---
title: "SOS: How to Use Texting For Announcements and Emergencies"
description: "Reasons you might send an emergency text: Impending catastrophic weather - A national emergency affecting your business and customers- An active, dangerous situation inside your building"
image: https://blog.textus.com/hubfs/TextUs-SOS-Emergencies-Post.jpg
---

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# SOS: How to Use Texting For Announcements and Emergencies

Posted by [TextUs Team](https://blog.textus.com/author/textus-team) on Dec 4, 2018 10:56:51 AM

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Use texting for quick announcements and emergency blasts to internal staff and contacts. Brief enough to grab attention and more widely-accessed than email or calls (which may be jammed during an emergency), texts are a great way to quickly get time-sensitive messages to your audience.

Reasons you might send an emergency text:

- Impending catastrophic weather
- A national emergency affecting your business and customers
- An active, dangerous situation inside your building

Prepare on how to send an effective SOS text so you’re ready if the emergency strikes.

## 1. Create a chain of command ⛓ 

Know who’s in charge of communication -- before an emergency occurs. WIll you send a company-wide text? Will individual managers text their staff and contacts? Have a clear, written plan and make it known to your staff.

## 2. Be brief ⚡

No time for long explanations. Emergency texts should be three short sentences or less.

## 3. Stick to the facts 📋

Text clear, accurate information without surplus. Focus on the essentials: what’s happening, where it’s happening, what to do, and who to contact.

## 4. Stay calm 😱

Keep texts level-headed and calm, no matter the situation. Remember you’re relaying information so they can stay safe.

## 5. Send resources 📲 

Make sure your audience knows what to do next.

Send workable, relevant links. For example, if it’s a weather emergency, send links to the National Weather Service, relevant maps, or shelter resources.

If you’re sending links to breaking news, send only from reputable news sources.

## 6. Avoid fake news 📰

Don’t speculate or gossip. Rumors might fly, but keep your texts straight to the point with no color.

## 7. Check in after the emergency has passed ☝

Whether the emergency passes quickly or days after, don’t forget to let your contacts know the emergency is over and what to do next.

 

---

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 Topics: [Business Texting](https://blog.textus.com/topic/business-texting), [Text Messaging](https://blog.textus.com/topic/text-messaging), [SMS](https://blog.textus.com/topic/sms)

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