Emergency Communication Plan for Families

Emergency Communication Plan for Families

An emergency communication plan answers a few questions before stress makes them difficult: How will we contact one another? Where will we meet? Who outside the area can help us reconnect? What if phones or internet service are unreliable?

Contacts and meeting places Select an out-of-area contact who can serve as a communication point. Choose a nearby meeting place and another outside the immediate neighborhood. Make sure children and caregivers understand which location applies and who is authorized to pick up children.

Write it down Do not keep the only copy in one person's phone. Keep a small contact card in wallets or backpacks. Include household numbers, the out-of-area contact, school or caregiver contacts and essential addresses.

Overloaded networks During a major incident, calls may be difficult. A concise text can communicate location and status when service is available. Avoid repeatedly calling unless necessary and follow official instructions.

Multiple information sources Know how your community issues emergency alerts. Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio if it fits your plan and maintain charging options. Download important maps or contacts for offline access.

Schools, work and caregivers Learn reunification and communication procedures used by schools, childcare providers and workplaces. Do not create a family plan that conflicts with controlled pickup or evacuation procedures.

Accessibility Use formats that work for each household member, such as large print, translated information, communication cards, visual instructions or assistive technology. Give young children simple age-appropriate information.

Practice briefly and update after changing phone numbers, schools, workplaces, caregivers or addresses. A communication plan is inexpensive and solves a fundamental emergency problem: how separated household members reconnect.