by Judy K. Bell, CEM

The earth begins to shake. You are at work. Your children are in school. Your retired parents are home alone. The shaking becomes more violent, and you duck under your desk to protect yourself. The first thought that flashes into your mind is, "this is it, the BIG ONE is hitting!" It has struck during work hours, and you are frantic to find out about your loved ones. What will you do?
  If you are like most, you will panic and immediately grab the phone to dial. When you pick up the receiver, there will be no dialtone. You will immediately think your phone is dead. You will reach for your cellular phone, but it may not work either.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN NORTHRIDGE
  When the Northridge earthquake struck, I was about 40 miles from the epicenter. Throughout the first day, I waited anywhere from 60 to 90 seconds before I received dialtone. The phones were not broken. They were just overloaded by everyone attempting to call. Every time, all I had to do was remain patient, and I would soon receive dialtone.
  For years, radio and TV reports have perpetuated the notion that phones don't work after an earthquake. In reality, that is far from the truth. Telephone systems are built to process a certain number of calls at any one time. When the demand increases, it just takes longer before they can provide you dialtone. It does not mean that they are broken or won't work.
  In fact, the telephone switching systems close to the epicenter processed almost three times as many calls as normal that day. Yes, there were intermittent problems, but the telephone companies have taken great precautions to minimize service interruption through building structures that far exceed local building codes, securing and bracing all the equipment, providing back-up generators to replace local power if it is lost, and activating dynamic controls within the network to open up outgoing calling pathways within the affected geography.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES
  If you have taken public warnings seriously and properly prepared your family, you will have already identified an out-of-area friend or relative who will act as your contact point. Each of your family members will be carrying the designated number with them, and the school will have it in your childrens' records as well. Everyone will know in advance that they are to call the distant party to leave word about their condition.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CALL
Follow these simple instructions:
1. Have the number you need to call ready.
2. Pick up the phone and wait for dialtone. (Do not flash the switchook - which just sends you to the back of the waiting line.) It may take several minutes, so be patient.
3. When you receive dialtone, immediately begin to dial your number. The telephone equipment will not wait as long as usual before sending a tone back if it doesn't receive your digits.
For a more detailed list of instructions, call (800) 601-4899 for a free copy of "Basic Communications Instructions for Work".

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Judy Bell is retired division manager of operations for Pacific Bell and president of Disaster Survival Planning, Inc., a business recovery consulting firm that helps businesses, public agencies, and schools prepare emergency response and business recovery plans. Her book, "Disaster Survival Planning, A Practical Guide for Businesses" is sold internationally and used as a reference book throughout the industry.