers

T-Mobile said it is preparing for major storm outages by installing backup power technology such as generators and batteries on its cell towers to ensure its nearly 60 million customers can access the internet.

The company is also offering 50 gigabytes of high-speed mobile data and hotspot data to customers who subscribe to its Go5G Next and Go 5G Plus plans.

However, once the 15 gigabyte hotspot data limit is reached, the internet speed drops from 256 Kbps to 128 Kbps.

Customers can also purchase a rechargeable hotspot device for $198, which allows them to connect all their devices, including phones, laptops and tablets, to the internet.