Your FAMILY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PLAN

Your FAMILY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PLAN

Staying Connected When It Matters Most

Time Required: 2-3 hours

Cost: Free

When disaster strikes, the first thing we want to know is: Is everyone okay? In emergencies, cell networks may get overloaded (especially if power goes out) and communication can be delayed when you need it most.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency emphasizes that having a family communication plan is one of the most important steps in emergency preparedness. By making decisions ahead of time together while everyone's calm, you will know exactly what to do when things go wrong. Print out the Communications Plan Checklist and mark it up as you move through each module to see which gaps might exist.

• Family Communications Plan Checklist

• Step 1: Establish Multiple Communication Methods

• Step 2: Choose an Out-of-Area Emergency Contact

• Step 3:  Contact Cards and Reporting Out

• Step 4: Comms Strategy by Scenario

• Step 5: Special Considerations for Children

• Step 6: Document Your Communication Plan