Family Emergency Communication Plan

Create a simple family communication plan: meeting places, out-of-area contact, texting tips, contact cards, kids, school plans and radio backup.

In an emergency, families are often not together. Parents are at work, children are at school, and phone networks may be busy or down. A written plan that everyone understands means less panic and faster reunions. It takes about an hour to build and costs almost nothing.

Pick meeting places

Choose three spots, and write them down with addresses:

1. Right outside your home, for sudden problems like a fire.
2. In your neighbourhood, such as a library, park or neighbour's house, if you cannot return home.
3. Outside your area, such as a relative's home, if the whole district is affected or you are told to evacuate.

Walk or drive to each place together so children recognize them. Plan more than one route.

Choose an out-of-area contact

During a local disaster, it is often easier to reach someone far away than someone nearby. Pick a relative or friend in another city or province or state. Everyone in the family calls or texts that person to say where they are and that they are safe. That person becomes the relay. Make sure they agree, and that each family member has their number memorized or written down.

Text first, call second

Texts often get through when voice calls cannot, because they use less network capacity. Keep messages short: "Safe at school. Will wait for you." Save calls for urgent needs to keep lines free for emergency services. Lower your screen brightness and close apps to save battery, and keep a power bank in your kit. Do not assume your cell service will work; have the other options below too.

Write a contact card

Phones die and numbers are not memorized anymore. Give everyone, including children, a small card to keep in a wallet, bag or backpack:

• Full name and home address
• Two parent or guardian phone numbers
• Out-of-area contact number
• Meeting places
• Allergies and medical needs (as appropriate)
• Name of a trusted neighbour

Keep a copy at home and in your 72-hour kit. Update it each time your information changes.

Plan with your children

Teach children their full name, address and a parent's phone number once they are old enough. Explain who is a safe adult to ask for help, such as a teacher or police officer. Practise calling emergency services (911 in Canada and the US) so they know when and how. Keep the tone calm and matter-of-fact so the plan does not frighten them. Role-play a short "what if" once or twice a year.

Know your school and daycare plans

Ask your child's school or daycare how it handles emergencies: where children go, how parents are notified, and what the pickup process is. Many schools keep children in place until a parent or authorized adult arrives. Check that your emergency contacts on file are current, and name a backup person who can pick up your child if you cannot. Do not rush to the school during an emergency unless told to; it can slow things for everyone.

Add a radio

If cell towers go down, a battery or hand-crank radio keeps you informed with official updates. See our emergency radio guide. Know which local stations carry emergency broadcasts, and sign up for local alerts. See alerts and outage reporting.

Practise and update

Review the plan twice a year, perhaps when you refresh your kit. Run a short drill. Include pets in the plan; see pets in a power outage. Check your overall readiness with the readiness score.

Quick setup checklist

• Three meeting places written down
• Out-of-area contact agreed and saved
• Contact cards in every bag and wallet
• School and daycare plans confirmed
• Radio and power bank in the kit
• Plan reviewed twice a year

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