During Helene, I just wanted a plain text website

4 months ago

Hurricane Helene's one-year anniversary marks reflection on mobile web challenges during the disaster.
Cell tower damage left residents with minimal access to emergency information, highlighting the need for reliable web access.
Government and emergency websites suffered from slow loading speeds, API failures, and excessive media, complicating information retrieval.
A simple bulleted list in a local newsletter proved most effective for disseminating critical updates during the crisis.
The web's current state is bloated, with unnecessary large assets and slow performance, especially on mobile devices.
Basic web principles—speed, semantic HTML, accessibility, and mobile responsiveness—are often overlooked, despite their importance.
Limited connectivity isn't exclusive to disasters; rural areas and daily life scenarios also suffer from poor web performance.
Major institutions (government, utilities, banks) often deliver subpar digital experiences, with low performance scores and usability issues.
A return to web development basics—optimizing speed, reducing bloat, and improving accessibility—can significantly enhance user experience.
Engaging with users and developers can identify pain points, leading to simpler, more effective web solutions like bulleted lists or plain text.

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