How to Create a Family Emergency Communication Plan

When disaster strikes, staying connected with your loved ones becomes one of your top priorities. Cell towers may be down, phone lines overloaded, and family members scattered in different locations. Having a well-thought-out family emergency communication plan can mean the difference between panic and peace of mind during a crisis.

Why You Need a Family Communication Plan

During emergencies, regular communication channels often become unreliable or completely unavailable. Consider these scenarios:

• Major incidents can overwhelm phone networks with call volume
• Evacuations may separate family members without warning
• Work or school emergencies may occur when family is apart

A comprehensive communication plan ensures everyone knows how to reconnect, where to meet, and what to do when normal communication fails.

Essential Components of Your Plan

Primary and Backup Contact Methods

Multiple Communication Channels

• Cell phones (primary method)
• Landline phones (often work when cell networks fail)
• Text messaging (often gets through when calls don't)
• Email and social media
• Two-way radios for local communication

Out-of-Area Contact Choose someone in another state to serve as your family's primary contact. During local disasters, long-distance calls often work better than local ones.

Meeting Places and Locations

Primary Meeting Place

• Your home (if safe and accessible)
• Clear address and specific location (front yard, back deck, etc.)

Secondary Meeting Place

• A neighborhood location everyone knows
• Library, school, community center, or park
• Should be walking distance from your home

Regional Meeting Place

• Location outside your immediate area
• For use if your neighborhood must be evacuated
• Easily accessible by car from multiple directions

Important Contact Information

Create wallet-sized cards for each family member containing:

Family Contacts

• All family members' cell phones and work/school numbers
• Out-of-area contact person's information
• Local emergency contacts (neighbors, close friends)

Emergency Services

• Local police, fire, and medical emergency numbers
• Poison control center
• Local emergency management office

Important Services

• Utilities (electric, gas, water)
• Insurance agents
• Medical providers and pharmacies
• Children's schools and daycare centers

Creating Your Communication Strategy

Establish Communication Protocols

Check-in Schedule

• Set specific times when family members will attempt contact
• Use multiple methods (call, text, email)
• Have backup times if initial contact fails

Message Templates Pre-write standard messages for different scenarios:

• "I'm safe at [location], heading to [meeting place]"
• "Cannot reach home, going to [secondary location]"
• "Emergency at [location], need immediate help"

Technology and Social Media

Emergency Apps

• Red Cross Emergency App
• FEMA App
• Local emergency management apps
• Weather alert apps

Social Media Strategy

• Designate which platforms family members will use
• Create private family groups for emergency communication
• Know how to mark yourself "safe" during disasters

Digital Backup

• Store contact information in cloud storage
• Take photos of important documents
• Backup phone contacts regularly

Special Considerations for Different Family Members

Children and Teenagers

Age-Appropriate Planning

• Teach young children their full name, address, and parent's phone number
• Ensure teenagers understand the full communication plan
• Practice the plan regularly with children

School and Childcare Coordination

• Understand your child's school emergency procedures
• Ensure schools have updated contact information
• Designate authorized pickup persons
• Know if children will shelter in place or be released

Elderly Family Members

Additional Support Needs

• Consider medical equipment dependency on power
• Plan for medication needs during extended emergencies
• Arrange for neighbor or caregiver check-ins
• Ensure they have easy access to emergency contacts

Technology Assistance

• Choose simple, reliable communication devices
• Provide written instructions for emergency procedures
• Consider medical alert systems

Family Members with Disabilities

Accessibility Planning

• Consider mobility limitations in meeting place selection
• Plan for communication devices that accommodate disabilities
• Coordinate with caregivers and support networks
• Register with local emergency management for special assistance

Workplace and School Coordination

Understanding External Plans

Workplace Emergency Procedures

• Know your employer's emergency communication system
• Understand shelter-in-place vs. evacuation procedures
• Keep emergency kit and contact information at work

School Emergency Plans

• Understand how your child's school communicates during emergencies
• Know pickup procedures and locations
• Keep school contact information easily accessible

Practice and Maintenance

Regular Plan Reviews

Quarterly Reviews

• Update contact information
• Review and practice communication procedures
• Test all communication devices and methods
• Update meeting places if needed

Annual Plan Updates

• Completely review and rewrite the plan
• Replace printed contact cards
• Update emergency kit contents
• Reassess family needs and circumstances

Practice Scenarios

Communication Drills

• Practice using backup communication methods
• Test out-of-area contact procedures
• Try reaching meeting places from different locations
• Time how long various communication methods take

Family Exercises

• Role-play different emergency scenarios
• Practice what to do if primary contact methods fail
• Review procedures when family members are traveling

Digital and Physical Storage

Document Storage

Physical Copies

• Wallet-sized contact cards for each family member
• Laminated copies in emergency kits
• Posted copy at home in central location

Digital Backup

• Store in multiple cloud services
• Save on family members' phones
• Email copies to out-of-area contact
• USB drives in emergency kits

Communication During Different Types of Emergencies

Power Outages

• Cell towers may have backup power for limited time
• Landlines often continue working
• Car chargers become essential
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radios provide information

Natural Disasters

• Networks may be completely down in affected areas
• Text messages often get through when calls don't
• Social media may work when other methods fail
• Amateur radio operators often provide emergency communication

Security Incidents

• Authorities may ask people to avoid using phones
• Meeting places may be inaccessible
• Follow official instructions for communication
• Use predetermined code words for safety

Conclusion

A family emergency communication plan is one of the most important steps you can take to prepare for disasters. While we can't predict when emergencies will occur, we can control how prepared we are to stay connected with our loved ones.

Remember to keep your plan simple, practice it regularly, and update it as your family's circumstances change. The few hours you spend creating and maintaining this plan could save precious time and reduce anxiety when every minute counts.

Start today by gathering your family's contact information and designating your out-of-area contact. Your future self—and your family—will be grateful you took the time to plan ahead.

Need help creating a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan? Take our Redi Score assessment to get personalized recommendations for your family.