Welcome to Week 2 of the Lane County “6 Weeks of Ready” campaign!
When disaster strikes, staying connected can save lives. Now that you've got your kit ideas lined out, we're going to cover some additional planning considerations related to communicating during disasters.
This week, we’re focusing on making sure you have the tools and plans in place to communicate effectively — with your loved ones, your community, and emergency services — even when traditional systems fail.
By taking simple steps now to plan how you’ll communicate and find information during an emergency, you not only stay safer — you gain peace of mind knowing you’re prepared to stay connected when it matters most.
Build Your Personal Communication Plan
- In an emergency, knowing how to reach the people you care about — and how they can reach you — is crucial.
- Identify your key emergency contacts
- Choose a central out-of-area contact everyone can check in with
- Decide on meeting places if you’re separated
- Keep a hard copy of important phone numbers — don’t rely solely on your phone
Create an emergency family plan
Stay Informed-- Know Where to Check for Trusted Information
During an emergency, it's essential to know where to turn for accurate, up-to-date information. Stick with sources you already trust for news — such as local TV or radio stations, newspapers, and community alert pages — as they often partner closely with emergency agencies to share verified updates. Official government websites (City, County, and State) and the National Weather Service are reliable hubs for alerts, evacuation notices, shelter information, and more. Bookmark these sources now, so when disaster strikes, you’re not scrambling to figure out where to look.
Lane County’s emergency alert system — Lane Alerts — automatically includes landline phone numbers in its database, but that’s not enough in today’s world. To ensure we can reach you wherever you are and however you prefer to be contacted, we need you to opt in with your cell phone number, email address, and other contact methods.
By signing up and customizing your profile, you’ll receive critical alerts via text, voice, and email — whether you're at home, at work, or on the go. This helps you stay informed about wildfires, evacuations, severe weather, road closures, and other emergencies that affect your safety and community. Sign up now for Lane Alerts.
Communication Challenges in Disasters It is important to remember that no matter how prepared you are, system disruptions can still impact your ability to communicate:
- Cell towers being overwhelmed or offline
- Internet outages
- Power-dependent devices failing
Tip: Text messages often go through when calls won’t.
Alternative Ways to Stay Connected Don’t let downed lines cut you off from critical information. Consider these ideas as redundant options to keep you in touch when traditional methods fail:
Take Action This Week
Emergencies are stressful — don’t leave communication to chance. By taking simple steps now, you’ll be better equipped to stay connected when it matters most.
✅ Make a hard copy of important phone numbers
✅ Sign up for Lane Alerts—or review your account for updates
✅ Bookmark trusted information sources
✅ Identify an out-of-area contact
✅Agree on a meeting place
Additional Links & Resources
Know Your Alerts & Warnings | PDF
In An Emergency, Text, Don't Call: It's Scary Simple | Video
Choosing An Emergency Contact When Out-Of-Town: It’s Scary Simple | Video
Updating Social Media to Tell Loved Ones You Are Safe during an Emergency | Video