Location : 2 Resilience: Western Washington > Emergency Communication

Emergency Communication

Have a Communication Plan

The first thing that people do when something stressful happens, is reach out to confirm that the people, animals and things most important to them are all right. Most disaster preparedness sources will emphasize the benefit of not trying to contact your support network in the first hours after a disaster because the phone systems are so quickly overwhelmed and it becomes hard for responders to communicate. This can cause greater problems though. Most people will not be able to keep themselves from trying, and if they don't, only a few will be able to make clear headed decisions until they can confirm the status of everything that really matters to them. As such, it very smart to plan in advance ways to get around problems with phones. Besides being able to cope with a disaster better by being able to make sure everyone is OK, you may need to ask for help.

Ready Colorado has a good template for a communication plan: http://www.readycolorado.com/pdf/familycommunications.pdf

Reasons why your phone may not work, and solutions

The disaster can knock phones off their hangers. Check that all phones are off.

Many phones require electricity: have a phone that connects directly into a land line.

Local phone systems are overwhelmed, but long distance calls still work: calls to another area frequently go through when local lines are overwhelmed.

Local phone system can be turned off to keep the lines open for priority numbers, like emergency responders

Possible work arounds:

Patience from Planning

In the initial period after a region wide unusual event phone lines are blocked meaning that people who are trying to call for emergency help can't get through. If you have made your home safe, and shared yourdisaster planwith everyone important, it will be easier for you to wait for things calm down.

Pay phones

Pay phones are considered priority numbers and may work when other phones don't. Be sure to have a calling card, coins, know that your contact will accept a collect call, or have your calling account memorized or written down.

Pay Phones may work when local calls don't work, too bad they are so hard to find: Pay Phone locator: http://www.payphone-project.com/numbers/usa/WA/

Out of Area Contact

One of the most effective way to overcome telecommunication problems after disasters is to agree with your family and most important friends for everyone to call an agreed 'Out of Area' contact, like a close friend or family member. You want to choose a contact who lives in an area that is unlikely to be experiencing the same disaster-so a Portland contact may not be the optimal choice for someone in Western Washington--an earthquake or big storm here will probably also be felt there. Be sure to include a written copy of your out of area contact number on your person, and with your children. If you have a back up care person who will be checking up on your animals, house, or someone in your care, be sure they have a copy of your out of area contact number and understand when to use it. If you drop your kids off with a babysitter for the day, include your out of area contact number with your other contct numbers.

Text Messaging

Cellphone towers require electricity and are easily overwhelmed--text messages sometimes go through when calls won't. (Find a teenager, have them teach you how to text)

Web 2.0, Social Networking

Consider using social networking sites. Jott.com allows you to use their services for free. After registering you can call or text to a number they give you, and from there blast text messages or emails to groups that you have predefined. In a disaster you can predefine which groups you want to contact to with your status--you can text or email them if they have technology to receive either.

Social Networking websites are based around the premise of sharing information about how you are doing with friends. They each have the ability to send a group of people who you know short messages asking for help, or letting people know your status which is what people are hoping to find out after a disaster. Sites with potential emergency messaging potential: www.myspace.com, www.Facebook.com, www.Twitter.com, www.jott.com www.dodgeball.com http://www.utterli.com, http://hellotxt.com/ (hello txt updates all of your social networking sites with one text message)

HAM Radio

How HAM Radio can help you in a disaster: http://www.emergency-radio.org/
Amateur Radio Groups?

Face to Face Contact

Be aware of the physical location of the closest fire, police and emergency medical center from the areas you spend the most time. If you can not call for help, then go get it.

With families spread out over regions, it makes sense to agree on meeting areas that are away from home that you are likely to be able to reach easier than getting home--this is particularly important if there is a good chance that you can have a hard time getting home because your home is affected by flooding, tsunami, landslides, bridge failure, etc.

Meeting Place Calculator: This website can help-you put in the addresses where you and your contacts are likely to be (where you spend most of your time in the day) and the type of location you would meet in: park, coffee shop, library--it will calculate a route to the spot in the middle of the two destinations pointing with different options. http://www.mezzoman.com/ It was not designed with disaster planning in mind, so doesn't think about bridges that may go down, etc. but it is a good tool to help your thinking.