Preparedness Guides
Clear, sourced answers on water, food, power and every major hazard, with the gear we'd buy for our own families.
All guides
How to Build a 72-Hour Go-Bag
Everything each person needs to grab and leave in minutes, packed the way emergency managers recommend.
Water & FoodHow Much Water Should You Store for an Emergency?
The 1-gallon rule, how to calculate your household's total, and how to store water so it stays safe.
Water & FoodHow to Make Water Safe to Drink in an Emergency
Boiling, bleach, tablets and filters: what works, how long it takes, and which method to use when.
Water & FoodBest Emergency Foods With a Long Shelf Life
What to stock, how much you need, and how to rotate it so nothing goes to waste.
Water & FoodHow to Keep Food Safe During a Power Outage
The 4-hour and 48-hour rules, what to throw out, and how to prepare your fridge before the lights go out.
PowerPower Outage Preparedness Checklist
How to get ready for a blackout that lasts hours, days or weeks, from lighting to medical devices.
PowerPortable Power Station vs. Generator: Which Do You Need?
How battery power stations and fuel generators compare for outages, and how to size one for your home.
PowerGenerator and Carbon Monoxide Safety
Carbon monoxide poisoning rises after every major storm. Here's how to use backup power and heat without putting your family at risk.
PowerHow to Cook Without Power
Safe ways to heat food and boil water during an outage, and the no-cook foods that make it easier.
EssentialsWhy Every Home Needs a NOAA Weather Radio
How NOAA Weather Radio works, why it beats your phone in a disaster, and which radio to buy.
HazardsHurricane Preparedness Checklist
What to do before hurricane season, when a watch is issued, and when a warning means it's time to act.
HazardsWildfire Smoke and Evacuation Preparedness
How to protect your lungs from smoke, create a clean-air room, and be ready to leave on short notice.
HazardsWinter Storm and Power Outage Plan
How to stay warm, fed and safe when ice and snow knock out power for days.
HazardsEarthquake Preparedness at Home
Secure your space, practice Drop, Cover and Hold On, and get ready for the days after.
HazardsTornado Safe Room Checklist
Where to shelter, what to keep there, and how to get warnings fast enough to use it.
HazardsFlood Preparedness: Before, During and After
Floods are the most common disaster in the U.S. Here's how to protect your family, home and documents.
HazardsHow to Stay Safe in Extreme Heat Without AC
Heat is one of the deadliest weather hazards. Here's how to stay cool if the power goes out during a heat wave.
FamilyEmergency Preparedness for Pets
Build a pet emergency kit, plan where your pets can stay, and make sure they can find their way back to you.
EssentialsEmergency First Aid Kit Checklist
What to keep in your home and go-bag first aid kits, plus the skills that make them useful.
FamilyHow to Make a Family Emergency Communication Plan
How your family will reach each other, and where you'll meet, when phones and roads aren't working.
Some guides contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.