March: Communication

When there’s a disaster, you need to make sure you and your family (or you and your employees) can communicate about your status and whereabouts. Ensuring connectivity requires a plan, access to emergency alerts, and a way to keep your devices charged. A disaster makes communication difficult: The power might go out, the Internet might be down, and cell service might be sketchy or nonexistent.

Activity

In March we’re focusing on communication.

  1. Choose an out-of-state contact for everyone in your family. Cell service out of state often continues working when local lines are down.

  2. Create a list of additional emergency contacts and make sure everyone in your family has them.

  3. Subscribe everyone to Nixle (text 9810 to 888777). Read more here.

  4. Download the MyShake app to get earthquake early warnings.

  5. Make sure all children have backpack cards with emergency contact. info.

  6. Keep phone chargers fully charged. Consider adding a solar charger or portable generator to your kit.

Documentation

Submit the required documentation.

Prize

Your submission will be entered in a drawing to win the March prize: An emergency solar/hand-crank/battery radio with NOAA weather alerts, flashlight, USB charging port, SOS alarm.

You may submit your documentation at any time up until the end of the first Friday of the following month. You may submit early for ensuing months. Remember to stamp your passport for each completed month.