Contacting Others After a Disaster or Trauma
You are safe.
- Call family and friends on a cell phone (if system is up) or wait for the landlines to clear of emergency usage.
- Keep the conversation short. You can e-mail updates and requests for assistant later.
WHN EXPERT TIP: Safe and Well
There are many Internet pages devoted to searching for family members after a disaster, but Safe and Well is the only one directly sponsored by the Red Cross. If you are searching for a family member (or if you have survived a disaster and want to get word to your family), be sure to visit the Safe and Well site first.
Temporary Housing
- Temporary housing means a friend's home, hotel, shelter, etc
- Read Temporary Housing Options for a brief form to write down your temporary housing details.
- If you are moving to temporary housing, call your police and fire departments to tell them if you will not be in your home for an extended period of time.
- Alert any delivery services (water, newspapers)
- Tell the post office to change your mailing address
- Utility companies
- Your mortgage company
- Your bank
- The phone company
- Your insurance company
- Credit card companies
- Social Security Administration (if you are receiving Social Security payments)
- Employers
- Schools
Many of these organizations will have next-step instructions for you.
Updated: 5/2009
