The plight of children separated from parents in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is a good reminder for parents here to make sure kids know their full names, address, phone number and parents' first and last names, said Susan Miller, manager of the Washington State Patrol Missing Children Clearinghouse.

Whether kids get separated during an earthquake or lost in a shopping mall, the first question they'll need to answer is, "What's your name?," Miller said. And for the second question — who they're with — kids often know their parents only as "Mommy" and "Daddy."

"Start talking about this at an early age," she advised. "The sooner, the better."

Parents can encourage children to practice writing their phone number and address in preschool as early literacy skills. Some parents take advantage of time in the car to ask kids to repeat and memorize information.

"Parents need to review it on a regular basis," Miller said. When she speaks to elementary-school classes, she said, many students know their address and phone number. "But you'd be surprised by how many kids don't."

— Stephanie Dunnewind