Family Communication in Emergencies

Our prayers go out to everyone injured in the explosions at the Boston Marathon this afternoon and to all the friends and family members desperate to confirm that their loved ones are alright. Mid-South VOAD offers training and tips for responding and recovering to all types of disasters, both natural and man-made. Here's a tip for how families can best communicate with each other during a disaster or emergency:

Designate a friend or family member who lives outside your region for family members to check in with. Long-distance calls will often go thru when local lines are clogged. Also tweet and text whenever possible because they take up less space in the communication systems. Everyone should check in with the mutual contact rather than trying to contact each other.