If you are separated from your loved ones when disasters strike, your first thoughts will be about your family, their location, and their condition.
The stress of the event may make it difficult to remember even routine information, like phone numbers. We recommend that every household member have an out-of-area contact card in a wallet, purse, or backpack at all times.
Be Prepared to Be Separated from Your Loved Ones
If you are separated from your loved ones when an emergency happens, your first thoughts always be about your loved ones – where are they, are they safe, how do I check on them?
The stress of an emergency event may make you forget the simplest numbers and routines. Now is the time to plan how you’re going to communicate with your loved ones to ensure everyone is safe and well. As a household, discuss who the out-of-area contact will be for everyone to call and check in. We recommend out of the area being OUT of your geographical location and area code. Keep this Out of Area contact written and with you at all times – put it in your wallet, your purse, kids' backpack, grab-and-go kits, and 72-hour kits
Ask a friend or relative who lives away from you and out of your immediate area to be the household out-of-area contact. This out-of-area contact should live a minimum of 100km or more away from you – needing to call long distance may be easier than local calling.
An out-of-area contact is a key piece to a communications plan. When the emergency hits – everyone in your household will call that out-of-area contact to check-in. Keeping it short and specific – let the contact know how you are and where you plan to be. Ask who else has checked in. Say when you will check in again. Then as everyone calls in, the out-of-area contact can reassure each household member that everyone is fine.
