I'm going to post here because it may well have been discussed before -- if so, I haven't found it yet.

What do you do if you are in a big department store on the 5th floor and your kids are on the 3rd floor ( toys) and an emergency occurs ? a bomb scare! If everyone panics and barrels down the stairs and onto the streets--Where would you meet up? how do you find them? Assuming no police are about.

If you?re watching an airshow in an open field full of people and there?s an accident and chaos breaks out and most of the police/authorities are suddenly tied up ? where do you meet them then?
Or if you are in a forest and there are no buildings or people?
Ok ? the scenarios are endless so I guess my question is: If you are accidentally and suddenly seperated from your family and didn?t tell them the usual ?meet me at the entrance? What will you all fall back on? Nearest church ? nearest clock?
What's your procedure?

(When my wife loses sight of me it usually takes about 4 minutes before I am tracked down?strange that).
<img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

As a kid my parents always taught me if I got lost to meet them back at the truck/car (this was before cell phones). If it was something bigger (like Katrina or the Newark riots) I was taught to go to a family members house (we have family all over the east) or to try to go out to California where my father owns commercial property and where an uncle lives.

Haven't really had to worry about it as we've always stayed together well. If we do split up then there is the usual we'll meet you at.....and have never had a problem with it. That's not to say that we ignore the potential problem. Going to many airshows and things of that size, we usually have a brief 'briefing' before it. There is the usual stop and take a moment to look around you. We may be only a few steps away. If you realize that you can't find us then find 1.Police/Medic/FD or 2. {one of a kind prominent landmark}.

fortunately, we haven't had to use it yet. That said (and now that I've jinxed myself) I'll let you know how the plan works when someone gets separated next weekend.

Taking the worst-cases in your list of scenarios ? remote area, so possibly no cellphone coverage; or not everyone in group has a cellphone; or location-specific instructions difficult due to unfamiliarity with the area ? you might consider supplying everyone with a decently-powered GMRS 2-way radio when you're on an outing.

Not the least of their advantages is that they're inexpensive to buy, so everybody can have one; cost you nothing (in monthly service fees) when not in use; not much larger than your typical cellphone.

Another plus is that being so equipped allows flexibility in case your predetermined meeting place becomes no longer viable for whatever reason. And for kids, the ability to instantly communicate with you in an emergency is reassuring (for you and them).

Of course, have to remember to recharge the rechargeable type, and/or make sure those w/replaceable batteries have juice left in them.

And I know what you mean about your wife's quick-to-find-you ability, a skill the military envies. I think they learn that in wife-school, though my wife (correctly) insists she only needs to head for the sporting goods/fishing/hunting/gun/camping department <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

So was I. If the car isn't there anymore, hole up in a secure location until it is safe to move, call home, and then head home by surface roads if there is no answer.

Before I was old enough to do that, I was taught to look for badges, flashing lights that aren't yellow, or the headquartersyish place.

Radios (transmitters) of any type are a great idea. Make sure all folks carry a reserve battery(s) so they do not find themselves with a dead radio.

Get a phone card. Give a copy of the number and password to everyone. Also have the phone number of a friend/family member in another area (far away, out of the likly affected area) and teach the kids how to use the card numbers and make the call. Have then younger ones actually do it on many occasions, till they realllllly understand how it works. They will be scared and may make mistakes unless you drill it in.

nomad ... just north of New Orleans

In the case of catastrophic failure we have setup where my wife, and daughter are to go to a certain place. If they don't hear from me with an hour, they go to one location. If not within 8 hours to a different, and if not within 24 hours they are to head to the farm out of state.
Doesn't really address the short term non emergency situation, but I tend to think in extremes anyway.