September 2015 is National Preparedness Month. Each week has its own theme to prepare your family in the event of a disaster. Part of any emergency preparedness plan should be how to reconnect with your family in the event you’re separated after an incident such as an earthquake, flood, tornado or terrorist attack.
Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes so it is important to plan in advance: how you will get to a safe place; how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations. Read more about Family Communication during an emergency.
Ready.gov has made it simple for you to make a family emergency plan. Download the Family Communication Plan for Parents and Kids (PDF) and fill out the sections before printing it or emailing it to your family and friends
Read The Whole Story(Click Here)
Connect With Your Family With Red Cross Safe and Well Listings
The American Red Cross Safe and Well Listings is an innovative platform that capitalizes on technology to pass on safe and well messages of assurance and comfort to families and friends in case of a disaster.
It helps us to locate friends and family in case of a major incident and acts a way of letting your friends and family know that you are well. You can use the platform, which is available throughout the year and 24 hours a day, in two ways;
If you have been affected by a disaster anywhere in the United States of America, go to the Red Cross Safe and Well Listings website and click on “List Myself as Safe and Well,” enter your pre-disaster address and phone number, and select any of the standard message options.
You can locate your friends and family by accessing the Red Cross Safe and Well Listings and clicking on “Search Registrants’’ where you will enter the person’s name and pre-disaster phone number or address. If they have registered, you will be able to view the messages they have posted.
The platform is available in English and Spanish while it serves to assure loved ones that you are well in case of a disaster and can be used by locals and expatriates living in the United States. Information on this website is accurate as people use their pre-disaster contact information.
However, everyone may not be in the database as some people may be unable to register at a time and may do so when they reach a relief center or some may choose not to register at all. During such moments, it’s advisable to try and call or text your friend and loved one or try to reach them through contact persons such as neighbors, coworkers, consulates and relatives.
The Red Cross Safe and Well Listings should always be considered as an option to let your friends and family know that you are well, when involved in a disaster of any kind.
Facebook Safety Check
Facebook has developed a tool called Safety Check. Safety Check is tool created to help folks let their family and friends know they’re safe after a major incident. This tool not only allows you to tell your people you’re OK, it allows your friends to know you’re alive and well based on your input
Facebook Safety Check was created in 2011 after the Japan earthquake. The developers notice how families and friends were going online to check on their loved ones.
How Facebook Safety Check Works
This tool will activate either based where you told FB you’re from or where FB knows you are (yes, if you have the app on your phone Facebook knows where you are). A one button option will appear allowing you to tell the world you’re safe. Not only will this app allow you to tell your friends you’re safe, it will allow you to know if your friends who are in a disaster zone are OK too. Safety check also allows you tell the app it’s sending off a false alarm and you’re not in the disaster zone.
“Facebook-Are you OK? It looks like you in the area affected by XYZ. Let friends know you’re safe.”
With millions of Facebook users out there, safety check is a handy tool that can immediately let your people know you’re OK(assuming the cell network is up-texting may be quicker) and they can calm down as best they can until they actually hear from you.
Connect With Your Family After A Disaster Resources
American Red Cross Safe & Well Listings(Click Here)
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