Phone Tips

• Develop a plan for how you will communicate with loved ones after a disaster.
• Identify an out-of-state contact–long distance phone lines often work before local phone lines are restored, so using an out-of-state contact is a good idea. Provide this person with the contact information of people you want to keep informed of your situation. Have everyone in your family check-in with the out-of-state contact as soon as possible after disaster strikes.
• Avoid making non-urgent phone calls after a disaster – even if phone lines are un-damaged, increased phone traffic can jam phone circuits.
• Don’t count on your cell phone – increased traffic on cell phone networks can quickly overload wireless capacity. Record an outgoing message on your voicemail so that callers can be re-assured of your safety status.
• Keep coins handy–payphones are more likely to work before other phone lines.
• Have a backup phone that does not require electricity–cordless phones require electricity, so make sure you have at least one phone that requires no electricity (uses cord connection to operate).
• After an earthquake check all your telephones to be sure they have not shaken off the hook and are tying up a line.