As stated before it is not a matter of "need". It is a matter of wanting to know everything that was happening to my son.
If you don't care what is happening to your family during a crisis that is your problem, live with it.
I guess it was just different - my mom didn't feel the need to keep in constant touch with me especially if I were at school,etc. If I had a problem I called her, and I realize that there are not as many pay phones now but I find it hard to believe that schools won't call parents in an emergency.