Techniques for managing a wireless network when disruptive events occur are provided. In one aspect, a method for managing a heterogeneous wireless network having at least two classes of nodes is provided. The method includes the following steps. One or more network signaling activities are observed. If the network signaling activities exhibit a behavior that is associated with a power failure affecting at least one of the classes of nodes, network resources for transmission and processing of network signaling associated with one or more other of the classes of nodes are adjusted to accommodate the behavior.