How to write a family emergency communication plan
In your family emergency communication plan, write down how you'll get alerts, where you'll shelter, two evacuation routes and two meeting places. Pick one out-of-area contact everyone can text. Add medical details and phone numbers, then give everyone a copy. Ready.gov has a fillable form, and the whole job takes about an hour.
Why a move means a new family emergency contact plan
Your old plan stopped working the day you moved. The roads, shelters, alert systems and likely hazards have all changed, and you may not know your neighbors yet. People also get separated in ordinary ways: at work, at school, or on a commute.
Networks jam in a crisis, so phones are the weak link. The FCC says texts often get through when calls don't. It also suggests one out-of-area contact to act as the family's hub, since each person can check in with that one number. Local alert sign-ups are tied to your address too, so an old county's texts won't warn you about a fire in your new one.
What to put in a family emergency communication plan
Ready.gov asks every household to answer these questions:
- How will we get emergency alerts and warnings?
- What's our shelter plan?
- What's our evacuation route?
- How will we communicate?
- Does our emergency kit need updating?
Put these details on the page:
| Item | What to write down |
|---|---|
| Alerts | Your county's alert service, the FEMA app (up to five locations) and a NOAA Weather Radio |
| Contacts | Everyone's phone numbers, work and school numbers, and your out-of-area contact |
| Meeting places | At least two, as CDC advises. A common choice is one near home and one outside your neighborhood. |
| Shelter | The safest room in the house for each hazard you face |
| Evacuation | Routes, alternates, and several destinations in different directions |
| Medical | Prescriptions, equipment, allergies, doctors and insurance |
| Household needs | Languages, disabilities, dietary needs and who helps whom |
Wireless Emergency Alerts need no sign-up. They reach compatible phones in the area for free, though some models need the setting turned on. County alert systems are separate, and you usually register for those yourself.
Evacuation details are easy to skip and worth settling now. Ready.gov suggests keeping at least a half tank of gas at all times, since stations can lose power. Follow the official routes rather than shortcuts, which may be blocked. Plan to take one car if you can, to reduce traffic.
Add your home's fire plan too. Every room needs two ways out, and Ready.gov suggests practicing twice a year, including in the dark.
How to make a family emergency plan in about an hour
- Sit down together
Go through Ready.gov's questions with everyone in the house. Include anyone who helps with care.
- Set up your alerts
Register for county alerts at your new address, install the FEMA app, and check that emergency alerts are on in each phone's settings.
- Choose your contact and meeting places
Pick someone outside the area and confirm they agree. Choose two meeting places everyone can find.
- Map your way out
Check your county or state emergency site for evacuation zones and routes. Drive the main route and one alternate while you're learning the area.
- Fill in the form
Use Ready.gov's fillable plan, then give everyone a copy and save the numbers in each phone. Include a copy for your emergency kit.
- Run a practice
Have each person text the contact and go to the meeting place. Remember to wait about 10 seconds before redialing a failed call, so you don't add to network overload.
- Review it each year
Update it when jobs, schools, phones or health needs change, and whenever you add a pet or a family member.
Emergency communication plan for families with kids and pets
Keep a wallet card in each child's backpack with your numbers and the out-of-area contact. Ask the school how it handles emergencies, where it would move students and who can pick them up. Teach kids to text a short message, and to expect the loud alert tone on any device that gets alerts. Ready.gov says to teach them not to hide from firefighters. Practice with them. A plan they've walked through is one they'll remember.
Evacuate your pets when you evacuate. Many public shelters and hotels don't allow pets, and Ready.gov says most shelters take only service animals, so find a pet-friendly place now. Ask a nearby friend or neighbor to get your pets if you can't reach home. Microchip them and update the chip with your new address, plus a contact outside your area.
What homeowners say about their family emergency plan
Some owners write a one-page quick-reference sheet, kept in the utility room or the house manual, for floods, freezes, power and septic failures, so a spouse or house-sitter can act without them. (Hacker News)
Family emergency communication plan questions
Why should my emergency contact live out of the area?
Local networks can jam after a disaster. The FCC suggests an out-of-area contact as a central point, so family members can check in with one person who isn't affected.
Do I need to sign up for Wireless Emergency Alerts?
No. They reach compatible phones in the affected area for free. Some models need them turned on in settings, and county alert systems usually need their own sign-up.
Can I bring my pet to an emergency shelter?
Often not. Ready.gov says most public shelters allow only service animals, so line up a pet-friendly hotel, friend or relative ahead of time. Your local emergency office or animal shelter can advise you.
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.