Make a Family Disaster Plan: Who to Contact, Where to Meet and How to Practice

A disaster can strike when your family is in different places, so it is important to know how you'll contact one another and reconnect if separated, and to establish a familiar, easy-to-find family meeting place. Ready.gov's page for families starts by asking you to learn which disasters could affect your area, and to think about the specific needs in your family. Needs change over time, so update the plan regularly.

Who will we contact?

• Pick one person for everyone to contact, the same person for each family member. Choose someone out of town, since they may be easier to reach in a disaster.
• Text, don't talk. In an emergency, phone lines may be tied up. A text may get through more easily, and it leaves the lines open for emergency workers.

Where will we meet?

Decide on safe, familiar, accessible places where the family can go for protection or to reunite. If you have pets or service animals, think about animal-friendly locations. Choose places in the house, in the neighborhood, and outside your city or town, so you are prepared for any situation.

Practice, practice, practice

Write down your contacts and plans, on your own list or with the downloadable resources. Make sure everyone in the family has copies and keeps them somewhere safe, such as a backpack, a wallet or taped into a notebook. Put them in your cell phone if you have one. Hold regular household meetings to review and practice the plan.

Printable plans

Ready.gov offers a Family Communications Plan for kids, a version for adults and a fillable form, to print out and complete with your family.

Sources

• FEMA (Ready.gov), Make a Plan, Ready Kids; rewritten in hubnx's own words.