Phones are excellent navigation and communication tools, but batteries, towers, and data service can fail. A paper map gives your household a shared offline view of the area.
Choose useful maps
Keep a local street map and, when relevant, a regional road or topographic map. Mark only information that helps you act without making the map hard to read.
- Home, work, school, and family meeting locations.
- Two routes out of your neighborhood.
- Hospitals, shelters, public safety buildings, and reliable water locations.
Pair maps with a communication plan
Choose an out-of-area contact who can relay updates if local calls are overloaded. Write important numbers on the map or a separate contact card.
- Use text messages when calls will not connect.
- Agree on simple check-in times.
- Keep charging cables and a tested power bank with your communication kit.
Practice the basics
Learn to orient the map, follow road names and landmarks, and estimate distance. Drive or walk an alternate route during normal conditions so the first attempt is not during an emergency.
This article provides general preparedness education. Follow product instructions and guidance from local authorities and qualified professionals.