Communications

Begin with the situations the household may realistically face.

Plan for:

• Remaining home
• Evacuating together
• Evacuating at different times
• Household members being at work or school
• Children being with another caregiver
• Roads separating family members
• Cellular congestion
• Internet and electrical outages
• A damaged or discharged phone
• A shelter or hotel change
• A medical emergency
• Returning home after evacuation
• Communicating during cleanup and recovery

Every person should understand the plan at a level appropriate for their age, abilities, and responsibilities.

Choose a trusted person outside the immediate area to serve as the household’s central contact.

This person may be easier to reach than someone inside the affected region.

Provide the contact with:

• Household names
• Phone numbers
• Expected locations
• Evacuation destination
• Vehicle information
• Medical or accessibility information when appropriate
• Pet information
• Primary and backup plans
• The names of people authorized to receive updates

If household members cannot reach one another, everyone should contact the same person.

Ask the contact to record who has checked in, where each person is located, and what assistance may be needed.

Choose a backup contact in case the primary person is unavailable.

Select more than one meeting place.

Choose a familiar location within walking distance for situations when the home cannot be entered but the neighborhood remains safe.

Choose a location beyond the immediate area in case roads, flooding, debris, or emergency activity prevents people from returning home.

Choose a final destination where the household can reunite if a large evacuation is required.

Confirm:

• The complete street address
• The safest available routes
• Backup routes
• Hours and access restrictions
• Whether pets are permitted
• Whether the location is accessible
• Who will meet there
• How long everyone should wait
• What happens if the location becomes unavailable

Do not choose a meeting place inside a storm-surge evacuation zone or another known hazard area.

Prepare a printed contact card for each household member.

Include:

• Full name
• Home address
• Phone number
• Household contact numbers
• Out-of-area contact
• Backup contact
• Meeting locations
• School or employer contacts
• Doctor and pharmacy information
• Insurance contact
• Important medical information when appropriate
• Pet or veterinarian contact
• Evacuation destination
• Local emergency management website
• Utility emergency numbers
• 911 reminder

Place copies:

• In wallets
• In children’s bags
• With caregivers
• In bug out bags
• In each vehicle
• With medical supplies
• Inside the household emergency kit

Protect the cards from water and update them whenever information changes.

Do not include sensitive information that is not necessary for an emergency contact card.

Use official sources for decisions involving evacuation, sheltering, storm timing, flooding, road safety, and reentry.

Important sources may include:

• National Hurricane Center
• National Weather Service
• Local emergency management
• County and municipal alerts
• Florida Division of Emergency Management
• Law enforcement and fire-rescue agencies
• Florida 511
• Local transportation agencies
• Utility providers
• School districts
• Official shelter information
• NOAA Weather Radio
• Local television and radio stations

The National Hurricane Center explains the storm’s forecast and expected hazards. Local officials determine evacuation orders, shelter openings, road restrictions, and community-specific protective actions.

Use Real-Time Maps and Alerts to organize the official sources relevant to your location.

Do not treat every alert as meaning the same thing.

A hurricane forecast, tropical storm watch, hurricane warning, flash flood warning, tornado warning, storm surge warning, and evacuation order each communicates a different threat or action.

When an alert arrives, identify:

• Who issued it
• When it was issued
• Which area it covers
• Which hazard it describes
• When the hazard is expected
• What action officials recommend
• When the information will be updated

Do not wait for the forecast track to pass directly over the home. Dangerous wind, flooding, storm surge, tornadoes, and road conditions can occur far from the forecast center.

Wireless Emergency Alerts can deliver geographically targeted emergency messages to compatible mobile devices.

Check every household phone to confirm that emergency alerts are enabled. Menu names and available settings vary by device, operating system, wireless provider, and alert type.

Do not silence or disable important alerts simply because previous messages did not affect your exact location.

Wireless Emergency Alerts are an important layer, but they are not guaranteed to reach every phone. A device may be turned off, discharged, incompatible, outside coverage, disconnected from the network, or affected by local conditions.

Use additional alert methods.

Many counties and municipalities offer local notification systems for emergencies, evacuation information, road closures, public safety events, and recovery updates.

Register every relevant address, including:

• Home
• Workplace
• School
• Family member’s residence
• Evacuation destination
• Seasonal or secondary residence

Some systems allow telephone, text, and email notifications.

Confirm registration before hurricane season and update old telephone numbers, addresses, and email accounts.

Also review alert systems used by:

• Employers
• Schools
• Condominium associations
• Apartment communities
• Assisted-living facilities
• Houses of worship
• Utilities
• Transportation services

Do not assume that registering one household phone automatically enrolls every family member.

NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts official National Weather Service forecasts, watches, warnings, and hazard information around the clock.

Choose a receiver that can operate without household electricity.

Possible power options include:

• Replaceable batteries
• Rechargeable batteries
• Household power with battery backup
• Hand-crank charging
• Compatible external charging

A radio with Specific Area Message Encoding, commonly called SAME, can be programmed for selected counties or geographic areas.

Use the official county code and confirm that the chosen transmitter serves the location.

Include counties along the evacuation route or around the destination when appropriate.

Test the radio where it will actually be used.

Confirm:

• The correct frequency
• Clear reception
• SAME programming
• Alert volume
• Battery condition
• Backup power
• Display visibility
• Whether everyone recognizes the alarm

A radio stored in its box with dead batteries or incorrect programming is not a dependable warning system.

A battery-powered AM/FM radio may provide local information when cellular data, internet service, and television are unavailable.

Identify local stations that provide:

• Weather coverage
• Emergency announcements
• Evacuation information
• Shelter updates
• Road closures
• Utility information
• Recovery instructions

Write the frequencies on the radio or communication card.

Local broadcasters may repeat official information, but important instructions should still be verified with the issuing authority when possible.

Before hurricane season:

• Install operating-system updates.
• Confirm emergency-alert settings.
• Add emergency contacts.
• Review emergency calling features.
• Complete the device’s medical information when appropriate.
• Enable a secure screen lock.
• Learn how to share location.
• Download necessary apps.
• Download offline maps.
• Save important documents for offline access.
• Confirm cloud backups.
• Remove unnecessary stored files if space is limited.
• Label charging cables.
• Test vehicle charging.
• Test every power bank.
• Protect the device from water.

Know how the phone’s emergency features work before they are needed. Features vary by model, carrier, account, location, and software version.

Important accounts may require a password, authentication app, text message, email, or another device.

Review access to:

• Email
• Banking
• Insurance
• Medical portals
• Utility accounts
• Hotel reservations
• Cloud storage
• Navigation services
• Work systems
• Pet records
• Emergency contacts

Keep secure recovery methods available.

Do not place exposed passwords, complete financial information, or unrestricted account credentials on a general emergency contact card.

If an account depends on text-message verification, consider what will happen when the phone or cellular network is unavailable.

Prepare for the internet, cloud services, and mobile apps to become unavailable.

Download or print:

• Emergency contacts
• Evacuation routes
• Offline maps
• Hotel or shelter information
• Reservation confirmations
• Medical information
• Prescription information
• Insurance policies
• Identification
• Vehicle information
• Pet records
• School and employer contacts
• Utility account information
• Important addresses
• Local radio frequencies
• NOAA Weather Radio information

Store paper copies in a waterproof container.

Update downloaded maps and documents before each hurricane season and again when a storm threatens.

During an emergency, text messages may go through when voice calls cannot, although delivery may be delayed.

When service is limited:

• Keep messages short.
• State your name.
• State your location.
• State whether you are safe.
• State where you are going.
• State what help is needed.
• Include the time the message was written.
• Send one clear update to the out-of-area contact.
• Avoid unnecessary attachments.
• Limit repeated calls and messages.
• Wait for delayed messages to process.

A useful check-in message may be:

“Mark safe at home in Lantana at 4:30 PM. Power is out. No flooding inside. Staying here unless officials order evacuation. Next check-in at 7:00 PM.”

Include the time because delayed messages may arrive out of order.

Do not assume a message was received until the recipient confirms it.

Choose planned check-in times before communication becomes unreliable.

For example:

• After an evacuation begins
• Upon reaching the destination
• At a scheduled morning time
• At a scheduled evening time
• After conditions become safe
• Before returning home
• After completing a recovery task away from the property

Scheduled check-ins reduce unnecessary battery use and repeated calls.

If someone misses a check-in, the plan should explain:

• Who tries to contact them
• How long to wait
• Which backup method to use
• Who contacts the out-of-area person
• When the situation should be treated as an emergency

Do not create a check-in schedule that requires someone to go outside or travel during dangerous conditions.

Call 911 for an immediate threat to life, safety, or property.

When connected:

• State the location first.
• Describe the emergency clearly.
• Provide a callback number.
• Follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
• Do not hang up unless directed.
• Call again if the situation materially changes.

Voice calling remains the preferred method when it is available.

Text-to-911 availability varies by location and service. Use it only when voice calling is not possible or appropriate and the local 911 center supports it.

When texting 911:

• Begin with the exact location.
• Describe the emergency.
• Use plain language.
• Answer every question.
• Do not use group messaging.
• Do not attach unnecessary images or videos.
• Do not assume the text was received without a response.

Never send a test message to 911.

Emergency response may be delayed or suspended during the most dangerous storm conditions. Early preparation and evacuation remain essential.

During an extended outage:

• Reduce screen brightness.
• Enable battery-saving mode.
• Shorten screen timeout.
• Use a flashlight or lantern instead of the phone light.
• Close unnecessary apps.
• Limit video streaming.
• Download information instead of repeatedly loading it.
• Use scheduled check-ins.
• Turn off unneeded Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connections.
• Keep the phone away from excessive heat.
• Charge whenever safe power is available.

Airplane mode can conserve power, but it also interrupts ordinary cellular communication and may prevent calls, messages, or alerts. Use it only when that tradeoff is understood, and reconnect periodically when appropriate.

Keep at least one household phone available for emergency communication.

Prepare more than one safe charging method.

Possible layers include:

• Wall chargers
• Power banks
• Vehicle chargers
• Portable power stations
• Solar charging
• Replaceable batteries
• Approved battery packs for specific devices

Match every device with the correct:

• Cable
• Connector
• Adapter
• Voltage
• Charging method

Label the cables and store them together.

Do not run a vehicle inside a garage or another enclosed or partially enclosed space to charge devices. Move the vehicle completely outdoors and away from doors, windows, and vents.

Use Power and Lighting for the complete backup-power plan.

Short-range two-way radios can help household members communicate when they are nearby but separated.

They may be useful:

• Between vehicles
• Around a property
• At a campground
• Inside a shelter when permitted
• During neighborhood coordination
• When cellular service is unavailable

Radio range depends on terrain, buildings, antennas, power, interference, elevation, and equipment. Advertising claims based on ideal conditions may not reflect real hurricane use.

Family Radio Service radios are commonly used for short-range personal communication.

Use only approved equipment and follow current FCC operating rules.

General Mobile Radio Service equipment can provide additional capabilities, depending on the radio and local conditions.

GMRS operation generally requires an FCC license. Confirm current licensing and operating requirements before use.

Amateur radio can support local and long-distance communication, but normal operation requires an appropriate FCC license and practical training.

Do not buy amateur-radio equipment and assume it will provide useful emergency communication without programming knowledge, antennas, practice, and an understanding of local repeaters.

Assume other people can hear radio conversations.

Do not transmit:

• Passwords
• Financial information
• Sensitive medical details
• Alarm codes
• Unnecessary personal information
• Information that could place someone at risk

Agree on simple household phrases and channels before the storm. Test them in the locations where the radios may be used.

Some satellite communicators and compatible phones can provide messaging or emergency features when terrestrial cellular service is unavailable.

Capabilities vary significantly.

Before relying on one, confirm:

• Geographic coverage
• Subscription requirements
• Activation status
• Message limitations
• Emergency features
• Required apps
• Recipient requirements
• Battery runtime
• Charging method
• Weather resistance
• Whether a clear view of the sky is needed
• Whether service works at the evacuation destination

Activate, update, and test the device before hurricane season.

Satellite communication can add redundancy, but it does not guarantee immediate rescue, uninterrupted coverage, or successful operation from every location.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and applicable laws.

Each evacuation vehicle should have:

• Charged phones
• Vehicle charging cables
• Power banks
• Printed contact cards
• Offline maps
• A paper road map
• Local radio frequencies
• Destination information
• Reservation details
• Emergency contact numbers
• A way to receive official alerts
• Two-way radios when part of the household plan

When traveling in multiple vehicles:

• Choose the lead vehicle.
• Choose the final vehicle.
• Set the destination before departure.
• Agree on fuel and rest stops.
• Set check-in intervals.
• Choose a radio channel when appropriate.
• Establish what to do if separated.
• Avoid stopping on road shoulders unless necessary for safety.

Drivers should not operate handheld devices while the vehicle is moving.

Use Evacuation Routes and Vehicle Preparation for the complete travel plan.

Children should know, at an age-appropriate level:

• Their full name
• Their home address
• Parent or caregiver names
• At least one telephone number
• The out-of-area contact
• Where to meet
• Which adults are authorized to help
• How to call 911
• What to do if separated
• Not to share family information with strangers unnecessarily

Place a contact card inside the child’s bag or clothing pocket when appropriate.

Review school and childcare reunification procedures. Confirm who may pick up the child and what identification is required.

Do not assume the school’s plan and the household’s plan are the same.

Communication plans should account for people who may have difficulty hearing, seeing, speaking, reading, understanding, remembering, or physically operating a device.

Possible preparations include:

• Visual alerting devices
• Vibrating alerts
• Accessible emergency apps
• Written instructions
• Large-print contact cards
• Picture-based communication boards
• Hearing-aid batteries
• Device chargers
• Speech-generating devices
• Telecommunications Relay Services
• A designated communication assistant
• Messages in the person’s preferred language
• Backup methods that do not require fine motor control

Ask each person what communication method works best.

Use Family and Pets and Special Needs and Medical for additional household and evacuation planning.

Add pet and service-animal information to the communication plan.

Record:

• Name and description
• Current photograph
• Microchip information
• Veterinarian
• Medication
• Medical conditions
• Vaccination records
• Emergency caregiver
• Evacuation destination
• Shelter or hotel arrangements

If someone other than the owner may evacuate the animal, provide written instructions and authorization when appropriate.

Use Family and Pets for the complete animal-preparedness plan.

Outdated screenshots, altered images, rumors, and posts without location or time information can spread rapidly during a hurricane.

Before acting on or sharing information, ask:

• Who issued it?
• Is the account or website official?
• When was it published?
• Which location does it cover?
• Is the message current?
• Can it be confirmed elsewhere?
• Does local emergency management support it?
• Has the situation changed since it was posted?

A screenshot may continue circulating after the original message has been corrected or withdrawn.

Share the official source link when possible. Include the location, date, and time.

Do not repeat an unconfirmed evacuation order, shelter opening, road closure, or emergency-resource location.

Communication remains essential after the wind has stopped.

Monitor official updates concerning:

• Reentry
• Curfews
• Road closures
• Flooding
• Downed power lines
• Boil-water notices
• Shelter changes
• Cooling centers
• Fuel availability
• Utility restoration
• Debris collection
• Medical services
• Disaster assistance
• School and business reopening

Notify the out-of-area contact when the household is safe.

Avoid overwhelming local networks with unnecessary calls. Use text messages and scheduled updates when appropriate.

Document the name, time, confirmation number, and instructions associated with insurance, utility, contractor, government, and assistance calls.

Some neighbors may live alone, have limited mobility, lack internet access, speak another language, or need assistance operating communication equipment.

Before hurricane season:

• Exchange contact information.
• Identify who may need an alert delivered personally.
• Discuss safe check-in methods.
• Confirm language and accessibility needs.
• Identify who has a weather radio.
• Choose a backup contact.
• Set boundaries around private information.

Share verified information from official sources.

Do not promise emergency assistance, transportation, medical care, or equipment that you may be unable to provide.

Conduct a household test before hurricane season.

Practice:

• Receiving alerts
• Contacting the out-of-area person
• Sending a group check-in
• Using the meeting locations
• Finding printed contact cards
• Opening offline maps
• Charging every device
• Operating the weather radio
• Using two-way radios
• Sharing a location
• Accessing important offline records
• Reaching a backup caregiver
• Communicating without internet access

Include children, caregivers, and anyone who may assist during evacuation.

Correct missing numbers, dead batteries, forgotten passwords, incompatible cables, weak radio reception, and unclear responsibilities.

A plan that has not been practiced is still an assumption.

Before hurricane season:

• Create the household communication plan.
• Select primary and backup contacts.
• Choose meeting locations.
• Print contact cards.
• Register for local alerts.
• Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts.
• Program and test the weather radio.
• Identify local radio stations.
• Download offline maps.
• Update emergency apps.
• Test vehicle charging.
• Test power banks.
• Review radio licensing.
• Confirm accessible communication needs.
• Review school and workplace plans.
• Practice the complete plan.

Before conditions deteriorate:

• Review the latest official forecast.
• Monitor local emergency management.
• Charge every phone and communication device.
• Charge every power bank.
• Replace radio batteries.
• Update offline maps.
• Download important documents.
• Confirm the destination.
• Confirm the out-of-area contact.
• Send the first household status update.
• Review meeting locations.
• Place contact cards in bags and vehicles.
• Protect devices from water.
• Set the first scheduled check-in.
• Keep emergency alerts enabled.

Do not delay evacuation to finish charging or configuring equipment.

A phone can be lost, broken, discharged, overheated, or disconnected from the network.

Some local systems require registration, and phone settings may affect which alerts are received.

Local hazards and evacuation decisions involve more than the center of the hurricane forecast.

Cloud accounts and contact lists may become inaccessible without power, data service, passwords, or authentication.

One central contact can reduce repeated calls and help reconnect separated household members.

Unnecessary calls use battery power and add traffic to congested networks.

Delayed messages may arrive out of order and create confusion.

Buildings, terrain, weather, antennas, elevation, and interference affect real-world performance.

Licensing, programming, frequencies, batteries, antennas, and local coverage matter.

Fast information is not always accurate, current, or relevant to the correct location.

An alert is not useful if someone cannot hear, see, understand, or respond to it.

Missing cables, dead batteries, outdated numbers, poor radio reception, and unclear instructions are easier to correct before a hurricane.

Use Real-Time Maps and Alerts to organize official forecasts, emergency orders, road conditions, shelters, and local warning sources.

Review Product Recommendations for communication, charging, radio, and navigation equipment.

Use Power and Lighting to prepare backup charging and electricity.

Review Family and Pets for children, older adults, disabilities, pets, and service animals.

Use Medical and Safety for emergency medical contacts, health records, powered medical equipment, and medication planning.

Keep Bug Out Bags ready with contact cards, chargers, radios, printed maps, and protected documents.

Use Vehicle Preparation for evacuation charging, navigation, and vehicle communication supplies.

Review Evacuation Planning and Evacuation Routes before selecting meeting locations and travel plans.

Use Special Needs and Medical for accessible transportation, sheltering, and communication support.