Salem Reporter publishes a regular column from Mark Wardell, West Salem team leader for Salem’s Community Emergency Response Team, focusing on emergency preparedness and planning.

Last month, we explored the different parts of a family emergency plan. This month, we’re not just talking about it; we’re doing it! We’ll walk through the process of building your family’s emergency plan, using my own household as a practical example. The goal is to make this tangible, guiding you step-by-step to create a plan that fits your unique needs.

Step 1: Communication plan

In an emergency, traditional communication lines like cell towers and even landlines can become overwhelmed or damaged. This is why a solid communication strategy is the cornerstone of any effective family emergency plan.

Your out-of-area contact: First, every family needs an “out-of-area contact.” This is a designated relative or friend who lives far enough away that they are unlikely to be impacted by the same local disaster affecting Salem, Marion, or Polk County. If a major earthquake hits, local phone lines might be jammed, but if there is any service at all, a text might get through. This person acts as a central hub where family members can check in and leave messages for others.

For our family, we’ve selected my brother who lives in Virginia as our out-of-area contact. I’ve made sure his name, phone number, and email address are all current and correct. When selecting your out-of-area contact, don’t forget to ask them and make sure they know what the plan is and that they are becoming a key part of your emergency plan.

Local contact: Much of the focus in emergency planning is on out-of-area contacts, and of course, this is because during a smaller local event our family is more likely to be able to stay in contact without the need of someone outside the area. That said, I think it’s also vital that you plan for someone local you can call on as well. Naturally, many of us have family or friends that would fall into this category without a second thought. But that’s the point: I want you to think about who these people are and talk with them about it as well.

Family check-in methods: Beyond a central contact, how will your family members communicate directly with each other?

• Texting over calling: Text messages often get through when voice calls cannot, as they use less bandwidth. Discuss with your family the importance of trying to text first.
• Pre-arranged messages: You might consider simple pre-arranged messages, like the “O” for okay, “E” for evacuated, or “P” for “pray for us” concept we discussed last month. A brief, clear message can convey vital information quickly.
• Social media check-ins: If power and internet are available, platforms like Facebook’s Safety Check can be useful. However, don’t rely solely on these.
• Low-tech options: What if all else fails? Could you have designated communication spots (e.g., a note on the inside of a specific window, or a specific yard ornament indicating status)?

Step 2: Local meeting points

If you’re separated and can’t communicate, where will you meet? You need at least two:

Immediate outside meeting place: This is for quick-response emergencies like a house fire. It should be a safe distance from your home but still easily visible – perhaps a specific tree, a neighbor’s mailbox, or the end of your driveway. Everyone knows to go there first. For my family, we’re using the light pole at the end of our driveway for this. This is also a designated place for someone to leave a message, if necessary, for instance, if the house is unsafe and they’ve been there but needed to relocate elsewhere.

Neighborhood meeting place: This is for situations where your home is unsafe or inaccessible (e.g., a gas leak, a larger localized event). This should be a recognizable landmark a bit further away, like a community park, a school, a specific corner store, or a place of worship. It’s a spot where you can regroup if your immediate home area is compromised. I’ll confess, even knowing I was writing this, we’re still working on this point. A lot depends on who is where, so the answer for us is “it depends”—that’s a question we’re still working on.

More next month

That’s where I’m going to stop on our emergency plan. We’ll pick this up again next month with more of a deep dive into the remaining parts of a family emergency plan.

Here are your assignments for now:

• Who would this out-of-area contact be? Write down their name, phone number, and email for everyone in your family to know. Make sure this person is aware they are your designated contact!
• What communication methods will you prioritize? How will children or those without cell phones communicate? Write down these agreed-upon methods.
• What are these two specific meeting places? Draw them on a simple map of your home and neighborhood if that helps.

National Night Out

I wanted to close this article by sharing some thoughts with you that I will be using for a presentation I’ll be making for a National Night Out gathering here in West Salem. In case you didn’t know, National Night Out is August 5; I imagine you can find a gathering nearby.

When I come to speak for a group, it’s never a lecture on my part. I’ll spend a couple of minutes introducing myself, I’ll probably slip in some good words about CERT, then I’ll move on to any specific topic I’ve been asked to speak about.

This time, I plan to begin by asking what you’re already prepared for. Do you have a flashlight and some extra batteries? Do you have some Band-Aids, or even a basic first-aid kit, around your house? Do you have enough food in your pantry/food cabinet to last more than a couple of days? This one is getting rarer, but do you have a spare tire in your car? Or a first-aid kit in your car?

These are all things many of us do to be prepared for things we’ve experienced, or can easily relate to, without even thinking about them. Our power has gone out, and I’ve needed those flashlights. I’ve also needed a first-aid kit when that rose bush I was pruning fought back. We’re in a new-to-us car, and it came without a spare tire, and that makes me nervous because I’ve had to deal with a blown-out tire more than once before. But having prepared for all of these everyday life challenges, we just need to apply that same mindset to being prepared for the bigger challenges that thankfully don’t occur regularly.

That’s how my presentation begins, and then we transition to Q&A. That’s also what these articles are about. If we can be just a little more prepared than we are today, we’re making progress.

If you have any questions about this article, preparedness in general, or if you’d like to inquire about joining CERT or scheduling a CERT presentation for your organization, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Mark Wardell, at [email protected].

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