When cell service is down or lines are jammed, a simple plan keeps your people connected and your key info reachable offline.
Key takeaways
Pick one out-of-area contact everyone checks in with.
Keep a paper contact list — phones die and networks fail.
Save key info offline and on paper.
Step-by-step
Build a phone tree. Decide who calls whom, and choose one out-of-area contact as the central check-in — long-distance lines often work when local ones jam.
Keep it on paper. Write your key numbers and a printed list of directions to important resources. Don't rely only on your phone.
Stay informed. Know your local radio station, subscribe to emergency alerts, and take offline screenshots of maps and key pages.
When cell service is down. Try texts (they often go through when calls won't), conserve battery, and meet at your agreed place if you can't reach anyone.
