Plan for how you will communicate with loved ones after a disaster.

• Long-distance phone lines often work before local phone lines, so identify an out-of-state contact and provide this person with the contact information of people you want to keep informed of your situation. Share this information with your family and friends locally.
• 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 in your Go-bag. Payphones are more likely to work before other phone lines.
• Cordless phones or phone systems require electricity, so make sure you have a backup phone that requires no electricity.
• After an earthquake, check all your telephones to be sure they have not shaken off the hook and are tying up a line.