The cell phone is a good idea, but
only as back-up in case your landline is dead.
I listen to our local PD on a scanner while at the keyboard. Every day there is at least one call from a cell phone where officers are sent to the subscriber's listed address. The downside of a cell-phone:
- About 1 in 3 calls actually originate from the address.
- If you don't give your location, police will be sent to your "subscriber address".
- It takes longer to obtain the subscriber's address for a cell phone.
- If that address is your office or a PO Box, well, good luck.
- If service is spotty at your home, the 911 folks may not be able to call you back.
Comments:
- Many people only have cellphones, saving the cost of a landline. This can seriously delay obtaining help.
- If you have cordless or VoIP phones, most don't work without electricity.
- If you have a UPS for your computer, plug one cordless phone base into a protected socket to continue phone service.
- Keep one analog hard-wired phone in the bedroom. If it's out, the lines are down and the cordless won't work either.