Make A Plan September
4th to September 10th
Emergency Communication Plan
This page explains what an emergency
communication plan is and why you should make one. It also provides tips and
templates on how to make a plan.
Your family may not be together if a disaster
strikes, so it is important to think about the following situations and plan
just in case. Consider the following questions when making a plan:
·
How will my
family/household get to safe locations for relevant emergencies?
·
How will my
family/household get in touch if cell phone, internet, or landline doesn’t
work?
·
How will I let
loved ones know I am safe?
·
How will
family/household get to a meeting place after the emergency?
Here is a template that you can download,
print, and fill out:
Here are a few easy steps to start your
emergency communication plan:
1.
Understand how
to receive emergency alerts and warnings. Make sure all household members are able to get alerts about an
emergency from local officials. Check with your local emergency management
agency to see what is available in your area, and learn more about alerts by
visiting: www.ready.gov/alerts.
2.
Discuss
family/household plans for disasters that may affect your area and plan where
to go. Plan together in advance so that everyone in
the household understands where to go during a different type of disaster like
a hurricane, tornado, or wildfire.
3.
Collect
information. Create a paper copy of the contact
information for your family that includes:
·
phone (work,
cell, office)
·
email
·
social media
·
medical
facilities, doctors, service providers
·
school
4.
Identify
information and pick an emergency meeting place. Things to consider:
·
Decide on
safe, familiar places where your family can go for protection or to reunite.
·
Make sure
these locations are accessible for household members with disabilities or
access and functional needs.
·
If you have
pets or service animals, think about animal-friendly locations.
Examples of meeting places:
·
In your
neighborhood: A mailbox at the end of the driveway, or a
neighbor’s house.
·
Outside of your
neighborhood: library, community center, place of worship,
or family friend’s home.
·
Outside of
your town or city: home of a relative or family
friend. Make sure everyone knows the address of the meeting place and discuss
ways you would get there.
5.
Share
information. Make sure everyone carries a copy in his or
her backpack, purse, or wallet. You should also post a copy in a central
location in your home, such as your refrigerator or family bulletin board.
6.
Practice your
plan. Have regular household meetings to review
your emergency plans, communication plans and meeting place after a disaster,
and then practice, just like you would a fire drill.
