The time to prep for a power outage is before the storm hits. It gets cold and dark when the power goes out. It’s a great idea to keep a few LED flashlights or battery-powered lanterns in easy-to-find spots around your home. Lots of people will light candles during a blackout, but those are serious fire hazards.

Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile customers nationwide reported problems with their phone service Wednesday. Here's what we know.

Power outages can come from winter storms, heat waves, wildfires or a delivery driver backing into the power line by your house. But depending on how long they last or what the temperature is outside, they can be serious or even fatal, no matter the cause.

When iPhones aren’t connected to a cellular network, they will typically alert the user by giving an indication in the phone’s status bar. Those notifications usually say “No Service” or “Searching,” but your phone may also say “SOS” or “SOS only.”

Snow in the forecast brings more than just a winter wonderland. It also increases the chance of power outages. Winter precipitation can cause power lines to sag, particularly if a snow-laden branch pushes them down. Those power lines can snap, causing outages.

Electric service was restored about 2:35 p.m. after a power outage affected parts of Brenham’s north side, city officials reported.