Section 6. Maintaining Communication
Emergency Communication
There should be a list of emergency telephone numbers posted  in a clearly visible location near every telephone, in a language understood by all personnel. This list should include all farm personnel, emergency personnel, animal and environmental agencies, and help networks. All employees and family members should know where emergency telephone numbers are located. Be sure to add emergency contact numbers, both cell and landlines, for all personnel, family members and employees, as well as neighbors, friends and relatives who might assist emergency responders. Each person should also carry a wallet card with this information. Include a long-distance contact number, if possible. In major disasters, local lines and towers may be busy or out of service, but cell phones might be able to reach long distance numbers. Train all employees and family members to properly report an emergency on landline phones and/or cell phones. Provide a basic set of instructions and information posted with the emergency contact numbers, including the farm name, the official street address of the farm, clear directions to the farm location, the owner's name and the farm map. Designate an assembly point where your family and employees know to meet in the event of an emergency. This is crucial to confirming that everyone is accounted for as an emergency unfolds. |