Creating a communication plan is crucial to providing yourself and your family the best chances before, during and after a tornado or other disaster. And determining whether a landline or cell phone is best should be a part of that plan.

Families may wish to have both.

One of the most important abilities during an emergency is talking to loved ones to ensure they are safe and have all the information, supplies and support needed to ride out the event. If you can afford it, having both a traditional home phone and a mobile phone is the safest solution.

Landline vs cell phone: A recent survey of 2,000 households by AT&T and the National Emergency Number Association revealed that while 8 in 10 respondents recognize the importance of having both a corded landline and cell phone in their home for use in emergencies, 68 percent do not have a comprehensive plan for dealing with home emergencies.

And 54 percent of those who have a landline in their home are not prepared with a corded phone to use in the event of a power outage. Corded landline phones that do not require a/c power for dial tone also work even when the power is out, an important contingency to build into home emergency plans.

How to make a home emergency communications plan:

• Establish a “home base” for making emergency calls with a centrally located, easily accessible landline phone. Maybe it’s your parents’ home, maybe it’s your home.

• Designate a safe location within the home during an emergency and establishing a safe way out of the residence.

• Make an inventory of communications items including all landline phones, wireless phones, batteries, and chargers;

• Make a list of emergency contact numbers. The more choices you have to reach 9-1-1 in an emergency, the better, and a corded landline phone should be one of those options.

• But I don’t want to pay for both: Consider buying a pay-as-you-go phone available at mobile phone stores and many retailers to have on hand for emergencies. No long-term contract required.