Are You Prepared for Communications in an Emergency?

When we think of emergencies, we often picture tornadoes, floods, or power outages. But what if the crisis impacted something we rely on daily—our ability to communicate? In an increasingly connected world, a failure of phone networks or internet services can leave families struggling to reach one another. That’s why including a communications plan in your emergency preparedness strategy is crucial.

Are You Prepared for Communications in an Emergency?

Bruce County, Ontario: When we think of emergencies, we often picture tornadoes, floods, or power outages. But what if the crisis impacted something we rely on daily—our ability to communicate? In an increasingly connected world, a failure of phone networks or internet services can leave families struggling to reach one another. That’s why including a communications plan in your emergency preparedness strategy is crucial.

Cell phone networks and internet services can go down due to severe weather, cyberattacks, or infrastructure failures. Having a plan in place can ensure you and your loved ones stay connected when it matters most.

How to Prepare for a Communications Failure:

✅ Keep a landline phone at home. Ensure it will still work during a power outage and consider having a battery backup.

✅ Use a generator wisely. If you have one, test it before an emergency to understand how many devices it can support. Unplug non-essential appliances to extend its capacity.

✅ Have a hard copy of key contacts. Store written phone numbers for family, emergency services, and medical providers in case your phone battery dies, or digital records are inaccessible.

✅ Set a family meeting location. If phone contact isn’t possible, agree in advance on a place to reunite.

✅ Know your child’s school emergency plan. Schools have procedures in place for communication failures—ensure your family’s plan aligns with theirs.

✅ Back up essential documents. Print copies of medical records, insurance information, and emergency plans. Store them in a waterproof container and keep digital backups on an external drive or in the cloud.

✅ Prepare for recovery. Regularly back up important computer files so you can quickly regain access to critical information after an outage.

"We rely so heavily on our phones and computers that a communications failure can cause significant stress," says Ray Lux, Bruce County Emergency Management Coordinator. "Having a backup plan will help keep your loved ones safe and ensure you can stay connected when it matters most. Talk to your family now, so you’re prepared before an emergency happens."

For more information on emergency preparedness, visit www.brucecounty.on.ca/living/public-safety

For more information, contact:

Aaron Stauch

Director, Government Relations

astauch@brucecounty.on.ca

226-909-2646