American Red Cross Encourages Every Household To Develop

"A Family Communication Plan"

In the aftermath of the two devastating hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005, which forced thousands of coastal residents in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and its neighboring Golf states to evacuate at very short notice, it is important that people have a plan in place to keep in touch with their loved ones. One simple call or e-mail message will give those who care about you peace of mind about your well-being and safety. The need to create a family communication plan is critical.

Due to widespread power and telecommunication outages, service may not be restored for several days. During this critical time, your family and friends may not be able to reach you. Your initiative to establish contact quickly with a designated person will save your loved ones from making multiple calls to reach you. This one simple act can help to alleviate their anxiety. It also helps to reduce the overwhelming number of phone calls that can often overload the system following a disaster.

To assist families with staying connected following a disaster, the Red Cross recommends having a communication plan in place beforehand.

Evacuees maintaining contact with loved ones inside the affected area:

• Plan ahead for the possibility of becoming separated from your family and friends.
• Because local phone lines may be out of service or overloaded after a disaster, it's often easier to call out of the area.
• Choose an out-of-town contact that each family or household member can call or email should a disaster occur. Your selected contact should live far enough away that they would be unlikely to be directly affected by the same event. They should be aware that they are the chosen contact.
• All of your loved ones should have the phone number for the contact as well as each other's phone numbers and email addresses. Loved ones should agree to call the out-of-town contact to report their whereabouts and welfare. Consider having a laminated wallet-sized card made to carry with you at all times.
• Many people overwhelm telephone lines when emergencies happen. Your family and friends should know that if telephone lines are not working, they need to be patient and try again later or try email. Sometimes e-mails go through when calls cannot.
• As calls or e-mails are placed to the out-of-town contact from family members affected by the disaster, there will be peace of mind that comes from knowing that everyone is safe.

Evacuees maintaining contact with loved ones outside the affected area:

• Make an emergency contact list.
• Write contact information including name, home, work and cell phone numbers and e-mail address. Be sure to include the out-of-town contact on the card as well.
• Make a card and copy the card for each loved one to carry with them in the event of a disaster or other emergency when you will want to contact each other.
• Place a call to family and friends as soon as possible after disaster strikes to let them know your whereabouts and your well-being.

Preparing for a disaster, such as a hurricane, ahead of time can help alleviate the stress you may face during the storm, and ease the burden on your family and loved ones.

Safe & Well Web site

This new Web site, accessible on a secure site, https://disastersafe.redcross.org, should be incorporated into every family’s emergency communications plan. Its purpose is to help disaster victims share welfare information with friends and family. Concerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered themselves as “safe and well.”