If the grid were to go down, how would you get in contact with your children or your spouse?
Think about it for a minute, no cell phone, no internet, no home phone. Unless you could walk, run, drive or bike to them you would be totally out of touch.
Off the grid news has some suggestions on how to cope with this scenario.

How will you communicate off grid?
http://www.offthegridnews.com/2010/12/03/how-will-you-communicate-off-grid/