Survival & Preparedness

How to Build a Family Emergency Communication Plan

When an emergency hits, your family might not be together. Kids could be at school. A parent could be at work. Someone could be traveling. An emergency plan tells every person in your family exactly what to do, where to go, and how to reach each other.

FEMA says every family should have an emergency communication plan. Yet most families do not have one. Making a plan takes about 30 minutes. It could save your family's life.

Step 1: Choose an Out-of-Area Contact

During a local emergency, phone lines get jammed. Local calls often do not go through. But long-distance calls sometimes still work. Choose a family member or friend who lives in a different state. This person is your central contact.

Every family member calls or texts the out-of-area contact to check in. The contact then relays information between family members. Think of them as your family's communication hub.

• Choose someone reliable and reachable.
• Make sure everyone has their phone number memorized (not just in their phone).
• Brief this person on your plan so they know what to do.

Step 2: Set Meeting Points

If you cannot reach each other by phone, you need physical meeting points. Every family should have at least two:

• Near-home meeting point: A spot right outside your home, like the mailbox or a neighbor's driveway. This is for emergencies like a fire where you need to get out quickly.
• Out-of-neighborhood meeting point: A place outside your immediate area, like a relative's house, a church, or a community center. This is for emergencies where your neighborhood is not safe.

If you have a safe room in your home, it is also a meeting point. During a tornado or home intrusion, the plan is simple: everyone goes to the safe room. Practice this so it becomes automatic.

Step 3: Fill Out Contact Cards

Every family member should carry a printed emergency contact card. Phones die. Phones break. Phones get lost. A printed card in a wallet or backpack is always available.

FEMA offers a free printable family communication plan template on their Ready.gov website. It is a good starting point.

Step 4: Plan for Each Type of Emergency

Different emergencies need different actions. Discuss each one with your family and agree on a plan.

Tornado or Severe Storm

Go to the safe room or the lowest, most interior room of your home. Close the door. Stay until the all-clear. Read our tornado safe room guide for detail.

Hurricane

Follow evacuation orders if given. If sheltering in place, go to your safe room or bunker. Have at least a 3-day supply of food and water. See our hurricane preparedness guide.

Home Intrusion

Go to the security room. Lock the door. Call 911. Do not confront the intruder. Wait for police.

Extended Power Outage

Switch to backup power. Eat refrigerator food first. Conserve stored water. Keep phones charged. Read our power outage survival guide.

Fire

Get out of the house. Do NOT go to the safe room (you need to escape, not shelter). Meet at the near-home meeting point. Call 911.

Step 5: Know Your Communication Options

When cell networks are jammed, you need backup communication methods.

• Text messages: Texts use less bandwidth than calls. They often go through when calls cannot.
• Social media: Facebook, X, and Instagram can be used for check-ins if you have internet.
• Two-way radios: Walkie-talkies do not need cell towers. Good for family members within a few miles of each other.
• NOAA weather radio: Broadcasts weather alerts 24/7. No internet needed.
• Landline: If you still have one, landlines often work when cell networks are down.
• Ham radio: For serious preparedness. Ham radios reach other operators across hundreds of miles without any infrastructure.

Step 6: Practice with Drills

A plan on paper is not enough. You need to practice. The Red Cross recommends practicing your emergency plan at least twice a year.

• Safe room drill: Time how long it takes your whole family to get to the safe room. Goal: under 60 seconds.
• Communication drill: Have each family member call or text the out-of-area contact. Make sure everyone knows the number.
• Evacuation drill: Practice driving to your out-of-neighborhood meeting point.
• Blackout drill: Turn off the main breaker for 2 hours on a weekend. Practice using flashlights, radios, and your backup power.

Make drills fun for kids. Time them. Challenge them to beat their record. Reward them afterward. The goal is for every action to be automatic so nobody panics during a real event.

Step 7: Keep the Plan Updated

Review your plan every 6 months. Phone numbers change. Kids grow up and go to new schools. Out-of-area contacts may move. Update your contact cards and re-brief everyone.

Also review your plan after every real emergency. What worked? What did not? Make changes based on real experience.

A Safe Room Makes Every Plan Better

A safe room simplifies your emergency plan. Instead of complex instructions, the core message is: get to the safe room. It is the family's rally point for tornadoes, storms, and security threats. Stock it with your survival kit, keep your contact cards inside, and you are ready for almost anything.