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Out-of-Area Contacts
If you are separated from your loved
ones when disaster strikes, you will need a way to find out where they
are. The stress of the event may make it difficult to remember even
routine information, like phone numbers. Every household member should
have an out-of-area contact card in a wallet, purse or backpack at all
times.
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Things to do before disaster strikes
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Ask an out-of-area family member or
friend to be your contact person. This person should live at least
100 miles away from you. It may be difficult to make local calls
because large numbers of people may be using the phone lines at the
same
time. However, you should be able to make long distance calls.
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Make small cards with the contact
person’s name and phone number for all
family members to carry in their wallets, purses or backpacks.
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Keep a phone that does not require
electricity. Cordless phones use electricity—if the power is out,
they will not work!
Out-of-area wallet contact card
Make copies of this card for all family members. Have each person add
your family’s contact information and place the cards in their wallet or
purse.
(Cut out the card image, fold over to fit into a wallet.)
Contacting loved ones after disasters
- All household members should call the out-of-area contact. The
contact person will collect information about each family
member, where they are and how to contact them.
- You may be able to send text messages to your loved ones on your
cell phone. Keep messages short.
- Make sure the handsets to your phones are hung up—during events such
as earthquakes handsets can get knocked off their bases. When large
numbers of phones are off-the-hook, local phone service may stop working
correctly.
- You should be able to use a pay phone if your home phone does not
work. Pay phones are part of the emergency services
network, and are a priority to be restored to service. Tape the coins
needed to use a pay phone to your out-of-area contact card.
Revised - March 2008
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