Agree on two meeting points before an emergency. Choose one safe spot near home for an evacuation and one farther away in case the area is closed. Choose a trusted person everyone can contact to pass on updates. Write the locations and contact details down so your family can use the plan without relying on a single phone. Ready.gov family emergency communication plan
Meeting points are for reconnecting once it is safe to move. Follow instructions from responders, schools and building staff about evacuation, shelter and collection. If a child is at school or childcare, use the centre’s instructions and authorised pickup process. SCDF Civil Defence Resource Pack
- Name a near-home and an out-of-area meeting point.
- Choose one trusted person to pass on updates.
- Practise sending a short message with your location and next step.
On this page
- Choose two places people can find independently
- Agree who sends the update
- Practise a school-day scenario
- Frequently asked questions
Choose two places people can find independently
Pick a specific, safe place near home that keeps people away from the affected building and clear of emergency access. Use a landmark with a name everyone knows. If the place is unsafe or closed, use the farther meeting point when it is safe to travel there. Ready.gov family emergency communication plan
Walk the route with children and check it with anyone who may need mobility assistance. Ask what they would do if the usual way was blocked. In a fire, follow the safe evacuation route and use stairs where safe. Follow responders’ directions if access is affected. SCDF Civil Defence Resource Pack
Agree who sends the update
Give household members the backup contact’s number and make sure the contact has agreed to help. Share a simple message format: name, location, whether you are safe, who is with you and where you expect to go next. For example, “I’m safe with the school staff at the hall. Wait for the school’s pickup message.” Ready.gov family emergency communication plan
Practise a school-day scenario
Try this on a normal evening. A parent is on the way home, a teenager is at an activity and a younger child is at childcare. Ask each person which contact they would use and who can collect the child. Compare answers and update the contact card if people gave different meeting points.
Frequently asked questions
What if the meeting point is inside the cordon?
Stay outside the cordon and follow responders’ instructions. When safe, tell the backup contact where you are and whether you can reach the alternative point.
Does the child leave school to meet us?
Follow the school’s directions. Tell the child to stay with the supervising adult until the school releases them through its collection process.