Phone dead in a disaster or evacuation: reach your family¶

In a flood, wildfire, earthquake, storm or other disaster, your phone is the tool you reach for first. It carries your alerts, your maps, your family's numbers and your way to call for help. It is also one of the first things to fail, because batteries drain, towers lose power and networks fill with people trying to reach each other at once.

This guide explains how to keep in touch and stay informed when the phone dies or the network fails. It covers what to do in the first minutes, why text messages work better than calls, how an out of area contact helps, how to use radios and emergency alerts, how to find family and meeting places, and how to prepare so that you do not depend on one device. If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom) while you still can. See លេខសង្គ្រោះបន្ទាន់ សម្រាប់ប្រទេសផ្សេងៗ។

ធ្វើដូចនេះឥឡូវនេះ¶

1. Get safe before you try to fix your phone. Follow evacuation orders, move to higher ground or shelter as the situation requires, and bring your family. A phone is not worth a risk.
2. Send one short text to your family contact. Say that you are safe, where you are and where you are going. Texts often get through when calls fail, and a short text uses little battery.
3. Switch the phone to low power mode and dim the screen. Keep the battery for texts, alerts and emergency calls.
4. Limit calls to real emergencies. Free the network for people in danger, and use text for everything else.
5. Turn on a battery or hand crank radio if you have one, and listen for official instructions and shelter locations.
6. Charge when you can. Use a power bank, a car charger outside and in the open, or a community charging point at a shelter.

Why phones fail in disasters¶

Disasters hit communication in several ways at once. Knowing the pattern helps you choose the right tool.

• The network gets overloaded. After a major event, millions of people call at the same time. Calls may fail or drop, while short text messages often go through because they use much less capacity.
• Towers and lines are damaged. Wind, flood, fire and earthquakes can break masts, power lines and fibre cables. Cell towers have backup batteries, but these last hours, not days.
• Power goes out. Without electricity, home routers, landlines with cordless bases and phone chargers stop working.
• Your battery runs down. Searching for a signal, using maps and constant checking drain it fast.
• You have to leave in a hurry. Many people forget chargers and cables, and leave the house with half a battery.
• Information gets confused. Rumours spread, and official updates can be hard to find without a signal.

Because of this, relying on the phone alone is risky. A plan with several layers is much safer.

ផ្ញើសារជាអក្សរទីមួយ ហៅទីពីរ¶

ការណែនាំជាផ្លូវការពីភ្នាក់ងារដូចជា Ready.gov និងទីភ្នាក់ងារគ្រប់គ្រងគ្រោះអាសន្នសហព័ន្ធ (FEMA) នៅសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ណែនាំមនុស្សឱ្យផ្ញើសារជាអក្សរជាជាងហៅទូរសព្ទអំឡុងពេលមានគ្រោះមហន្តរាយ លុះត្រាតែមានគ្រោះអាសន្ន។ កាកបាទក្រហមផ្តល់ដំបូន្មានដូចគ្នា។

ហេតុអ្វីបានជាអត្ថបទដំណើរការប្រសើរជាងមុន។¶

សារជាអក្សរតូច។ វា​អាច​រង់ចាំ​ជា​ជួរ ហើយ​ត្រូវ​បាន​បញ្ជូន​នៅ​ពេល​ដែល​សញ្ញា​លេច​ឡើង ខណៈ​ពេល​ដែល​ការ​ហៅ​ទូរសព្ទ​ត្រូវ​ការ​ការ​តភ្ជាប់​ថេរ​សម្រាប់​ការ​សន្ទនា​ទាំង​មូល។ នេះមានន័យថា អត្ថបទអាចមកដល់ ទោះបីជាអ្នកមានរបារតែមួយ ឬបណ្តាញមានមនុស្សច្រើនក៏ដោយ។

របៀបសរសេរអត្ថបទឱ្យបានល្អក្នុងវិបត្តិ¶

1. ** រក្សាវាឱ្យខ្លី។** សរសេរ "សុវត្ថិភាពនៅសាលា Oak St. ទូរស័ព្ទទាប។ នឹងផ្ញើសារនៅម៉ោង 6" ។ មិនមែនជារឿងវែងទេ។
2. ផ្តល់ការពិតសំខាន់ៗ។ អ្នកជានរណា ប្រសិនបើវាមិនច្បាស់ អ្នកមានសុវត្ថិភាព កន្លែងណា និងជំហានបន្ទាប់របស់អ្នក។
3. ផ្ញើម្តង រួចរង់ចាំ។ ផ្ញើម្តងទៀត ហើយម្តងទៀត បន្ថែមលើការផ្ទុក។
4. កុំផ្ញើរូបថត ឬវីដេអូ។ ពួកគេប្រើប្រាស់ទិន្នន័យ និងថាមពលកាន់តែច្រើន។
5. ប្រសិនបើសារបរាជ័យ សូមព្យាយាមម្តងទៀតនៅពេលក្រោយ។ ទូរសព្ទមួយចំនួននឹងបញ្ជូនសារឡើងវិញដោយស្វ័យប្រវត្តិនៅពេលមានសញ្ញាបង្ហាញ។
6. សុំឱ្យមនុស្សឆ្លើយតបតាមអត្ថបទ មិនមែនដោយការហៅទេ។
7. ** ប្រើសារជាក្រុមដោយតិចតួច។** សារមួយទៅកាន់ក្រុមមនុស្សសំខាន់គឺល្អជាងមនុស្សជាច្រើន។
8. អត់ធ្មត់។ ការឆ្លើយតបអាចចំណាយពេលប៉ុន្មាននាទី ឬច្រើនម៉ោង។

វិធីផ្សេងទៀតដើម្បីផ្ញើសារ¶

• កម្មវិធីផ្ញើសារ និងប្រព័ន្ធផ្សព្វផ្សាយសង្គម អាចដំណើរការតាមរយៈ Wi-Fi ឬទិន្នន័យទូរសព្ទចល័ត ទោះបីជាការហៅជាសំឡេងបរាជ័យក៏ដោយ។ ពួកគេត្រូវការការតភ្ជាប់ទិន្នន័យ។
• ពិនិត្យឧបករណ៍។ វេទិកាសង្គម និងភ្នាក់ងារមួយចំនួនមានឧបករណ៍ "ខ្ញុំមានសុវត្ថិភាព"។ កាកបាទក្រហមក៏ផ្តល់សេវានៅក្នុងប្រទេសមួយចំនួនដើម្បីចុះឈ្មោះថាអ្នកមានសុវត្ថិភាព។ ពិនិត្យមើលថាតើវាមាននៅកន្លែងដែលអ្នករស់នៅដែរឬទេ។
• អ៊ីមែល អាចធ្វើការនៅបណ្ណាល័យ កន្លែងស្នាក់នៅ ឬអាជីវកម្មជាមួយអ៊ីនធឺណិត។
• ការផ្ញើសារតាមផ្កាយរណប។ ទូរសព្ទ និងឧបករណ៍ថ្មីៗមួយចំនួនអាចផ្ញើសារខ្លីៗតាមផ្កាយរណប នៅពេលដែលមិនមានសញ្ញាទូរសព្ទ។ វាទាមទារទិដ្ឋភាពមេឃច្បាស់ ហើយមិនមែនទូរសព្ទ ឬប្រទេសទាំងអស់គាំទ្រវាទេ។

ទំនាក់ទំនងក្រៅតំបន់¶

ឧបករណ៍ដ៏មានប្រសិទ្ធភាពបំផុតមួយនៅក្នុងផែនការគ្រោះមហន្តរាយគឺមនុស្សតែម្នាក់នៅខាងក្រៅតំបន់របស់អ្នក ដែលគ្រប់គ្នាយល់ព្រមហៅទូរសព្ទ ឬផ្ញើសារ។ ជារឿយៗខ្សែបន្ទាត់ក្នុងតំបន់ត្រូវបានស្ទះ ខណៈពេលដែលផ្លូវឆ្ងាយ និងផ្លូវអត្ថបទនៅតែដំណើរការ ហើយទំនាក់ទំនងក្រៅតំបន់ក្លាយជាមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលសារ។

របៀបកំណត់វា។¶

1. ជ្រើសរើសអ្នកដែលរស់នៅក្នុងទីក្រុង តំបន់ ឬប្រទេសផ្សេងទៀត។ ពួកគេគួរតែអាចទុកចិត្តបាន និងទំនងជាមានថាមពល និងទូរសព្ទ។
2. សួរគេជាមុនសិន។ ពន្យល់ថា ក្នុងគ្រាមានអាសន្ន សមាជិកគ្រួសារនឹងទាក់ទងពួកគេដើម្បីឆែកឆេរ ហើយពួកគេគួរតែផ្ញើសារ។
3. ** ផ្តល់លេខរបស់ពួកគេដល់មនុស្សគ្រប់គ្នា។** ដាក់វានៅលើកាតក្រដាស ក្នុងទូរស័ព្ទ និងក្នុងកាបូបរបស់សមាជិកគ្រួសារនីមួយៗ រួមទាំងកុមារផងដែរ។
4. យល់ព្រមនឹងអ្វីដែលត្រូវនិយាយ "ខ្ញុំមានសុវត្ថិភាព។ ខ្ញុំនៅជំរកនៅផ្លូវធំ។ សូមប្រាប់អ្នកដ៏ទៃ"។
5. យល់ព្រមថាតើត្រូវចូលញឹកញាប់ប៉ុណ្ណា។ ឧទាហរណ៍ ផ្ញើអត្ថបទរៀងរាល់ល្ងាចតាមម៉ោងកំណត់។
6. សុំឱ្យទំនាក់ទំនងរក្សាកំណត់ហេតុ។ ពួកគេអាចសរសេរចុះថាអ្នកណាបានចូល និងអ្នកណាមិនទាន់បានចូល។

សូមមើល ម៉ាស៊ីនបង្កើតកាតទំនាក់ទំនងសង្គ្រោះបន្ទាន់ ដើម្បីធ្វើកាត។

អ្វីដែលត្រូវធ្វើក្នុងម៉ោងដំបូង¶

នៅក្នុងព្រឹត្តិការណ៍ភ្លាមៗ ដូចជាការរញ្ជួយដី ទឹកជំនន់ភ្លាមៗ ឬអគ្គីភ័យ ចូរផ្លាស់ទីយ៉ាងលឿន ហើយគិតតាមលំដាប់លំដោយ។

ពីមួយទៅប្រាំនាទី¶

ការពារខ្លួនអ្នក និងអ្នកដែលនៅជាមួយអ្នក។ អនុវត្តតាមវិធានការការពារសម្រាប់គ្រោះថ្នាក់៖ ទម្លាក់ គ្រប និងសង្កត់នៅពេលរញ្ជួយដី ផ្លាស់ទីទៅដីខ្ពស់ក្នុងទឹកជំនន់ ចាកចេញភ្លាមៗនៅក្នុងការជម្លៀសដោយភ្លើងឆេះព្រៃ។ កុំឈប់ដើម្បីរកមើលទូរស័ព្ទរបស់អ្នកប្រសិនបើវាធ្វើឱ្យអ្នកមានគ្រោះថ្នាក់។

ប្រាំទៅដប់ប្រាំនាទី¶

នៅពេលអ្នកមានសុវត្ថិភាព សូមពិនិត្យមើលរបួស ហើយហៅទៅលេខសង្គ្រោះបន្ទាន់ក្នុងតំបន់របស់អ្នក លុះត្រាតែមាននរណាម្នាក់ត្រូវការជំនួយជាបន្ទាន់។ ផ្ញើសារខ្លីមួយទៅកាន់ទំនាក់ទំនងគ្រួសាររបស់អ្នក។ បើករបៀបថាមពលទាប ហើយប្រសិនបើអ្នកមិនប្រើទូរសព្ទទេ សូមដាក់វានៅក្នុងរបៀបជិះយន្តហោះ ដើម្បីសន្សំសំចៃថ្ម។

ដប់ប្រាំទៅហុកសិបនាទី¶

ស្តាប់ការជូនដំណឹង និងការណែនាំ។ ប្រើវិទ្យុប្រសិនបើអ្នកមាន។ ពិនិត្យប្រភពផ្លូវការដែលអ្នកទុកចិត្ត នៅក្នុងបង្អួចខ្លីៗ។ រៀបចំផែនការជំហានបន្ទាប់របស់អ្នក៖ ស្នាក់នៅ ជំរក ឬជម្លៀសចេញ។

ចំណាំកន្លែងដែលសមាជិកគ្រួសារត្រូវបានគេរំពឹងទុក។

ការ​ជូន​ដំណឹង​ពេល​មាន​អាសន្ន¶

ការដាស់តឿនប្រាប់អ្នកពីអ្វីដែលត្រូវធ្វើ និងកន្លែងដែលត្រូវទៅ។ ពួកគេប្រើថ្មតិចតួចណាស់ ហើយអ្នកមិនចាំបាច់ជាវប្រព័ន្ធជាតិសំខាន់ៗទេ។

• ការជូនដំណឹងពេលមានអាសន្នឥតខ្សែ។ នៅក្នុងប្រទេសជាច្រើន រដ្ឋាភិបាលបានផ្ញើការជូនដំណឹងទៅកាន់គ្រប់ទូរសព្ទដែលអាចប្រើបាននៅក្នុងតំបន់មួយ។ នៅសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក នេះគឺជាការជូនដំណឹងអំពីអាសន្នឥតខ្សែ ហើយនៅក្នុងចក្រភពអង់គ្លេសវាគឺជាការជូនដំណឹងពេលមានអាសន្ន ហើយនៅក្នុងសហភាពអឺរ៉ុបវាគឺជាការជូនដំណឹងរបស់សហភាពអឺរ៉ុប ទោះបីជាឈ្មោះ និងព័ត៌មានលម្អិតខុសគ្នាទៅតាមប្រទេសក៏ដោយ។ ទាំងនេះប្រើសញ្ញាផ្សាយដែលដំណើរការសូម្បីតែនៅពេលដែលបណ្តាញមានមនុស្សច្រើនក៏ដោយ។
• ត្រូវប្រាកដថាការជូនដំណឹងត្រូវបានបើក។ ពិនិត្យមើលការកំណត់ទូរសព្ទរបស់អ្នកសម្រាប់ការជូនដំណឹងពីរដ្ឋាភិបាល ឬការសង្គ្រោះបន្ទាន់ ហើយទុកវាឱ្យបើក។
• ការជូនដំណឹងរបស់អាជ្ញាធរមូលដ្ឋាន។ ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា ស្រុក និងទីក្រុងជាច្រើនផ្តល់ការជូនដំណឹងជាអត្ថបទ ឬកម្មវិធី។ ចុះឈ្មោះមុនពេលមានគ្រោះមហន្តរាយ មិនមែនអំឡុងពេលមួយនោះទេ។
• ការជូនដំណឹងអំពីអាកាសធាតុ។ សេវាអាកាសធាតុជាតិចេញការព្រមានតាមវិទ្យុ កម្មវិធី និងគេហទំព័រ។ វិទ្យុអាកាសធាតុ NOAA នៅសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក និងសេវាកម្មស្រដៀងគ្នានៅកន្លែងផ្សេងទៀត ផ្សាយពេញមួយថ្ងៃទាំងយប់។
• ស៊ីរ៉ែន។ សហគមន៍ខ្លះប្រើស៊ីរ៉ែន។ ស្វែងយល់ពីអត្ថន័យរបស់ពួកគេ។ សូមមើល សំឡេងស៊ីរ៉ែនសហគមន៍.
• ** វិទ្យុ និងទូរទស្សន៍។** ស្ថានីយ៍ក្នុងស្រុកអនុវត្តការប្រកាសជាផ្លូវការ ហើយមនុស្សជាច្រើនប្រើប្រាស់ប្រព័ន្ធផ្សព្វផ្សាយបន្ទាន់។

ប្រសិនបើអ្នកឮការដាស់តឿន ប៉ុន្តែមិនអាចអានវាបានទេ សូមសួរអ្នកដែលនៅជិត ឬបើកវិទ្យុ។ កុំសន្មតថាគ្មានព័ត៌មានមានន័យថាគ្មានគ្រោះថ្នាក់។

វិទ្យុនៅពេលទូរស័ព្ទបរាជ័យ¶

វិទ្យុមិនអាស្រ័យលើបណ្តាញទូរស័ព្ទទេ ហើយវាប្រើប្រាស់ថាមពលតិចតួចបំផុត។ វាគឺជាវិធីដែលអាចទុកចិត្តបំផុតក្នុងការទទួលបានព័ត៌មាន។

ប្រភេទនៃវិទ្យុ¶

• វិទ្យុដែលប្រើថ្ម។ ជ្រើសរើសម៉ូដែលដែលប្រើថ្មធម្មតា ហើយរក្សាទុកគ្រឿងបន្លាស់
• ឧបករណ៍ចាប់ដៃ ឬវិទ្យុសូឡា។ វាមានម៉ាស៊ីនភ្លើង ឬបន្ទះ។ មួយនាទីនៃការ cranking ផ្តល់នូវពេលវេលាស្តាប់មួយចំនួន ហើយម៉ូដែលជាច្រើនរួមមានរន្ធ USB និងពិលមួយ។
• ** វិទ្យុអាកាសធាតុ។** នៅក្នុងប្រទេសមួយចំនួន ដូចជាសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក មានវិទ្យុអាកាសធាតុដែលមានសំឡេងជូនដំណឹង។ អ្នកផ្សេងទៀតប្រើវិទ្យុ AM ឬ FM ធម្មតា។
• ** វិទ្យុក្នុងរថយន្ត។** ប្រសិនបើអ្នកនៅក្នុងឡាន វិទ្យុអាចប្រាប់អ្នកអំពីការបិទផ្លូវ និងទីជំរក។ ដំណើរការម៉ាស៊ីននៅខាងក្រៅតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ ហើយមើលប្រេងឥន្ធនៈរបស់អ្នក។

របៀបប្រើវិទ្យុក្នុងគ្រាអាសន្ន¶

1. ** តាមដានស្ថានីព័ត៌មានក្នុងស្រុកនៅលើ AM ឬ FM ។** ទីក្រុងជាច្រើនមានស្ថានីយ៍ដែលផ្ទុកព័ត៌មានសង្គ្រោះបន្ទាន់។
2. Listen in short sessions, to save batteries, for example for 10 minutes each hour.
3. Write down instructions, such as shelter locations and routes.
4. Share what you hear with neighbours who have no radio.
5. Do not trust rumours. Wait for official sources.

Two way radios and amateur radio¶

Short range two way radios, such as FRS and GMRS in the United States, or PMR446 in Europe, let family members talk across a few kilometres. Amateur (ham) radio operators often provide emergency communication when networks fail. These tools need practice and, in some cases, a licence. Read off grid emergency communications for details.

Satellite and emergency beacons¶

If you travel or live in remote areas, a satellite messenger or a personal locator beacon can send an emergency signal without a phone network. Read the instructions, register the device if required and test it according to the maker's guidance.

Staying charged during an evacuation¶

Power is the limiting factor. A few steps help you keep communication alive.

1. Charge everything before you leave, if you have warning. Phones, power banks, radios and torches.
2. Pack chargers and cables. Put them in your go bag. See go bag and evacuation pack.
3. Carry a power bank, ideally two, fully charged.
4. Use the car charger, with the engine on and the car outdoors and in the open. Do not idle for long periods.
5. Use low power mode and airplane mode to save power while travelling.
6. Ask at shelters and relief centres for charging stations. Many have them, with queues.
7. Use a hand crank or solar charger as a backup.
8. Keep the phone warm and dry, in a zip bag in the cold or rain.
9. ** គិតប្រាក់ប្រហែល 80 ភាគរយ ** ហើយទុកឱ្យអ្នកផ្សេងទៀតមានវេន។
10. ប្រើខ្សែ និងអាដាប់ទ័រផ្ទាល់ខ្លួនរបស់អ្នកនៅកន្លែងសាធារណៈ។ សូមមើល public charging kiosks and data blockers.

For longer outages at home, read ការដាច់ភ្លើង និងការបញ្ចូលថ្មទូរស័ព្ទនៅផ្ទះ.

Finding family and meeting places¶

Phones make us forget how to meet. In a disaster, you may need to find each other without them.

Agree meeting places in advance¶

1. A place near home. For a sudden event such as a fire, for example a neighbour's house, a tree or a mailbox.
2. A place outside the neighbourhood. For when you cannot go home, for example a library, a school or a relative's house.
3. A place outside the region. For a long evacuation, for example a relative's home in another town.
4. Write all three on the paper card, and make sure children know them.

Know where children and others will be¶

Find out the emergency plans of schools, childcare and workplaces. Ask where children will be taken, how you will be told, and who is allowed to collect them. Keep your contact details current with the school. See lost child if a child is separated from you.

Register and check in¶

After a major disaster, some agencies and charities run family reunification services. In the United States, the Red Cross runs a Safe and Well service, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children helps with children. Other countries have similar tools. Look for official announcements on the radio and at shelters.

Leave a note¶

If you must leave home and cannot reach others, leave a note in a visible place. Write your names, the date and time, where you are going and a contact number. Use waterproof ink or a plastic bag.

Use trusted people and places¶

Shelters, police, fire services and relief workers keep lists of people and can help you find family. Give your name, a description and the person you seek. Do not share personal details with strangers who are not part of the official effort.

Decision guide¶

flowchart TD
    A["Disaster strikes and the phone is failing"] --> B["Get safe first"]
    B --> C{"Is someone in immediate danger?"}
    C -- "បាទ" --> D["Call your local emergency number if the phone works"]
    C -- "ទេ" --> E["Send one short text to your out of area contact"]
    D --> E
    E --> F["Switch to low power mode and save battery"]
    F --> G["Listen to a radio and check official alerts"]
    G --> H{"Do you need to move?"}
    H -- "បាទ" --> I["Evacuate with chargers, power bank and paper card"]
    H -- "ទេ" --> J["Shelter in place and check in at set times"]
    I --> K["Charge at a shelter and meet family at the agreed place"]
    J --> K

Table: communication tools in a disaster¶

Special situations¶

Wildfire¶

Evacuation orders can arrive quickly. Keep your phone charged and alerts on, and leave when told. Carry chargers and a power bank in the go bag, and keep the car charger in the vehicle. Read wildfires.

Flood¶

Floodwater can damage phones and cut power. Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch if you must wade or evacuate, and never drive through floodwater. Read floods និង phone dropped in water.

Earthquake¶

Networks can be overloaded or damaged. Text, keep calls short, and expect aftershocks. Read earthquakes.

Hurricanes and tropical storms¶

Hurricane warnings usually give days of notice, so charge devices, fill the car's tank and download maps. For storm specific detail, see hurricane.guide. This site and hurricane.guide use the same advice on staying in touch.

Winter storms and power cuts¶

Keep warm and keep the phone warm. Use low power mode and radios. Read winter storms និង power outage.

When emergency numbers fail¶

In rare cases, emergency dispatch lines can fail. Local authorities usually publish alternatives, such as walking to a fire station. Read 911 emergency dispatch outage.

Travelling in another country¶

Know the local emergency number and the location of your embassy. Register with your government's travel service if there is one, and carry a paper card. Read travel emergencies abroad.

People with disabilities or medical needs¶

People who rely on text relay, hearing devices, powered medical equipment or mobility aids need a plan with extra power and a buddy system. Register with local services if they offer priority support, and keep a list of medicines and contacts. Read power outage for oxygen concentrators, ventilators and CPAP.

Pets¶

Keep pet contact details and a recent photo on paper. Plan where pets can stay, since many shelters do not take them. Keep a tag with a phone number on the collar.

Prepare before a disaster¶

1. Choose an out of area contact, and give the number to everyone.
2. Write a family communication plan. Include who calls whom, meeting places and what to do if you are apart.
3. Make a paper card for each person, including children.
4. Turn on emergency alerts on every phone, and sign up for local alerts.
5. Buy a battery or hand crank radio and spare batteries, and learn how it works.
6. Keep power banks charged, and keep cables and a car charger in the go bag and the car.
7. Charge devices when a warning is issued.
8. Download offline maps of your area and your evacuation routes.
9. Back up your phone and photos, and keep copies of key documents.
10. Set up Medical ID and emergency contacts on each phone.
11. Learn two phone numbers by heart.
12. Practise a family drill once a year. Test the text plan, the meeting places and the radio.
13. Know your evacuation routes and shelters, and check them with local authorities.
14. Build an emergency kit and a go bag. Read កញ្ចប់សង្គ្រោះបន្ទាន់ និង go bag and evacuation pack.
15. Read about related problems, such as emergency call with a dead or low battery phone.

Worked examples¶

Wildfire evacuation at night with 15 percent battery¶

The alert tells you to leave now. Put the phone on low power mode, grab the go bag with the power bank and cable, and get everyone into the car. Once you are on the road and safe, send one text to your out of area contact: "Safe, leaving north on Route 9, going to the school shelter." Plug the phone into the car charger while you drive, and listen to the radio for road closures. When you reach the shelter, check in with staff and charge to about 80 percent.

Earthquake during the working day, with children at school¶

Take cover first, and move to a safe place when the shaking stops. Do not call the school, because the line will be busy. Send a short text to your out of area contact and your partner, and check the school's emergency page or the radio for instructions. Go to the collection point that the school has told you about, with photo ID.

Flash flood with a failing phone¶

Move to higher ground at once and do not walk or drive through moving water. When you are safe, send a short text with your location. If the phone has been wet, switch it off and dry it, as in phone dropped in water. Use a radio or ask nearby people for news.

Multi day outage after a storm¶

Switch to the saving routine in ការដាច់ភ្លើង និងការបញ្ចូលថ្មទូរស័ព្ទនៅផ្ទះ. Check the phone only at set times, use a radio for news, and walk to the community charging point at the library when it opens. Take your own cable and a power bank, charge to 80 percent, and leave space for the next person.

Separated from a family member in a crowd evacuation¶

Stay calm and stay in a safe, visible place. Text them where you are, and go to the meeting place if it is safe. Tell a uniformed worker, a police officer or a volunteer at the shelter who you are looking for, and give a description and a recent photo if you have one.

Talking with children and others about the plan¶

A plan only works if people remember it. Children, older relatives and visitors need a simple version they can repeat.

1. Use plain words. "If we cannot find each other, go to the library and wait at the front desk."
2. Practise once or twice a year. A short drill at the dinner table is enough.
3. Give each child a card. Put it in a school bag or pocket, with the out of area contact and the meeting places.
4. Teach them to ask for help. A police officer, a teacher, a person in uniform or a parent with children is a safe choice.
5. Make sure they know their full name and your phone number.
6. Explain that phones may not work, and that this is normal and not their fault.
7. Include babysitters and guests. Give them the plan and the card.
8. Keep it calm. Say that the plan is for safety and not because anything is wrong.

Common mistakes to avoid¶

• Calling instead of texting. Calls fill the network.
• Spending battery on social media and rumours.
• Forgetting chargers and cables when you leave.
• Having no out of area contact.
• Keeping all numbers only in the phone.
• Not agreeing a meeting place.
• Switching off alerts to save battery. They use very little power.
• Going back for the phone in a dangerous place.
• Idling the car in a garage to charge.
• Trusting unverified messages and forwarding them.
• Waiting for a signal before you leave. Follow official orders.
• Ignoring radios as old fashioned. They work when little else does.

Key points to remember¶

• Your safety comes before your phone, and a phone is easier to replace than a person.
• Text first and call only for real emergencies, because texts get through when calls fail.
• Name one out of area contact and give the number to everyone.
• Keep alerts on, since they use almost no battery and arrive when networks are crowded.
• A battery or hand crank radio works when the network does not.
• Charge before you leave, pack cables and a power bank, and use low power mode.
• Agree three meeting places, and put them on a paper card.
• Practise the plan once a year with everyone in the household, including guests and children.
• After the event, update the plan with what you learned, and replace the supplies that you used.
• Help others when you can, by sharing a charge, passing on official news and checking on neighbours who may be alone.

Sources checked¶

• Ready.gov and FEMA (United States): make a plan, family communication plan, text instead of calling and keep phones charged.
• American Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: family communication and the Safe and Well service.
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC, United States): Wireless Emergency Alerts, emergency communications and network congestion.
• UK Government (United Kingdom): Emergency Alerts and the guide to preparing for emergencies.
• European Commission: EU-Alert and the 112 emergency number.
• National Weather Service and NOAA Weather Radio (United States), and national weather services elsewhere.

ប្រព័ន្ធខុសគ្នាតាមប្រទេស ដូច្នេះសូមតាមដានអាជ្ញាធរមូលដ្ឋានរបស់អ្នកសម្រាប់ឧបករណ៍ដែលមាននៅកន្លែងដែលអ្នករស់នៅ។

សំណួរដែលគេសួរញឹកញាប់¶

ហេតុអ្វីខ្ញុំគួរផ្ញើសារជាជាងការហៅទូរស័ព្ទទៅគ្រោះមហន្តរាយ?¶

សារ​ជា​អក្សរ​មាន​ទំហំ​តូច និង​ប្រើ​សមត្ថភាព​បណ្ដាញ​តិចតួច ដូច្នេះ​វា​ច្រើន​តែ​ទទួល​បាន​ពេល​ការ​ហៅ​ទូរសព្ទ​បរាជ័យ។ ការណែនាំជាផ្លូវការពី Ready.gov, FEMA និងកាកបាទក្រហមគឺដើម្បីផ្ញើសារសម្រាប់ការឆែកឆេរ និងរក្សាការហៅទូរសព្ទសម្រាប់គ្រាអាសន្នពិតប្រាកដ។ ទុកសារឱ្យខ្លី ហើយផ្ញើវាម្តង។

What is an out of area contact?¶

An out of area contact is a trusted person who lives in another region or country, and who your family agrees to contact in a disaster. Local lines are often jammed while long distance and text routes still work, so this person can pass messages between family members. Give their number to everyone, including children, and write it on a paper card.

How can I get information if my phone is dead and the network is down?¶

Use a battery powered or hand crank radio, and tune to local news or a weather radio channel. Listen in short sessions to save batteries, and follow instructions from official sources. You can also go to a shelter, a fire station or a relief centre, where staff and volunteers share updates and often have charging stations.

How do I find my family if we are separated and phones do not work?¶

Go to the meeting place you agreed in advance, such as a place near home, one outside the neighbourhood and one outside the region. Leave a note if you have to move, and check in with your out of area contact when you can. After a major disaster, shelters and agencies such as the Red Cross may run family reunification services.

ការណែនាំដែលពាក់ព័ន្ធ¶

• Power outage and phone charging at home
• ការ​ហៅ​ទូរសព្ទ​បន្ទាន់​ជាមួយ​ទូរសព្ទ​ដែល​អស់​ថ្ម ឬ​ថ្ម​ទាប
• Go bag and evacuation pack
• Off grid emergency communications
• Floods