Hurricane Katrina may cause disruptions in wireless telephone service, but there are a few steps you can take to protect yourself and help to ensure that you can get through when you need to.

After the hurricane hit south Florida, Cingular Wireless reported that while 85% of its network remained up and running, and they moved emergency cells and power generating equipment into the region, the networks remained congested due to the higher than normal volume of calls.

To ensure that you can get through, Cingular suggests that customers keep non-emergency calls to a minimum, and to use text messaging over voice calls when possible.

As long as you have at least one bar in a digital service area, text messages may get through even if you are unable to place a regular voice call. Most providers allow you to send text messages to any Internet e-mail address, not just other wireless phones. When someone replies to your text message, it will arrive on your wireless phone. However, messages must be kept short. Text messages are usually limited to 125-160 characters, or about 25-30 words.

You should also program each of your family’s phones with every other family member’s wireless phone number, as well as emergency contacts for police, fire and ambulance services. Designate a friend or family member out of the area as a contact in case you get separated and are unable to reach each other.

In addition, keep your wireless phones dry, protected from the weather, and charged at all times, and prepare a plan for charging your wireless phones in case of power outages. You can use car chargers or disposable batteries for this purpose.

If you can, forward your home number’s calls to your wireless phone, or change your home telephone’s voicemail message to give out your wireless phone number, so that friends and family members can reach you.