Preparedness
Family emergency communication plan
When cell towers fail and the internet is down, your family needs a plan they memorized before the storm. Here is what to build.
The reality when disaster strikes
- Cell networks overload immediately. Calls fail.
- Text messages sometimes still get through when calls fail.
- Power failures take down cell towers within 4-24 hours.
- Internet infrastructure may fail with power.
- Roads can be blocked by debris for days.
- Family members may be at work, school, or errands.
- Kids may be separated from parents.
The plan structure
- Out-of-state contact — everyone in family knows this person's phone. They coordinate.
- Meeting places — primary (nearby) and secondary (further away).
- Contact methods — in priority order.
- Kid pickup plan — school lockdown vs release.
- Pet plan — who cares for pets if separated.
- Wallet card — physical card with plan.
The out-of-state contact
Choose someone with:
- Reliable phone.
- Home not in the same disaster zone.
- Willing to be relay.
- Knows all family members.
- Age appropriate — grandparent, sibling, aunt/uncle.
- You verify with them annually.
The wallet card
Each family member carries a card with:
- Own name, home address, phone.
- Parent/spouse name and phone.
- Out-of-state contact name and phone.
- Primary meeting place (street corner near home).
- Secondary meeting place (across town).
- Emergency medical info (allergies, medications).
- Insurance policy numbers.
- ICE (in case of emergency) contacts.
Communication methods, priority order
- Text (works when calls fail).
- Voice call.
- Facebook Safety Check.
- iMessage / WhatsApp (data required).
- FEMA app / Red Cross Safe & Well.
- Amateur radio (if licensed).
- Family FRS/GMRS radios (line of sight).
- Physical message left at meeting place.
- Note posted at home / office.
Kids and school plans
- Confirm school lockdown vs release protocol annually.
- Some schools shelter for 1-4 hours during tornadoes.
- Others release students when safe.
- Provide school with multiple authorized pickup adults.
- Provide school with copies of your emergency plan.
- Kids should have wallet card with parent phone.
- Backpack emergency kit: water bottle, granola bar, whistle, ID card.
When family members work in different places
- Each has a copy of the plan.
- Each has meeting places in relation to their office.
- Backup transportation methods identified.
- Colleagues at each workplace who could help.
- Multiple route options for each commute.
Grandparents and elderly relatives
- Confirm they have working weather radio.
- Confirm they know when to shelter.
- Buddy system with neighbors.
- Include them in the family plan explicitly.
- You have keys to their home.
- Their medications are on your list.
- Register them with 911 special needs list.
Practicing
- Semi-annual family drill. Once at start of tornado season, once end of hurricane season.
- Time yourselves from warning to shelter.
- Practice text communication with out-of-state contact.
- Update wallet cards.
- Verify school pickup plan hasn't changed.
- Review meeting places for road closures.
- Kids review their names and addresses.
The little things that save lives
- Whistle in every backpack — signals from rubble.
- Family photo in wallet — for identification.
- Emergency cash in wallet.
- Physical map of area — GPS may fail.
- Battery bank for phone — always charged.
- Charging cable in every bag.
- Medication list printed out.
- Names and contacts of medical providers.
- Photo of family pet on phone.