While landline phones, cell phones, internet and power grid are still working:

• Ahead of disaster, set up text groups that can be quickly used to transmit information to all ward members and organizations. It's a good task to delegate to an able young assistant with smartphone skills.

• Use the available communication technology to send email and text messages to ward members with the latest instructions regarding evacuation and communication plans, meeting places and shelters for evacuees, and pass along alerts, warnings, and government orders.

• Print ward and stake contact lists of members, organizations, and also contact information of stake leaders - especially the Stake Council.

• Print a hard copy of resource information gathered in the Emergency Plan.

• Print a hard copy of the Ward or Stake Emergency Plan, and keep it in a folder with all contact info.

• Follow the Ward and Stake Emergency Plan.

• Contact your ERC Specialist and/or organization leader with your reports and requests.

• Ask bishops and council members to make their locations known, so that in case normal communication is cut off, they can be found by a radio operator.

• Update the needs assessment frequently.

• Exchange information between leaders and members via ministering - leaders need to know what is happening, who has left the area, who needs assistance, who is most vulnerable when power is out, etc.

• Provide reassurance, and advocate that families follow evacuation orders.

• Again: Follow the Ward and Stake Emergency Plan.