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How to make a family emergency plan
The phones are down, the school is closed and nobody knows who is picking up the kids. That is the moment a plan is for. A calm half hour around the kitchen table now saves the frantic calls later, and the whole family knows what to do without asking.
A plan the whole family can follow, then emergency preparedness apps. Every country has its own civil protection guidance and emergency numbers. Start from the official advice for where you live, and treat apps as a helper, not the plan itself.
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Agree on where and who
Pick a meeting point near home and one outside the neighbourhood. Choose a relative in another city as the person everyone checks in with. Write it down and put a copy in every bag and wallet.
Turn on official alerts
Switch on emergency alerts in the phone settings and install the alert app your authorities recommend. See how to set up air raid alerts on your phone and air raid alert apps.
Pack the basics
A grab bag holds water, a torch, a power bank, copies of documents and the medicines your family needs. See how to put together a home first aid kit and how to prepare for a power outage.
Practise once
Walk the route to the meeting point with the children. Agree on how you will share locations; see how to share your location with family safely. Compare tools in emergency preparedness apps.
| Step | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Meeting point | one near home, one further away | everyone knows where to go |
| 2. Contacts on paper | numbers and an out-of-area contact | works with a dead phone |
| 3. Who does what | children, pets, older relatives | no one is forgotten |
| 4. Grab bag | water, torch, medicines, document copies | ready to leave |
| 5. Official alerts | on every phone in the family | early warning |
Frequently asked questions
What should a family emergency plan include?
Meeting points, an out-of-area contact, key numbers on paper, who looks after whom and a grab bag.
Why write numbers on paper?
Phones run flat and networks go down. Paper still works.
Where do I find official guidance?
From your national or local civil protection service. Follow their advice over any app.