Family Communication Plan Basics: Staying Connected During Emergencies

When a disaster hits, phone lines clog, cell towers fail, and the internet becomes unreliable. Families get separated easily during evacuations or chaotic situations. A communication plan removes the panic by giving every person in your household the exact steps to follow.

For staying informed when networks fail, pair this guide with Emergency Radio Basics.

1. Establish a Primary Meeting Point

Pick one place close to home where everyone should meet if separated. Good options:

• A neighbor’s yard
• A community park
• A mailbox or driveway that’s easy to see

The key is simplicity—everyone should be able to find it without instructions.

2. Choose a Secondary Meeting Point

If the primary location becomes unsafe (fire, flood, police activity), choose a second location farther away:

• A school parking lot
• A church or community center
• A relative’s home outside the hazard zone

3. Pick an Out-of-Area Contact

During major disasters, local communications fail first. Choose someone outside your region as your “relay point.” Everyone checks in with this person when possible, and they relay messages to the rest of the family.

• Choose someone reliable
• Share their phone number with every member of the family
• Save the contact in all phones and write it down as backup

4. Write Down All Critical Contacts

Phones die, break, or get lost. Every family member should have a written list of:

• Emergency services numbers
• Family members' numbers
• Out-of-area contact
• School and workplace contacts

Store a copy in your go-bag from the Basic Home Emergency Kit List.

5. Create a "Communication Tree"

One person shouldn’t be responsible for calling everyone. Establish who contacts who in what order:

• Parent calls the out-of-area contact
• Teenager calls siblings
• Another adult checks on elderly relatives nearby

This prevents duplicated efforts and confusion.

6. Plan for No-Cell Scenarios

When networks fail:

• Use walkie-talkies for short-range communication
• Keep a charged power bank for phones
• Rely on AM/FM and NOAA radios for updates
• Use pre-planned meeting points instead of guessing

7. Teach Children the Plan

Kids panic fast without clear steps. Make sure they know:

• Where the meeting points are
• How to dial emergency services
• The out-of-area contact’s name and number
• How to use a basic radio or walkie-talkie

8. Keep the Plan Posted and Accessible

Place a printed copy:

• Near the front door
• Inside your emergency kit
• On the fridge

Everyone should know where to find it.

9. Review and Update the Plan Twice a Year

Update meeting points, phone numbers, school contacts, and out-of-area contacts every 6 months or after any major family change.

10. Bottom Line

A communication plan doesn’t need to be complex—it just needs to be clear. When phones fail or families get separated, this simple plan keeps everyone connected and moving toward the same locations and contacts.