> Or are people using phones in hurricanes or monsoons or something?

I don't know about those, but we get fairly heavy rainfall every now and then here in Norway. The kind where your underwear gets soaking wet for no other reason than being outside.

I keep my phone in the front pocket of my pants, and after losing two phones to such events I decided that was enough for me.

Now I can check when the bus is due or take that call even if it's raining (heavy or not) and I don't have to think about it.