Start in five minutes
Plan the Basics First
Start with what you have. Build a plan that works for your household. Your most important prep doesn't come from a store — it comes from knowing what you already own. Focus on the essentials first, then expand step-by-step.
🥫FoodBuild a pantry from foods you already eat, rotate it so nothing expires, and know how to cook when the power is out.💧WaterOne gallon per person per day is the starting line. Storage, rotation, and a treatment method are what make it usable.🩹First AidThe supplies are cheap; the skill is what matters. A household first-aid kit plus training beats a fancy trauma bag nobody's opened.🧼Hygiene & SanitationHandwashing, toilet alternatives, waste, and laundry — the unglamorous prep that prevents the real secondary disaster: illness.🏠Shelter & WarmthInsulate one room, layer up, and never heat with something meant for the outdoors. Hypothermia and carbon monoxide are the real threats.🔋Backup PowerA phone charger is one job; a fridge or a medical device is another. Match the power source to the real need and know its limits.🍳Cooking & Food PrepA camp stove for outside, a butane burner for the balcony, a thermos for hot water — match the method to where you live.🧯Fire SafetyWorking smoke alarms, a fire extinguisher you know how to use, and two ways out — house fires are the prep most people skip.👕Clothing & FootwearSturdy shoes by the bed, layers for cold, and a change of clothes per person in the go-bag — the prep that's free if you already own it.🛠️Tools & RepairsA multi-tool, a wrench for the gas shutoff, duct tape, and the know-how to shut off your water, gas, and electric.💊MedicationA 7-day backup of prescriptions, a plan for refrigerated meds, and a conversation with your clinician before a crisis.📄DocumentsWaterproof copies of ID, insurance, and property records — plus a digital backup and a grab-and-go folder.🔦LightingA flashlight where you sleep, a headlamp for your hands, and a lantern for the room — each does a different job.📻CommunicationWeather alerts, a charged phone, a radio for when the network is down, and a contact card that doesn't need an app.💵Emergency CashSmall bills in a safe place, a budget for what prep costs, and a plan for the payments that go down with the power.🗺️Navigation & EvacuationTwo routes, a meeting point, an offline map, and a reunification plan — decided before the alert, not during.🛡️Home & Personal SafetyLocks, lighting, a peephole, a plan for who you open the door to — and the sense to avoid post-disaster scams.🐾Pet SuppliesFood, water, records, a carrier, and a plan for where they go if you evacuate — pets need a kit too.👶Special Household NeedsInfants, seniors, chronic conditions, disabilities, and service animals each change what 'ready' means — plan for them specifically.🚗Vehicle ReadinessA kit for breakdowns, a kit for being stranded, and the habits that keep the tank above half when it matters.🤝Family & Neighbor PlansA household plan, a meeting point, an out-of-area contact, and a neighbor you can ask for help — preparedness is a team sport.🧠Skills & PracticeFirst aid, a fire extinguisher, your shutoffs, a tire change — the skills you can't improvise under stress, practiced now.🃏Comfort & ActivitiesA deck of cards, a book, a game, a comfort item — the small things that keep a long outage from becoming a long ordeal.🎒Go Bags & Emergency KitsA go-bag built around your real needs, your real ability, and the things you'd actually need for 72 hours — not a prebuilt kit.