Practical information to help you prepare your household, build better emergency plans, and make informed decisions before an emergency happens.
START WITH THE BASICS
Preparedness doesn't have to mean preparing for every possible scenario. Start with the situations most likely to affect your household and build from there.
BUILD AN EMERGENCY PLAN
A good emergency plan answers the important questions before you're under pressure.
Start by identifying how your household will communicate, where you will go if you need to evacuate, how you'll handle utility failures, and what information everyone may need during an emergency.
KNOW YOUR HOUSEHOLD RISKS
Preparedness should reflect where you live and the people you're responsible for.
Consider severe weather, extended power outages, fires, flooding, infrastructure disruptions, medical emergencies, evacuation needs, and other hazards that could realistically affect your household.
Prioritize the risks that are both likely and capable of significantly disrupting your normal routine.
BUILD YOUR EMERGENCY SUPPLIES
Emergency supplies should support the plan you've created.
Start with essentials such as water, food, medications, lighting, backup power, sanitation supplies, first aid equipment, communication tools, and important documents.
Build gradually and focus on supplies your household knows how to use.
KEEP YOUR PLAN CURRENT
Preparedness isn't something you complete once and forget.
Review your emergency information periodically and whenever something important changes. Update contact information, medications, household members, evacuation locations, supplies, and other details that could affect your plan.
A simple plan that stays current is more useful than a complicated plan that hasn't been reviewed in years.
READY TO BUILD YOUR COMPLETE PLAN?
The Emergency Preparedness Planning Binder helps bring your household's critical information, resources, emergency procedures, and contingency plans together in one organized place.
Use the printable version to build your plan by hand or the fillable version to complete and maintain it digitally.