Install iOS 18 for emergency Messages via satellite as Hurricane Milton approaches

Hurricane Milton is an extremely dangerous threat to Florida, and residents are being urged to evacuate to safety. One key piece of hurricane preparation is to install iOS 18 on your iPhone - this allows users to access 'Messages via satellite', which lets them contact friends and family using a satellite connection if regular cell networks go down.

This feature was a lifeline during Hurricane Helene, when many iPhone users still had iOS 17. To use Messages via satellite, you need an iPhone 14 or later. Emergency SOS via satellite is also available in earlier versions of iOS to connect with emergency responders.