Practical guide
Family emergency plan
A written plan helps everyone, including children, know what to do if phones are down or you are not together. Print it and fill it in by hand.
The fields are deliberately blank. Fill them in on the printed copy: this page does not collect or store any personal data.
How to use it
- Print one copy for each adult and one to keep in your kit or grab bag.
- Fill it in together, involving children and anyone you care for.
- Choose two meeting points: one near home and one outside your neighbourhood.
- Find your municipality's civil protection plan and note the nearest assembly areas (section 5).
- Practise the plan at least once a year and update it whenever something changes.
Our household
| Name | Phone | Special needs, medication, allergies |
|---|---|---|
Emergency contacts
| Who | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Emergencies (police, fire service, ambulance) | European emergency number | 112 |
| Out-of-area contact (relative or friend in another town who relays news) | ||
| Family doctor / paediatrician | ||
| Trusted neighbour | ||
| School / work | ||
| Vet | ||
| Power faults (number on your bill) | ||
| Water / gas faults | ||
| Home insurance | ||
| Other |
Meeting points
- Near home (e.g. a street corner, a doorway):
- Outside the neighbourhood (e.g. a relative's home, a square):
- Assembly area in the municipal plan:
- Who collects the children from school if we can't be reached:
Backup communication
When networks are overloaded, short messages often get through better than calls. Tick the options you will use:
- Short text messages instead of calls
- A message to the out-of-area contact, who updates everyone
- Set times to switch phones back on (e.g. on the hour)
- FM radio for official announcements
- A note left at home in an agreed place
- Go to the meeting point if nobody answers after:
- Local or regional radio frequency to listen to:
Our municipality's civil protection plan
In Italy every municipality (Comune) has a civil protection plan describing local risks and emergency areas. It is usually on the municipality's website, in the civil protection section or under "Amministrazione trasparente". If you can't find it, ask the public relations office (URP) or the municipal civil protection service. Outside Italy, check your local authority's website.
- Where we found it (link or office):
- Main risks in our area:
- Nearest assembly area:
- Official municipal and regional channels to follow:
- Date we checked it:
Our home
- Where we keep the kit and grab bag:
- Main electricity switch:
- Main water valve:
- Gas valve (close only if safe and if instructed):
- Who helps whom (older adults, people with disabilities, children):
Pets
- Name, species and microchip number:
- Who takes them if we are not at home:
- Where they can stay:
Reviews
| Date | What we changed | Practised? (yes/no) |
|---|---|---|
Notes
Source
The European guidelines recommend written household plans that list key contacts, a meeting point in case communication fails and the nearest shelter or assembly area, prepared together by all household members. European Commission, SWD(2026) 826.