During emergencies, communication becomes both critical and challenging. Cell towers overload, power outages disable internet, and family members scatter to work, school, and other locations. A solid communication plan ensures your family can connect, coordinate, and reunite when disaster strikes.
Why Digital Isn’t Enough
We’ve become dependent on smartphones, but they fail precisely when we need them most. During major disasters:
Your communication plan must account for these failures and provide multiple backup methods.
Establishing Your Out-of-State Contact
One of the most effective strategies is designating an out-of-state contact person. During regional disasters, local calls often fail while long-distance calls get through. This person becomes your family’s communication hub.
Choose someone who:
Every family member should have this contact’s information memorized and written down. Program it into phones under “ICE” (In Case of Emergency).
The Rally Point System
Identify specific meeting locations for different scenarios. Vague plans like “we’ll meet at home” don’t work when home is inaccessible or dangerous.
Primary location: A specific spot near your home but away from the structure itself—a neighbor’s mailbox, the oak tree in the park across the street, the northeast corner of your property. Be specific.
Secondary location: A place outside your immediate neighborhood, useful if the area is evacuated. This might be a relative’s house, a specific church, or a identifiable landmark.
Regional location: For large-scale evacuations, choose a location in another town where family members can regroup. Select somewhere everyone knows how to reach.
Discuss scenarios with your family: “If we can’t get home, where do we meet?” Run through different situations and appropriate rally points.
School and Work Coordination
Know your children’s school emergency procedures. Schools have detailed plans, but parents often remain unaware until crisis hits. Key questions to ask:
Similarly, understand your workplace’s emergency procedures. Know evacuation routes, shelter locations, and how your employer will communicate during crises.
Contact Cards for Every Family Member
Create wallet-sized contact cards for each family member listing:
Laminate these cards and ensure everyone carries one. Young children should have cards in backpacks and jacket pockets.
Communication Tools Beyond Cell Phones
Landlines still work when cell networks fail (as long as you have a corded phone that doesn’t require power). If you have a landline, ensure you own at least one non-powered phone.
Two-way radios (walkie-talkies) provide short-range communication without infrastructure. Inexpensive FRS/GMRS radios work well for coordinating within a neighborhood or between vehicles. Choose a specific channel and privacy code in advance.
Social media can work when phone calls fail. Designate one platform (Facebook is most common) where family members will post status updates and location information.
Text messages often get through when calls don’t because they require less bandwidth. Make texting your first attempt during network congestion.
Satellite communicators like Garmin inReach or SPOT provide guaranteed communication anywhere but cost $300-500 plus subscription fees. Worth considering for those in remote areas or who travel extensively.
Practice Makes Perfect
The best plan fails without practice. Schedule quarterly communication drills:
Scenario drill: “It’s 2 PM on Tuesday. A tornado warning is issued. Where do you go? How do we reconnect?” Walk through each person’s steps.
Contact drill: Have everyone practice calling or texting the out-of-state contact. Ensure phone numbers work and everyone knows how.
Rally point drill: Actually meet at your designated locations. Does everyone know how to get there? Are they accessible?
Make drills age-appropriate and non-scary for younger children. Frame them as family activities rather than frightening exercises.
Important Considerations for Modern Families
Split custody situations: Both households need compatible plans. Children should have contact cards and knowledge for both family units.
Elderly family members: Ensure they understand the plan and have it written in large print. Consider their mobility limitations when choosing rally points.
Pets: Include pet plans in your communication strategy. Where will pets be during evacuation? Who’s responsible for them?
Special needs: Family members with disabilities, medical conditions, or communication barriers need tailored plans. Include relevant information on contact cards and with out-of-state contacts.
Digital Backup of Critical Information
While paper backups are essential, digital copies provide additional security:
Ensure at least one family member has downloaded offline maps of your area and evacuation routes.
Annual Review and Update
Set an annual reminder to review your communication plan:
Life changes, and your plan must evolve with it.
The Bottom Line
During my town’s major flood three years ago, I watched neighbors panic because they couldn’t reach family members. Cell service was sporadic for days. Those with communication plans—knowing where to go, having out-of-state contacts, carrying important numbers—experienced far less anxiety.
Your communication plan isn’t about preparing for unlikely disasters. It’s about having a roadmap for the realistic emergencies we all face: severe weather, power outages, accidents, and evacuations. When crisis hits, you’ll have one less thing to figure out in the moment.
Start this weekend. Gather your family, discuss your plan, create those contact cards, and practice. Fifteen minutes of preparation now provides invaluable peace of mind later.
