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Family Emergency Communication Plan

Create a Family Emergency Communications Plan that answers some basic questions about how family members will communicate with one another before, during and after an emergency. It starts with a few simple steps.

  1. Have a paper copy of important contact information for family members, family doctors, schools, service providers and other important people.
  2. Have several copies available to each and every family member. FEMA provides a fillable and printable PDF file to use as a guide.
  3. Decide on familiar places to retreat for safety or to reunite after an emergency.
         •     During wind events: choose a small, interior windowless room – such as a closet or bathroom – on the lowest level of a sturdy building.
         • Within the neighborhood (during a house fire or other single-residence event): choose a neighbor's home or driveway, or a nearby landmark.
         • Outside the neighborhood: choose a place to reunite such as a library, community center, house of worship, or a family friend's home.
         • Out of town: choose the home of a friend or relative in the event of evacuation. Discuss ways to get to the meeting location.
Other Important Tips for Communicating in Disasters
          • Text is best – A text message may get through when a phone call will not, because it requires less bandwidth. Keep mobile phone conversations brief to minimize network congestion.
          • Conserve phone batteries – Place phones in airplane mode, and close unneccessary applications. Limit watching videos and playing games, which saves batteries and reduces network congestion.
          • Keep batteries charged – Car phone charges work in a pinch (remember to conserve gasoline too), and solar chargers are ideal for backup power.