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Important Phone Numbers I Should Have During an Earthquake

Of all natural disasters, earthquakes are the most unexpected. The ground begins to shake without warning, so families may find themselves scattered in various locations, such as school, work, home or the golf course. Earthquake damage disrupts travel, utilities and communications, which slows the arrival of help and the restoration of public services. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) suggests that a list of phone numbers be part of your family's recovery plan.

  1. Emergency Aid

    • The severity of the earthquake and your proximity to its epicenter dictate how much property damage, disruption of basic services and injuries you will need assistance to handle. Keep a list of "non-emergency" phone numbers for the police and fire departments to use if the local 9-1-1 system overloads. Gather phone numbers for the nearest walk-in minor emergency clinics and hospitals. Include local and national toll-free phone numbers for disaster aid groups providing food and shelter, such as the American Red Cross and/or Salvation Army. List the phone numbers of federal, state and local emergency management agencies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also suggest your emergency phone list contain contact numbers for the electric, gas and water companies that service your area.

    Personal Connections

    • Address the possibility of family members being separated when an earthquake hits by designating a local relative or friend and one who lives in another state as the contact for all family members to call to report their location and condition. As FEMA's Emergency Preparedness Checklist notes, local calls are often more difficult to complete than out-of-state phone calls following an earthquake. Make sure everyone in the family has those contact numbers and knows how to use them. The American National Red Cross offers a free clearinghouse service to let friends and family know your status. Following an earthquake, call 1-866-GET-INFO to register. Collect phone numbers of neighbors so you can check on them and give, receive or summon any needed aid. List the phone numbers for work locations and children's schools and daycare centers.

    Business of Living

    • Preparing for an earthquake includes post-quake planning. You need phone numbers for your insurance agent or company to begin the claims process for damaged or destroyed property. Renters should have accurate contact information for their landlord or property manager. Add the phone numbers for your bank, credit union and/or mortgage service to your emergency contact list. Include phone numbers of family doctors and veterinarians, especially if any family members or pets have ongoing medical conditions that could rely on emergency medical procedures' outcomes or must be managed with regular medication. Plan for the earthquake's destructive power to impact your accessibility to current supplies of such medications and be prepared to get authorization for their replacement.

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