Create a Household Emergency Meeting Plan
Choose a nearby meeting point and backup ways to connect if household members are separated during an emergency.
Choose two meeting places
Select one meeting point close to home and another farther away in case the immediate area is inaccessible. The nearby point might be a recognizable corner or open public place; the farther location could be a familiar place outside the neighborhood. Choose locations that household members can identify without a phone map, and note any practical access needs such as stairs, gates, or limited opening hours.
Write down the exact address or a plain description, how to reach the place on foot, and a backup nearby landmark. Avoid choosing a location that depends on one person being present or on a business remaining open. For example, if the first choice is a library, select an outdoor landmark nearby as a fallback when the building is closed. Check that children and visitors who regularly stay in the home understand the choice.
Plan for different routes and needs
Discuss how each person might get to the meeting point from common locations: home, work, school, or a regular appointment. Do not assume everyone will be together or able to travel by car. A household member who uses a mobility aid may need a route with accessible crossings and a backup way to get assistance. Someone who works late may need a separate check-in plan if they cannot safely travel across town.
For each person, record a trusted contact who lives outside the immediate area, if available. Household members can try that person if local communication is disrupted or if they need to pass a short message. Share only the information needed for the plan, and make sure the contact agrees to help. Keep the contact’s number on paper as well as in phones so the plan still works when a device is lost or uncharged.
Set a backup communication method
Pick a simple order for trying to reach one another. For example: send a text, wait a set interval, try the out-of-area contact, then go to the assigned meeting place if travel is safe. Text messages may sometimes get through when calls are difficult, but no communication method is guaranteed. Agree on a short message format that shares status and location without requiring a long explanation.
Write down what to do if someone cannot make the meeting point. The plan might identify a second point or instruct people to remain in a safe place and contact the designated person when possible. Avoid sending children or anyone else to search for a missing household member. The plan should prioritize reaching a safe location and following instructions from local emergency officials.
Practice and update the plan
Review the plan together and ask each person to explain where they would go and whom they would contact. A short walk to the nearby point can reveal a locked gate, difficult crossing, or confusing address. Practice should feel like orientation, not a stressful drill. Let household members raise concerns and adapt the route or location accordingly.
Keep a printed copy with emergency contacts and another copy accessible outside the home. Update it when someone moves, changes schools or work locations, or when the chosen meeting place becomes unavailable. Revisit the plan at a regular household check-in. Knowing the first destination, the backup contact, and what to do when separated gives people a shared starting point when quick decisions are difficult.
Spotted something we should look at? Suggest a correction.