Agree on two meeting points before you ever need them
Alberta’s emergency-plan guidance — like Ready.gov in the US — asks every household to think through how members will communicate or reunite if an...
Alberta’s emergency-plan guidance — like Ready.gov in the US — asks every household to think through how members will communicate or reunite if an emergency happens while they are separated. Two meeting points work well: one close to home for fast-moving local incidents, and one further away for situations where the immediate neighbourhood is unsafe or inaccessible. The local point can be a neighbour’s driveway, a community centre or a familiar parking lot. The away point should be in a different town or with a friend or relative outside the likely evacuation zone. Include an out-of-area contact — someone who lives far enough away that they will not be affected by the same incident — and have everyone in the family memorise that phone number. During a major event, long-distance calls often go through when local lines are jammed, so an out-of-area relay can pass messages between family members faster than you can reach each other directly. Write the plan down, print it, and keep a copy in every grab-and-go bag.
Long-distance calls often get through when local lines are jammed — an out-of-area relay contact can pass messages between separated family members faster than they can reach each other directly.
Source: Alberta — Make an Emergency Plan
Last reviewed 2026-05-02.
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