Well, when I was working in PWRI, Japan. Once we had a simulation of an earthquake disaster and I was part of the simulation. The idea might work for those who are concerned with what will happen to their loved ones in Nepal and you want to know the information (their whereabout) as early as possible. Let me give you the idea as follows and if you like it, you may create a similar network for your own use, don't rely on govt. resources. In that earthquake simulation, Japanese PM was also involved and I was supposed to be counted in his list of whereabouts of his employees in that simulated post earthquake situation. Early morning an Earthquake jolts somewhere in Central Japan. Telephone rings in PM's residence. He tries to contact his deputies and the pyramid expands. All peopels in chain were trained to telephone to peoples under them, a few calls. The chain started. It continued and some in the chain deliberately wer asked not to respond the telephone call. The breakage in the pre-planned call was supposed to mean someone there is missing or have something wrong. Thus, now peoples in that network around that missing person were supposed to find the whereabout of the person missing in the chain. So, the missing person was reported back to the chain and the person immediately above the chain has to decide what to do next, to rescue or find the missing person. He sends another person in the chain closest to the missing person to find the missing person and was asked to report as early as possible. The search person goes to rescue his colleague and finally reaches to the house, keep on reporting the status and finally, finds the person in serious condition (part of simulation), calls real ambulance and ambulance arrives late and ......... The simulation drama took almost a day. It was really a fun to be part of simulation drama, but gave a real idea on what should we do, though in the real event it won't be that easy, but the idea will surely help at least to find if someone in the network is missing and looking for help. So, prepare your own list of network. Start now. Instead of working at individual level, searching your all relatives by yourself, if you can prepare a network and cross checks using telephone or personal network, I am sure you can be confident about yourself and it will rescue even in the worst disaster. Because someone out there within your network will have telephone connection or mobile telephone, that can be helpful to get you hooked to instead of trying to deal with dead tel lines. ............ Act now, prepare your own network, not in your memory only, but make a hard copy let every one in the network keep a copy and be prepared to notify his / her whereabouts and be prepared to find others in his network. This way you will not have to rely on government. So that everyone knows whom to report and whom to rescue. Next step: Ask each family in your network to store following things: 1. Packet of Instant Noodles at least enough for a week. (if not spaghetti sticks enough for a week. Renew such stored items every six month or so depending on the expry date). Or else, store canned foods for a week. or Chiura, khatte or any thing like that you can afford to store. Keep either bottled water/ tap water and replace periodically to make sure that its hygenic. plus sugar, salt and cooking oil. 2. Spare fuels. at least to boil water and prepare the food. 3. Torch light. Check battery every 3-4 months and replace with new set. 4. Match / Lighter. Candles. 5. Soap 6. One pan to cook things. 7. Whistle with neck strap (assign one to each person). 8. If some persons in the family are sick person, who need medicine every day, keep at least 7day spare set. Replace with new set every two to 3 month, to avoid date expiry. 9. Keep first aid help medical stuffs. 10. Map of the place: roads or widened section of the river so that you can cross the bridge or assemble into open places. (well, nepal being a small country, you don't have to worry in this regard). Let kids know in case, you die and they can find a safe place without your own help. The map to your house can help kids explain someone to find your own house in case you are trapped inside house and kids go out to find a help to rescue you. Though it looks funny idea to have map, but for volunteers who want to help you need such maps to find your house by leaving your own kids at safe place. Schools are usually safer in the sense that they have more open space and advice your kids to move towards school, because they know the route to school (In, kathmandu it might not be true. Let kids know the public schools in your locality, at least they have more open space, though the buildings might not be safe to reside. Advice them to avoid going inside the old public schools. 11. Telephone directory of your loved ones at least within the chain. Including some volunteer organization, and rehabiliation centers or information on schools. 12. calling card. or some extra money. 13. if possible safety helmet (well, in Nepal's context people will think that I am making a fun. But, I am making my list complete. Its upto you. 14. These are all based on the training programme that I attended. If you like you can through it as rubbish idea, but if you like it be disseminated and let others know the idea. It might work. Rest if anything pop up in my mind, I will add here. GP