Terefone yapfuye mu byago cyangwa kwimuka: shyira umuryango wawe¶

Mu mwuzure, inkongi y'umuriro, umutingito, umuyaga cyangwa ibindi byago, terefone yawe nigikoresho ugeraho mbere. Itwara imenyesha ryawe, amakarita yawe, nimero yumuryango wawe nuburyo bwawe bwo guhamagara ubufasha. Nibimwe mubintu byambere byananiranye, kubera ko bateri zishira, iminara itakaza ingufu kandi imiyoboro ikuzura abantu bagerageza kugera icyarimwe.

Aka gatabo gasobanura uburyo bwo gukomeza gushyikirana no gukomeza kumenyeshwa iyo terefone ipfuye cyangwa umuyoboro wananiranye. Irimo icyo gukora muminota yambere, kuki ubutumwa bwanditse bukora neza kuruta guhamagarwa, uko hanze yumwanya uhuza bifasha, uburyo bwo gukoresha amaradiyo no gutabaza byihutirwa, uburyo bwo kubona umuryango hamwe n’aho duhurira, nuburyo bwo kwitegura kugirango udashingira kubikoresho bimwe. Niba uri mu kaga ako kanya, hamagara nimero yawe yihutirwa (911 muri Amerika na Kanada, 112 mu bihugu by’Uburayi, 999 mu Bwongereza) mu gihe ubishoboye. Reba nimero yihutirwa ku bindi bihugu.

Kora ubu¶

1. ** Gira umutekano mbere yuko ugerageza gukosora terefone yawe. ** Kurikiza amabwiriza yo kwimuka, wimuke ahantu hirengeye cyangwa aho uba nkuko ibintu bisaba, hanyuma uzane umuryango wawe. Terefone ntabwo ikwiye.
2. ** Ohereza inyandiko ngufi kumuryango wawe. ** Vuga ko ufite umutekano, aho uri n'aho ugiye. Inyandiko akenshi zinyura mugihe guhamagarwa binaniwe, kandi inyandiko ngufi ikoresha bateri nkeya.
3. ** Hindura terefone muburyo buke bwingufu hanyuma ugabanye ecran. ** Gumana bateri kumyandiko, kumenyesha no guhamagara byihutirwa.
4. ** Gabanya guhamagarira ibintu byihutirwa. ** Kurekura umuyoboro kubantu bari mukaga, kandi ukoreshe inyandiko kubindi byose.
5. ** Fungura bateri cyangwa radio crank radio ** niba uyifite, hanyuma wumve amabwiriza yemewe hamwe n’aho uba.
6. ** Kwishyuza igihe ubishoboye.

Kuki terefone zananirwa mu biza¶

Ibiza byibasiye itumanaho muburyo butandukanye icyarimwe. Kumenya icyitegererezo bigufasha guhitamo igikoresho cyiza.

• ** Umuyoboro uremerewe cyane. ** Nyuma yibikorwa bikomeye, abantu babarirwa muri za miriyoni bahamagara icyarimwe. Ihamagarwa rishobora kunanirwa cyangwa kugabanuka, mugihe ubutumwa bugufi bwanditse burigihe kuko bukoresha ubushobozi buke cyane.
• ** Iminara n'imirongo byangiritse. Iminara ya selire ifite bateri zinyuma, ariko aya masaha yanyuma, ntabwo ari iminsi.
• ** Amashanyarazi azimye.
• ** Batiyeri yawe irashira. ** Gushakisha ikimenyetso, ukoresheje amakarita no guhora ugenzura amazi yihuta.
• ** Ugomba kugenda wihuta. ** Abantu benshi bibagirwa charger ninsinga, hanyuma bakava munzu bafite igice cya batiri.
• ** Amakuru arajijisha. ** Ibihuha birakwirakwira, kandi ivugurura ryemewe rirashobora kugorana kubibona nta kimenyetso.

Kubera iyo mpamvu, kwishingikiriza kuri terefone byonyine birashobora guteza akaga. Gahunda ifite ibice byinshi ni byiza cyane.

Andika mbere, hamagara kabiri¶

Ubuyobozi butangwa n’ibigo nka Ready.gov hamwe n’ikigo gishinzwe imicungire y’ubutabazi (FEMA) muri Amerika kiragira abantu inama yohererezanya ubutumwa aho guhamagara mu gihe cy’ibiza, keretse habaye ibyihutirwa. Croix-Rouge itanga inama zimwe.

Kuki inyandiko ikora neza¶

Ubutumwa bwanditse ni buto. Irashobora gutegereza umurongo kandi igatangwa mugihe ikimenyetso kigaragaye, mugihe umuhamagaro ukeneye guhuza bihamye kubiganiro byose. Ibi bivuze ko inyandiko ishobora kuhagera nubwo ufite umurongo umwe gusa, cyangwa niba umuyoboro wuzuye.

Nigute wandika ubutumwa neza mugihe gikomeye¶

1. Keep it short. Write "Safe at Oak St school. Phone low. Will text at 6." Not a long story.
2. Give the key facts. Who you are if it is not obvious, that you are safe, where you are, and your next step.
3. Send once, then wait. Resending again and again adds to the load.
4. Do not send photos or videos. They use more data and power.
5. If a message fails, try again later. Some phones will resend automatically when a signal appears.
6. Ask people to reply by text, not by call.
7. Use group messages sparingly. One message to a group of key people is better than many.
8. Be patient. A reply can take minutes or hours.

Other ways to message¶

• Messaging apps and social media can work over Wi-Fi or mobile data, even when voice calls fail. They need a data connection.
• Check in tools. Some social platforms and agencies have "I am safe" tools. The Red Cross also offers a service in some countries to register that you are safe. Check whether this exists where you live.
• Email may work at a library, shelter or business with internet.
• Satellite messaging. Some recent phones and devices can send short messages by satellite when there is no mobile signal. It requires a clear view of the sky, and not all phones or countries support it.

The out of area contact¶

One of the most effective tools in any disaster plan is a single person outside your region who everyone agrees to call or text. Local lines are often jammed while long distance and text routes still work, and an out of area contact becomes a message hub.

How to set it up¶

1. Choose someone who lives in another city, region or country. They should be reliable and likely to have power and a phone.
2. Ask them first. Explain that in an emergency, family members will contact them to check in, and that they should pass messages on.
3. Give everyone their number. Put it on the paper card, in the phone and in the wallet of each family member, including children.
4. Agree what to say. "I am safe. I am at the shelter on Main Street. Please tell the others."
5. Agree how often to check in. For example, send a text each evening at a set time.
6. Ask the contact to keep a log. They can write down who has checked in and who has not.

Reba emergency contact card generator to make a card.

What to do in the first hour¶

In a sudden event, such as an earthquake, flash flood or fire, move fast and think in order.

Minutes one to five¶

Protect yourself and those with you. Follow the protective actions for the hazard: drop, cover and hold on in an earthquake, move to higher ground in a flood, leave at once in a wildfire evacuation. Do not stop to look for your phone if it puts you at risk.

Minutes five to fifteen¶

When you are safe, check for injuries and call your local emergency number only if someone needs urgent help. Send a short text to your family contact. Turn on low power mode and, if you are not using the phone, put it in airplane mode to save the battery.

Minutes fifteen to sixty¶

Listen for alerts and instructions. Use a radio if you have one. Check the official sources you trust, in short windows. Plan your next steps: stay, shelter or evacuate.

Note where family members are expected to be.

Emergency alerts¶

Alerts tell you what to do and where to go. They use very little battery, and you do not need to subscribe to the main national systems.

• Wireless emergency alerts. In many countries, governments send alerts to every compatible phone in an area. In the United States this is Wireless Emergency Alerts, in the United Kingdom it is Emergency Alerts, and in the European Union it is EU-Alert, though the names and details vary by country. These use a broadcast signal that works even when the network is crowded.
• Make sure alerts are switched on. Check your phone's settings for government or emergency alerts, and leave them on.
• ** Ubuyobozi bwibanze buramenyesha. ** Inama nyinshi, intara numujyi bitanga inyandiko cyangwa imenyesha rya porogaramu. Iyandikishe mbere y’ibiza, ntabwo ari mugihe kimwe.
• Weather alerts. National weather services issue warnings by radio, apps and websites. NOAA Weather Radio in the United States and similar services elsewhere broadcast all day and night.
• Sirens. Some communities use sirens. Learn what they mean. See community siren sounding.
• Radio and television. Local stations carry official announcements, and many use an emergency broadcast system.

If you hear an alert but cannot read it, ask someone nearby or turn on the radio. Do not assume that no news means no danger.

Radios when phones fail¶

A radio does not depend on the mobile network, and it uses very little power. It is the most reliable way to get information.

Types of radio¶

• Battery powered radio. Choose a model that takes common batteries, and store spare ones.
• Hand crank or solar radio. It has a built in generator or panel. A minute of cranking gives some listening time, and many models include a USB port and a torch.
• Weather radio. In some countries, such as the United States, there are dedicated weather radios with alert tones. Others use a normal AM or FM radio.
• Car radio. If you are in a car, a radio can tell you about road closures and shelters. Run the engine outdoors only, and watch your fuel.

How to use a radio in an emergency¶

1. Tune to local news stations on AM or FM. Many cities have a station that carries emergency information.
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. Charge to about 80 percent and let others have a turn.
10. Use your own cable and adapter at public points. See public charging kiosks and data blockers.

For longer outages at home, read power outage and phone charging at home.

Finding family and meeting places¶

Terefone itwibagirwa uko duhura. Mu byago, ushobora gukenera kubonana utabifite.

Emera ahantu hateranira hakiri kare¶

1. ** Ahantu hafi yurugo. ** Kubintu bitunguranye nkumuriro, urugero inzu yumuturanyi, igiti cyangwa agasanduku k'iposita.
2. ** Ahantu hanze yabaturanyi. ** Kuberako mugihe udashobora gutaha, urugero isomero, ishuri cyangwa inzu ya mwene wabo.
3. ** Ahantu hanze yakarere. ** Kubimurwa birebire, urugero urugo rwa mwene wabo mumujyi wundi.
4. ** Andika uko ari batatu ku ikarita yimpapuro, ** hanyuma urebe ko abana babazi.

Menya aho abana nabandi bazaba¶

Shakisha gahunda yihutirwa yishuri, kurera abana n’aho bakorera. Baza aho abana bazajyanwa, uko uzabwirwa, ninde wemerewe kubakusanya. Komeza amakuru yawe ajyanye nishuri. Reba lost child niba umwana yatandukanijwe nawe.

Iyandikishe kandi urebe¶

Nyuma y’impanuka zikomeye, ibigo bimwe n’abagiraneza bakora ibikorwa byo guhuza imiryango. Muri Amerika, Croix-Rouge ikora serivisi itekanye kandi neza, kandi Ikigo cy’igihugu gishinzwe kubura no gushakisha abana gifasha abana. Ibindi bihugu bifite ibikoresho bisa. Reba amatangazo yemewe kuri radio no mubuhungiro.

Siga inyandiko¶

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 -- "Yego" --> D["Call your local emergency number if the phone works"]
    C -- "Oya" --> 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 -- "Yego" --> I["Evacuate with chargers, power bank and paper card"]
    H -- "Oya" --> 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 inkongi y'umuriro.

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 imyuzure na phone dropped in water.

Earthquake¶

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

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 igihuhusi. 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 na power outage.

When emergency numbers fail¶

Mubihe bidasanzwe, imirongo yoherejwe byihutirwa irashobora kunanirwa. Abayobozi b'inzego z'ibanze bakunze gutangaza ubundi buryo, nko kugenda kuri sitasiyo. Soma 911 kohereza byihutirwa.

Gutembera mu kindi gihugu¶

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 ingendo zihutirwa mu mahanga.

Ababana n'ubumuga cyangwa bakeneye ubuvuzi¶

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. ** Kora ikarita yimpapuro ** kuri buri muntu, harimo nabana.
4. ** Fungura ibimenyesha byihutirwa ** kuri buri terefone, hanyuma wiyandikishe kubimenyesha byaho.
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 emergency kit na 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 power outage and phone charging at home. 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.

Gutandukana numuryango mumuryango wimuka¶

Gumana ituze kandi ugume ahantu hizewe, hagaragara. Ohereza ubutumwa aho uri, hanyuma ujye ahateranira niba ari umutekano. Bwira umukozi wambaye imyenda, umupolisi cyangwa umukorerabushake mu buhungiro ushaka, hanyuma utange ibisobanuro nifoto iherutse niba ufite.

Kuganira nabana nabandi kuri gahunda¶

Gahunda ikora gusa niba abantu bayibutse. Abana, abavandimwe bakuru n'abashyitsi bakeneye verisiyo yoroshye bashobora gusubiramo.

1. ** Koresha amagambo asobanutse. ** "Niba tudashobora kubonana, jya mu isomero utegereze kumeza."
2. ** Witoze rimwe cyangwa kabiri mu mwaka. ** Imyitozo ngufi kumeza yo kurya irahagije.
3. ** Uhe buri mwana ikarita. ** Shyira mu gikapu cy'ishuri cyangwa mu mufuka, hamwe n'ahantu hahurira n'ahantu ho guhurira.
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.

Inkomoko yagenzuwe¶

• 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.

Systems differ by country, so follow your local authorities for the tools available where you live.

Ibibazo bikunze kubazwa¶

Why should I text instead of calling in a disaster?¶

Text messages are small and use little network capacity, so they often get through when calls fail. Official guidance from Ready.gov, FEMA and the Red Cross is to text for check ins and keep calls for real emergencies. Keep messages short and send them once.

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.

Kuyobora¶

• Power outage and phone charging at home
• Hamagara byihutirwa hamwe na terefone yapfuye cyangwa nkeya
• Go bag and evacuation pack
• Off grid emergency communications
• Umwuzure