Write down who each person should call, where to meet locally and outside the neighborhood, and how to reunite if mobile service is unreliable. Store the same plan in phones, bags and at home, and practice it before an emergency.
An emergency communication plan answers three questions before people are separated: who do I contact, where do we meet, and what should I do if the first plan fails? FEMA and Ready.gov recommend a shared household plan with contact and meeting information. Keep the plan short enough to use under stress.
Put the details on one page
List each household member, an out-of-area contact, local emergency numbers, schools or care providers, regular meeting points and any communication or mobility needs. Add the phone number and address of each contact, not just names. Give a copy to each adult and place one with the home emergency supplies.
Pick two meeting places
Choose a nearby location outside the home, such as a safe neighbor or a corner away from the building, plus a second location outside the neighborhood. Select places that are accessible to the household and have a clear backup if the first is closed. Never use a route or assembly point that emergency officials have closed.
Agree on check-ins
Decide who contacts the out-of-area person, what short message confirms safety, and when to try again if calls do not connect. Text messaging may work when voice calls are difficult, but no single service is guaranteed during an outage. A battery-powered NOAA receiver adds one-way official weather alerts; compare weather-radio power options.
Practice the plan twice a year. Update it when a phone number, school, caregiver or household member changes. Pair it with a 72-hour kit and a home kit versus go-bag plan.
Sources: Ready.gov make a plan.
Common questions
What should a family emergency communication plan include?
Include household contacts, an out-of-area contact, meeting locations, school or care-provider contacts, medical and accessibility needs, and a way to confirm everyone is safe.
Why choose an out-of-area contact?
A relative or friend outside the affected area can help relay messages if local communication is disrupted; make sure each person has the number on paper.
Should children memorize phone numbers?
Teach age-appropriate contact details and where to find the written plan, while keeping a copy with caregivers and school contacts.