Do I have a cell phone? Do I have a landline? We should know what "kind" we have will it work when it's most needed?

Communications during a catastrophic event will be unpredictable and intermittent at best, here are some things we can do to make communications more predictable. See a good write up on broadband here.
  We need to figure out what kind of landline service we have, some will not work without electric power. Some service over the internet is "voice over", powered over broadband or regular old copper telephone lines. If it's unknown if your service will work in a power outage call your provider. Telephones were in the early days powered with 12 volt power, they were designed to operate during power outages.

Yes Maude, tuxedo one five six two six
keep the party line off, this is a
personnel call. 

  If the telephone is battery powered, throughout the year the battery needs to be checked to make sure it is still charged. Learn how long the battery last, know how to replace the battery possibly keep a new one on hand charged. It may be an advantage to talk to our provider to determine what type of phone will work during a power outage. Some phones will drain the battery even if it is idle, remove the battery between calls then replace it when you need it. All cordless home phones will not operate without electric power, many traditional corded phones will work. If you have a corded phone check with your operating manual or contact the manufacturer's help line to find out if it will work without electrical power.
  Charge your wireless phone, every night replace it on the receiver, charge your cell phone every night and make sure there is a car charger in each vehicle. Charge your laptop and tablets, some are usable for charging cell phones. However if there is a loss of power your wi-fi will not work unless there is a off line charging system connected. When a storm is predicted, plug everything in to charge. Your only information coming in may be from an emergency radio, a solar powered or hand crank radio will also charge your phone, it pays to have one on hand.
 

Tell those kids to keep cranking that generator.

The local lines will most likely be jammed, making local calls will be unpredictable, establish a phone out of the area to call and make sure all family members have the number. My brother in Minnesota is our contact, instruct each family member to call the chosen contact and leave a message with the person. Check in every three hours or more if needed, the limiting factor will be your cell phone charge. Do not make any more calls than you have to make, the power may be out for days or even weeks. Try texting, it uses less power from your phone and when local lines are jammed up text will still go through. When redialing wait at least 15 seconds between wireless calls, it will reduce congestion, if it's an emergency use 911. Use call forwarding on your landline to your cell phone, you will get your house calls. We can use our car to charge all of our modern communication devices, an inverter will work to convert 12 volt to 110 volts, then coffee can be made. If you use your car be cautious, carbon monoxide in a closed garage will be deadly, make sure the door is open. Better yet move the car outside if possible, if not be careful.

One of a number of inverters available, most well under $100.00

  We are to the point in our society that we assume modern communications will always be available. It seems like it, we get text from the battle fields in fact. We can not assume telephone communications will be available during a disaster event, so we must take proactive measures. FEMA has a site here for more communication advice during a disaster.
  This is my take on emergency telephone service, I'd like your comments suggestions and story's. Thank you reading.

jimandkate  EmergencyKitsPlus.com  Emergency Kit Supplies