Communicating with family and friends during an emergency is critical. Sometimes after a disaster, it may be easier to place a long distance call then to make a local call. Ask an out-of-state friend or relative to be your “family contact” and be sure that all your family members know who that person is and how to reach them.

• Minimize any non-critical phone calls during or after an emergency to keep phone circuits free for life-threatening emergencies.
• Your cell phone’s network may also be overloaded in a major emergency. If you are to able to, change your voicemail to let people know you are safe.
• Make sure your cell phones are charged in case of a power outage. If you have a cordless phone at home, it will not work in a power outage. Usually land-line phones phones will work even if the power is out.
• If you don’t have a cell phone, keep change in your emergency go-kit for pay phones.