A classic family emergency plan covers fire evacuation, meeting points, and emergency numbers. But in our hyper-connected world, a complete emergency plan must also cover the digital dimension. Here's how to create a robust family digital emergency plan.
Why a Digital Emergency Plan?
Situations requiring a digital emergency plan aren't limited to death:
Accident or prolonged hospitalization: if you're hospitalized and unconscious, someone needs to access your emails to handle emergencies, pay bills, and notify your employer.
Serious illness or sudden disability: a temporary incapacity may require someone to manage your digital life during your recovery.
Disappearance: in tragic circumstances, your loved ones may need to access your data for legal or practical reasons.
Death: the most obvious situation, but not the only one to anticipate.
Elements of a Complete Digital Emergency Plan
1. The Digital Emergency Contact List
Identify who is authorized to act on your digital life in each situation:
- Who can access your email if you're hospitalized?
- Who can manage your professional online activity if you're unavailable?
- Who receives your complete information in case of death?
2. Emergency Access to Devices
Your loved ones must be able to access your devices in an emergency:
- Your phone PIN: the most critical, as your phone contains your 2FA codes
- Your computer unlock code
- Safe or physical storage space code
Store this information securely in EchoPass, transmissible in an emergency.
3. Access to Critical Accounts
Prioritize access in order of criticality:
- Primary email (provides access to everything else)
- Password manager
- Bank and financial accounts
- Insurance policies
- Employer and colleagues to be notified
4. Subscriptions and Recurring Payments
List all automatic charges that someone will need to either maintain or cancel:
- Rent or mortgage
- Regular bills (electricity, phone, internet)
- Digital subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, professional tools)
- Insurance premiums
5. Accessible Medical Information
In a medical emergency, your loved ones may need:
- Your blood type and known allergies
- Your current medical treatments
- Your primary care physician's contact
- Your health insurance information
Some of this information can be stored on your phone (Health app on iOS) or transmitted via EchoPass.
Implementing the Plan with Your Family
Family Conversation About the Digital Plan
Organize a conversation with your family or most concerned loved ones. Cover:
- The existence of the plan and where to find the information
- How EchoPass works and how they'll receive information
- Their respective roles and the decisions they'll have to make
This conversation, while sometimes uncomfortable, prevents conflict and confusion in a crisis moment.
The Physical Summary Document
In addition to your digital system, create a brief paper document (one page maximum) stored somewhere your loved ones know (desk drawer, safe). This document simply indicates:
- That you have a digital emergency plan
- How to access the instructions (EchoPass)
- Your notary's contact if applicable
Testing the Plan
An untested plan is a questionable plan. Run a simulation:
- Ask your designated loved one to explain what they'd do if they received your EchoPass messages
- Verify they have all the elements needed to act
- Identify gaps and complete the plan
Differentiating Urgency Levels in Your Messages
With EchoPass, you can create messages with different time delays:
Short-term urgency message (15-30 days without login): access to critical accounts, medical information, professional emergency contacts. Think of someone temporarily hospitalized.
Long-term message (60-90 days): complete digital will, personal messages, digital succession instructions. Think of prolonged incapacity or death.
This granularity allows delivery to be adapted to the actual context.
Updating the Plan Regularly
A digital emergency plan must evolve with your life. Review it every year and after any major change:
- Important password change
- New significant digital account or asset
- Change in family situation (birth, marriage, divorce)
- Change in your designated trusted people
To set up your plan, read our guide create a dead man's switch online and our digital succession checklist.