Why is Family and Emergency Contact Information important for emergency preparedness?

Local phone networks become congested while long-distance lines stay open

How should I store Family and Emergency Contact Information in my emergency kit?

Designate one out-of-state contact who everyone in the family knows to call

Which organizations recommend Family and Emergency Contact Information?

Family and Emergency Contact Information is recommended by CDC, Red Cross, Germany, Sweden as part of a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan.

How much does Family and Emergency Contact Information cost?

Family and Emergency Contact Information typically costs between $5-50 depending on quality and quantity. It's a cost-effective investment in emergency preparedness.

Family and Emergency Contact Information

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Why this item matters

Recommended by

CDC, American Red Cross, Germany, Sweden

Key reasons

Local phone networks become congested while long-distance lines stay open
An out-of-state contact relays messages between separated family members
Children and elderly may not memorise full numbers
Pre-arranged meeting points work even with no communication at all

Where to buy

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About this item

Family and Emergency Contact Information in your emergency kit

In a major disaster, local lines are often jammed but long-distance calls still work. A printed list of family numbers, an out-of-state contact who can relay messages, and meeting points keeps your household reachable when normal communication breaks down. Family and Emergency Contact Information appears on the recommended-supplies lists published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Red Cross, Germany's Federal Office of Civil Protection, Sweden's Civil Contingencies Agency. It is rated High urgency in our checklist, meaning households in high-risk regions should treat it as a baseline item rather than a "nice to have".

Why you need it

Local phone networks become congested while long-distance lines stay open
An out-of-state contact relays messages between separated family members
Children and elderly may not memorise full numbers
Pre-arranged meeting points work even with no communication at all
School and workplace emergency contacts need to be reachable

Storage and rotation tips

Designate one out-of-state contact who everyone in the family knows to call
Include school pickup contacts and workplace emergency lines
Specify two meeting points: one near home (for fires) and one regional (for evacuations)
Children should carry a wallet card with the same information
Review and update twice a year

How it fits the 72-hour baseline

The EmergencyKit.app checklist follows CDC and American Red Cross guidance to cover the first 72 hours after a major disaster, the period during which public services such as power, water, and emergency response are most likely to be disrupted. Family and Emergency Contact Information sits in the Important documents category and should be packed in your stay-at-home kit at minimum, with a smaller portable version in your evacuation go-bag. Review your stock at least once a year, and replace anything past its use-by date.

About the EmergencyKit.app checklist

How we built it

EmergencyKit.app combines the official emergency-kit recommendations published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Red Cross, USA.gov's Ready.gov campaign, and the German Federal Office of Civil Protection (BBK) and Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB). Each item on the checklist is tagged with the organisations that recommend it so you can see at a glance how well-supported it is.

The 20% body-weight rule

A go-bag should weigh no more than roughly 20% of the carrier's body weight. Above that threshold, evacuating on foot becomes painful, slow, and risky for older or smaller adults and for children. The weight checker on the homepage estimates your kit's total weight from the items you select and warns you when you cross the limit, so you can swap heavier items for lighter alternatives before you actually need to leave.

Three days, then more

The baseline kit covers a 72-hour window because that is how long it typically takes public services to restore basic supplies after a major disaster. Households in high-risk regions for hurricanes, wildfires, or earthquakes should plan for at least two weeks of food, water, and prescription medication on top of the baseline kit.