Why Having a Family Emergency Communication Plan is Important

Let me take you back to August 23rd, 2011. It started like any other day—until the ground trembled. An earthquake shook Washington, D.C., and chaos broke loose. I couldn’t get through to my family, and confusion was everywhere. Where was my family? Were they safe? I kept trying to reach them, but nothing was going through. I felt powerless and unprepared. It hit me hard—how could I not have a plan to check on the people I love most? That moment stayed with me. Every family needs a communication plan. 

What’s a Family Communication Plan?

A family communication plan is a simple guide to help your family get in touch, share updates, and meet up if something goes wrong.

Why Make a Family Communication Plan?

• Stay Connected: Cell networks get jammed, but a plan keeps everyone on the same page.
• Reduce Panic: When everyone knows the plan, it’s easier to stay calm.
• Respond Faster: If you’ve practiced your plan, you’ll act quickly under pressure.

Be Ready for These Emergencies:

• Household Dangers: Fires, gas leaks, power outages.
• Public Safety Problems: School shootings, bomb threats, police activity.
• Weather Problems: Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires.
• Medical Crises: Serious injuries or sudden illness.
• Travel Troubles: Car accidents or getting lost.

Building Your Family Communication Plan:

1. Save Important Contacts:

• List emergency numbers (family, neighbors, doctors).
• Choose an out-of-town contact.
• Save numbers in phones and post a copy at home.

2. Pick Your Safe Havens:

• Neighborhood Safe Haven: A nearby, trusted spot.
• Community Safe Haven: A meeting spot farther away.
• Set Safe Havens with Adapt Aware: Use the Aware app to identify preloaded safe havens and save your family’s chosen rally points.

3. Plan How You’ll Communicate:

• Use group texts—they often work better than calls.
• Set up Adapt Aware alerts and group check-ins.
• Practice using the app’s SOS feature.

4. Create a Family Safe Word:

• Pick a word for your family to confirm identity or signal danger.
• Make sure everyone knows how and when to use it.

5. Share Updates the Smart Way:

• Agree on how to keep in touch (e.g., group chat or Adapt Aware updates).
• Decide who will contact emergency services if needed.

How Adapt Aware Strengthens Your Plan:

• Real-Time Location Sharing: Know where everyone is instantly.
• Group Check-Ins: One tap to say “I’m safe.”
• Emergency Alerts: Get urgent updates right away.
• Safe Havens Feature: Find, set, and share meeting spots easily.

Practice Makes Perfect:

• Talk It Through: Discuss different emergencies and responses.
• Do Drills: Practice meeting at your Safe Havens.
• Test the Tech: Make sure everyone knows how to use Adapt Aware.

Keep Your Plan Up-to-Date:

• Review: Check your plan every six months.
• Update: Refresh contacts and Safe Haven locations.
• Practice: Make sure kids can use the app confidently.

Use Adapt Aware for Your Family Emergency Communication Plan

The 2011 earthquake was a hard lesson—things can spiral fast. But with a solid family communication plan and Adapt Aware in your corner, you’ll stay connected when it matters most. Don’t wait—build your plan today. Your future self (and your family) will thank you.