It is important for families to stay connected during an emergency – in this case an earthquake. During one, families could be separated by a long distance. This is a real possibility when during the day, the adults are at work and the children are at school. A specific meeting spot should be agreed upon should the family be separated and the earthquake hit. By doing this, everyone will know where to go to meet with their loved ones.

If a family member cannot make it to the meeting spot, he or she should call someone living far away (a place that is far enough not to be affected by the quake) to tell them that they are okay. This one person should be decided on and would act as a messenger for all the family members. During an earthquake telephones could stop working. By calling the agreed upon person from any phone that still works, the rest of the family can be at ease as to the safety of the missing person. Everyone should contact the messenger as soon as possible after the earthquake hits. Also, keep phoning in with updates like who has shown up to the meeting spot and who hasn’t.