The Associated Press' Holbrook Mohr reports that U.S. wireless companies are "investing millions to beef up towers, educate customers and build mobile command centers" in anticipation of this year's hurricane season.

When Hurricane Katrina hit last August, Mississippi resident Allen Calliham says people felt cut off from the world. "There was zero communications," he says. "After about a week or so there was one spot over here where you could make a call."

Cellular South is investing more than $8 million in equipment and system upgrades like microwave technology that can circumvent damaged or destroyed landline systems. "Additionally, we are investing $78 million in 2006 to add 200 new cell sites to our wireless network across Mississippi," says Tony Kent, Cellular South's Vice President of Engineering and Network Operations.

Cingular Wireless has unveiled a mobile command center that can accommodate up to 30 employees and rapidly respond to hard-hit areas.

Cell phone companies also are urging their customers to prepare -- they say people should pre-program emergency numbers into their phones, charge their batteries early if they see a storm coming, and count on text messaging, which can be more reliable than voice when circuits are jammed with calls.