Choosing Evacuation and meeting points
Choosing Evacuation and Meeting Points
Where to Reunite When Separated
Time Required: 2-3 hours (including scouting locations)
Cost: Free
"Where should we meet?" is a simple question until you're asking it during an emergency when cell networks are down and you can't reach each other.
After the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, countless families were separated for days because they hadn't agreed on meeting points in advance. Some family members went to evacuation shelters, others stayed near damaged homes, and still others fled to relatives' houses. Individually they made reasonable decisions, but they were still apart.
The American Red Cross emphasizes that predetermined meeting locations are essential because they give families a concrete plan when communication fails. Instead of everyone making different decisions under stress, you've already decided together where to go.
This guide helps you identify three types of meeting points your family needs: one for immediate emergencies like house fires, one for neighborhood-level disasters, and one for major evacuations. Having all three means you're prepared for any scenario.