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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Make a written plan before an emergency: choose an out-of-town contact, agree on nearby and regional meeting places, record key household and school or work details, and give everyone an accessible copy. Then practice the plan and update it whenever contact details or circumstances change. This guide is for U.S. households; local alerts, evacuation routes, school procedures and accessible transport options vary by location.
What should your family’s plan answer?
Start with the question Ready.gov poses in its Family Communication Plan for Kids: “Does your family know how to get in touch with each other if you are not all together?” The plan should make that answer actionable: who to contact, where to meet, what to do if phones do not work, and how each person can follow the arrangements.
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FEMA’s Family Emergency Communication Planning Document recommends discussing the plan in advance, writing it down, practicing it and reviewing it at least once a year.
1. Gather the details people will need
Record each household member’s name and phone number, plus useful contact information for people and organizations your family may need to reach. FEMA’s Are You Ready? guide advises including medical, school and service-provider contacts, not just family numbers.
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- Household members’ phone numbers and other relevant contact details.
- Schools, childcare providers, workplaces, doctors, care providers and other important service providers.
- Addresses and relevant evacuation or pickup arrangements for places household members regularly go.
- More than one way to reach the designated out-of-town contact, where possible.
Ask schools, childcare providers and workplaces about their emergency and evacuation procedures. Include the locations and arrangements family members need to know, rather than assuming they can return home or be reached there.
2. Choose a contact and two meeting places
Pick an out-of-town contact
Agree on a person outside your area whom household members can contact to relay updates if local communications are disrupted. Make sure everyone knows the person’s name and has the contact details in the plan. The out-of-town contact is a relay option, not a guarantee that calls or messages will get through.
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Set nearby and regional meeting points
Choose one meeting place close to home and another farther away, such as a regional or out-of-town option. Discuss how each person would get to both locations and which one to use in different circumstances. Consider children’s usual locations, transportation limits and accessible routes when choosing places.
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3. Decide how to communicate when service is unreliable
Agree on what to try first and what to do if that method fails. FEMA’s communication-plan document says, “Text is best when using a mobile phone, but if you make a phone call, keep it brief and convey only vital information to emergency personnel and/or family or household members.” It also advises waiting before redialing and conserving phone battery. Texting may be useful during congestion, but it is not assured to work when a network is unavailable or disrupted.
- Use the agreed text or other contact method first when appropriate; keep calls brief and focused on essential information.
- If a call or message does not go through, wait before trying again rather than repeatedly redialing.
- Conserve phone power. FEMA lists charged backup batteries, a car phone charger or a solar charger as options for keeping phones and communication devices available.
- Know the fallback if phones are unavailable: the agreed meeting places and the out-of-town contact provide alternatives to relying on an immediate family-to-family call.
4. Make the plan usable by every household member
Keep a copy where people can reach it at home and make sure household members can carry the information with them. FEMA’s guide suggests a digital copy or wallet card and a posted home copy. Share relevant details with trusted support people who may help carry out the plan.
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For a household member with a disability or other access or functional need, include that person in planning and account for their communication needs, support network, assistive devices and power requirements, and evacuation or transportation arrangements. FEMA’s Preparing Makes Sense for People with Disabilities and Other Access and Functional Needs addresses planning with personal support networks. Identify a workable backup route or transport arrangement if the usual option is not accessible.
5. Practice, then keep the details current
Walk through who contacts whom and where people meet. Practice scenarios that fit your household, such as a child being at school or a household member being away from home. Check whether everyone can find the plan and understands the fallback if a phone is unavailable.
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Review the plan at least annually and whenever phone numbers, addresses, schools, work sites or household needs change. Check the contact information and meeting arrangements with the people and organizations involved, including schools and care providers.
Quick Recap
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