FORT PAYNE— The DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency is encouraging residents to take time to develop a family emergency communication plan as part of its ongoing preparedness awareness campaign.

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The agency’s Week 2 preparedness focus centers on helping families prepare for emergencies before they happen by establishing clear communication strategies and meeting locations.

Emergency officials say one of the first concerns families face during severe weather, power outages, flooding, or other disasters is determining how to reconnect with loved ones if they become separated. Family members may be at work, school, daycare, or traveling when an emergency occurs, and cell phone service can become overloaded or unavailable.

To help reduce confusion and stress during an emergency, EMA officials recommend that families discuss in advance how they will communicate and reunite if normal routines are disrupted.

Among the questions families should consider are how they will contact one another, where they will meet if they cannot return home, who will pick up children if parents are unavailable, and how they will communicate if local phone service is interrupted.

Emergency management officials recommend that every family identify two meeting locations. The first should be a nearby location close to home, such as a mailbox, neighbor’s residence, community center, or church parking lot. A second meeting place should be designated outside the immediate neighborhood in case the area becomes inaccessible. Examples include a relative’s home, a public library, a school parking lot, or a community shelter.

The agency also encourages families to designate an out-of-area contact who can serve as a central point of communication. During major emergencies, long-distance calls may sometimes be more reliable than local calls. Family members should know the contact’s name, phone number, and address and be prepared to check in through that individual if separated.

Officials further recommend maintaining a printed list of important phone numbers, including family members, schools, daycare providers, doctors, pharmacies, emergency contacts, utility companies, and insurance providers. Copies should be stored in emergency kits, vehicles, and wallets in case electronic devices become unavailable.

The Emergency Management Agency stresses the importance of including children in emergency planning. Children should know their full name, home address, parent or guardian phone numbers, designated meeting locations, and how to call 911 when necessary.

Preparedness experts note that a communication plan is only effective if it is practiced regularly. Families are encouraged to review their plans at least twice a year, update contact information as needed, and rehearse meeting procedures for various emergency situations.

As this week’s preparedness challenge, the DeKalb County EMA is asking residents to spend 15 minutes creating a simple family emergency communication plan that includes two meeting places, an out-of-area contact, and a list of important phone numbers.

The agency’s preparedness series will continue next week with information about weather radios and their role in providing critical warnings during severe weather events, particularly overnight storms.

The DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency says preparedness today helps build resilience tomorrow and encourages all residents to take proactive steps to protect their families before an emergency occurs.