Family Communication Tips

Identify a contact such as a friend or relative who lives out-of-state for household members to notify they are safe. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be easier to facilitate communications among separated family members.

Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.

Family members should know how to use text messaging. Text messages will often work when voice calls don't.

Subscribe to alert services. Many Wyoming communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. Sign up by contacting your local emergency management or homeland security office. You can also find the links to sign up for your area on the county contacts page.

More information is available at Ready.gov