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This iPhone Feature Was a Life-Saver During The Maui Wildfires

Author KC Atkins
Burned cars sit in front of a home that was destroyed by a wildfire on August 16, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii. At least 106 people were killed and thousands were displaced after a wind-driven wildfire devastated the towns of Lahaina and Kula early last week. Crews are continuing to search for missing people.

The damage caused by the rampant wildfires in Maui last week is absolutely horrific. As of right now, the death toll stands at over 100 according to this report from Associated Press, making this the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century. But the advent of a new iPhone feature seems to have saved people from a similar fate.

The feature is called Emergency SOS via satellite, and was revealed in the fall of 2022 along with the release of Apple’s iPhone 14. This feature allows users to text 911 in an emergency situation even without cell signal or data. If you try to call 911 but can’t connect, a prompt appears enabling you to text them and automatically provides your location with local dispatch units.  You can see how it works here:

This new feature could not have come at a better time for Maui residents and tourists this past week. This now viral post on X (fka Twitter) explains how the iPhone 14’s Emergency SOS feature played a major role in getting people on the island to safety as the fires raged on.

This is not the first time the Emergency SOS via satellite has made headlines for saving lives. Earlier this year AppleInsider shared a similar story of how the iPhone feature saved the lives of a group of hikers who got lost at Santa Paula Canyon in California. The hikers were able to text SOS and connect to the Ventura Country Sherriff’s Dispatch. According to the official police report, the app was instrumental in locating and saving the hikers within 6 hours of the initial SOS text.

Unfortunately, as of right now Emergency SOS via satellite is only available on the iPhone 14, but perhaps this latest showcase of its life-saving abilities will encourage Apple to add it to older models as well. In the meantime, click here to find out how you can help those impacted by the terrible Maui wildfires.

KC is bringing you the Workday Wind Down, afternoons on KML. He’s a Carolina boy making Carolina noise! When he's not slinging music and mouth sounds on the BIG 95.7 WKML, you can catch him at the gym, live wrestling shows, open mics, or wherever fine pasta is sold. KC is a big fan of self-expression, as his many tattoos will show you. KC's favorite pastime is making others laugh. In his mind, if he can bring a smile to your face then it's a day well spent. KC likes to write about TV and film, especially Spider-Man, and Fayetteville happenings.

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