Review your family emergency plan at least every six months and immediately after any important family, medical, school, caregiver, legal, housing, or financial change. A plan that contains old phone numbers or unavailable caregivers can create dangerous confusion.

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Use a six-month review schedule

Choose two memorable dates each year, such as the beginning of the school year and six months later. Put the review on your calendar and record the completion date inside the plan.

During each review:

  • Call or message the primary and backup caregivers
  • Confirm phone numbers, addresses, and transportation
  • Review school and childcare pickup permissions
  • Update allergies, medications, providers, and insurance
  • Check routines, dietary needs, and comfort strategies
  • Inspect home, pet, evacuation, and reunification instructions
  • Verify the location and expiration of legal documents
  • Replace old printed and digital copies

Ready.gov advises families to account for changing household needs and practice their communication plan.

Update immediately after major changes

Do not wait for the scheduled review after:

  • A move or phone-number change
  • A new school, childcare provider, or activity
  • A caregiver’s illness, move, job change, or withdrawal
  • A new diagnosis, allergy, medication, device, or provider
  • A birth, adoption, marriage, divorce, separation, or death
  • A new custody, protection, guardianship, or support order
  • A change in insurance, benefits, employment, or housing
  • A child becoming able to carry or understand more responsibility

Contact the school, healthcare providers, attorney, insurer, and caregivers directly when their records also need updating. Changing your private binder does not change anyone else’s official file.

Reconfirm caregivers, do not assume

Ask both the primary and backup caregiver whether they are still willing and practically able to help. Discuss transportation, work schedule, home space, health, relationships, pets, and the child’s current needs.

If the arrangement is no longer realistic, choose a new caregiver and update every place where the old person was listed.

Practice the plan with your child

Use age-appropriate practice rather than frightening scenarios. Make sure the child knows:

  • Their full name and parent’s name
  • How to call 911 during immediate danger
  • Which trusted adults may pick them up
  • Where the emergency contact card is kept
  • The family meeting places
  • That responsible adults, not the child, will manage the larger plan

Repetition helps children remember simple actions. It also reveals whether the written instructions make sense in real life.

Audit every copy

Outdated copies can be worse than no copy because adults may follow conflicting instructions. Keep a distribution list showing who has the binder, contact card, medical authorization, school information, and digital backup.

When replacing a document, collect or destroy superseded copies when practical and clearly mark the current version with a review date.

Frequently asked questions

Is reviewing once a year enough?

Annual review is better than none, but six-month reviews catch changes sooner. Update immediately whenever important information changes.

Who should participate in the review?

Include the parent, primary and backup caregivers, and the child at an age-appropriate level. Healthcare, school, legal, or financial professionals should review the portions within their expertise.

Should I practice the plan with young children?

Yes, keep practice simple and reassuring. Teach the child whom to contact, where to meet, and how to seek help without making the child responsible for adult decisions.

Related guides

Sources

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