Locating Loved Ones #OKready

Have you ever thought about how you will communicate with and locate your loved ones in the event of a disaster?  You never know where you will be or with whom you will be when a disaster strikes. This week, the focus for National Preparedness Month is, “How to Reconnect with Family After a Disaster.” Use this time to build a family communications plan. Your priority will be to get to a safe place, contact your loved ones and reunite with them as soon as possible. The best course of action is to have a plan for each of the common locations where you spend most of your time – home, work, gym, or place of worship. 

Below are some tips on how to get in contact with your loved ones in an emergency.

• Complete a contact card for each member of your family and have them placed in purses, wallets and book bags;
• Have a contact that does not live in your area that each family member can notify when they are safe if unable to contact family in the affected area. An out-of-area contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members;
• Remember you can use text messaging when calling does not work because phone lines commonly have network disruptions after disasters; and
• In addition to text messaging, use social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, to alert family members that you are safe. You can also use the American Red Cross’s Safe and Well program.

Check out America’s PrepareAthon! to participate in other drills and exercises with your family, and practice the communications plan you just developed

Thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for this information.

Additionally, please consider amateur radio for your family.  The American Radio Relay League can help.