Plan for how you will communicate with loved ones after a disaster.

Long-distance phone lines often work before local phone lines, so identify an out-of-state contact and provide this person with the contact information of people you want to keep informed of your situation. Share this information with your family and friends locally.

Avoid making non-urgent phone calls after a disaster.  Even if phone lines are un-damaged, increased phone traffic can jam phone circuits.

Do not count on your cell phone.  Increased traffic on cell phone networks can quickly overload wireless capacity.  Record an outgoing message on your voicemail so that callers can be re-assured of your safety status.

Keep coins in your go-bag.  Payphones are more likely to work before cell phones.

Cordless phones or phone systems require electricity, so make sure you have a backup phone that requires no electricity.