You would be wise to consider some sort of data source from one of the major network carriers that offer data on the Plains, e.g., Verizon or Sprint. Some people tether or "brick" a phone to get it to function as a wifi router, whereas others, such as myself, have a dedicated broadband USB data card that does 3G (and some 4G).
Due to coverage issues and data usage limitations, having full use of the device at home might be problematic if you use the Internet often, as you may face overage fees and, if you read the fine print, carriers sometimes throttle back the speed of your connection when you approach excessive amounts of usage.
With all of that having been said, sometimes it doesn't matter whether or not you have access to data. On big days when you have multiple chasers in close proximity on the same storm that you are chasing, the cell towers have a propensity to get overloaded and your data will essentially be very slow or non-existent. This has happened to me on the past few large outbreak days on the Plains, including this past Saturday. The massive pull that dozens (or hundreds) of chasers can put on a rural cell tower will render its performance essentially akin to a state of necrosis.
- hang on, have I just talked myself into a MiFi????? 
