Emergency Communication Plan for Families: How to Make One

Family communication plan: a practical guide

⏱ 2 min read

How to find each other when phones don't work. A guide based on official advice. The same text is in the free SurvivalZone.app and works without internet.

Open in the app (works offline)

Agree together

Two meeting places: one near home and one outside your town, in case of evacuation.
Set times when you will try to meet at those places if there is no signal.
One contact person outside your area. Everyone calls or texts them and they pass messages on.
Who picks up the children from school and nursery. Save the school's emergency contact.

Write it down on paper

Phone numbers of everyone at home and close family. A phone can go flat; paper can't.
Addresses of the meeting places and contacts for your doctor, school and work.
Give children and older relatives a card with their name and a carer's phone number.
Microchip and register pets, and put your contact details on the collar.

When there is no signal

A text often gets through when a call won't. Keep it short.
Agree one simple message, for example "I'm OK, going to meeting point 2".
As soon as the signal is back, send your location.
Practise the plan once a year and update it after any change of job, school or address.

Watch out

Never hand your documents to strangers offering transport. If you travel with someone, send family the car's registration number and where you are.

Frequently asked questions

What should a family emergency plan include?

Contact details for everyone, two meeting places (nearby and outside town) and set meeting times in case there is no signal.

How do I reach my family when phones are down?

Try a text, which gets through more often than a call. If nothing works, go to the agreed meeting place at the agreed time.

How often should we update the plan?

At least once a year and after any change such as a new school, job or home. Practise it together.

What is an emergency communication tree?

A plan for who contacts whom, so everyone is reached quickly. For a family, one contact person outside your area works as the hub: everyone calls or texts them and they pass messages on.

Keep it on your phone

SurvivalZone.app is a free app for every emergency, with no account and no app store. It works without internet and shows the nearest shelters and help points, local radio, a 72-hour plan and a mountain trip planner.

Open SurvivalZone.app

Thank you for reading. If this could help someone, send it to the people you care about. Getting ready takes a moment, and in a crisis every minute counts.

Coming soon: the app’s permanent address will be survivalzone.app.

Other guides

All scenarios →

Sources

Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-08.

General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.