Emergency Preparedness: What Should You Have in Place?
Emergency preparedness does not have to mean planning for the worst every day. It means knowing who to contact, what information matters, what supplies you rely on, and what your household would do if normal routines suddenly stopped.
Have These Now provides general preparedness and organizational guidance. Follow instructions from local authorities and emergency officials during an actual emergency.
Could your household respond calmly?
Preparedness is less about predicting emergencies and more about reducing confusion.
A power outage, severe storm, evacuation notice, house fire, medical emergency or vehicle breakdown can disrupt normal routines quickly. The first few minutes are easier when important contacts, information and basic plans already exist.
You do not need an elaborate emergency command center. A practical readiness system starts with communication, household safety, medications, essential documents, transportation and the people who may need help.
The goal is to make a stressful situation easier to manage by deciding a few important things before you urgently need them.
What should you have in place before something goes wrong?
Your exact plan will depend on where you live, who is in your household and the risks common to your area. These are the core areas worth reviewing.
Emergency Contacts
Keep important household, family, medical and local emergency contacts current and easy to locate.
Household Communication Plan
Know how household members would contact one another, where you would meet and who outside the immediate area could serve as a backup contact.
Evacuation Plan
Know your likely exit routes, transportation options, meeting points and what you would take if you needed to leave quickly.
Shelter-in-Place Basics
Understand where you would stay in the home and what supplies or information you may need if leaving is not appropriate.
Medications & Health Information
Keep an updated medication list, important health contacts and insurance information accessible when needed.
Important Documents
Know where identity, insurance, property, medical and other important records are kept without exposing sensitive information unnecessarily.
Home Safety & Utility Shutoffs
Know where important controls are located and how your household should respond to basic home safety problems.
Vehicle Readiness
Keep fuel, roadside information and basic supplies in mind if your vehicle may be part of an evacuation or emergency plan.
Emergency Supplies
Maintain practical supplies for your household, climate and likely local risks rather than buying random items without a plan.
Dependents, Caregiving & Pets
Include children, older adults, caregivers, pets and anyone else who may need assistance or transportation during an emergency.
Five things everyone should know
Your emergency plan should be easy enough to remember when you are stressed.
A useful household plan answers a few practical questions: who do we call, where do we go, what do we need to take, and who may need extra help? Keep the plan understandable instead of burying the important parts in pages of instructions.
Start With Emergency Contacts →Know the household basics before the lights go out.
Many emergencies begin as ordinary household problems. Knowing how your home works can help you respond faster and avoid unnecessary confusion.
Leaving quickly and staying safely require different preparation.
You do not need to predict which situation will happen. You simply want enough preparation that either option is easier to manage when official guidance tells you what to do.
If You Need to Leave
Think about transportation, essential items and where household members would meet.
If You Need to Stay
Consider the basic supplies and information your household may need during a disruption.
Some information matters more when you cannot access your normal routines.
A medication list, insurance information, key contacts and knowledge of where important records are stored can become much more useful during an emergency.
Review Health & Medical Readiness →Useful information to have organized
- Current medication list
- Doctors and pharmacy contacts
- Health insurance information
- Emergency contacts
- Important identity documents
- Home and renters insurance information
- Vehicle information
- Where essential records are stored
Emergency plans should change when the household changes.
Moving, having a child, becoming a caregiver or buying a home can change evacuation needs, emergency contacts, medical information and the people who rely on you.
Moving
Review local risks, emergency contacts, utilities and evacuation routes.
Moving ChecklistHaving a Child
Add childcare, health, transportation and emergency contact considerations.
New Child ChecklistBecoming a Caregiver
Plan for medications, mobility, transportation and backup support.
Caregiver ChecklistBuying a Home
Learn shutoffs, safety equipment, insurance and local emergency procedures.
Home Purchase ChecklistTurn emergency preparation into something manageable.
Start with the information people actually need first. You can build out supplies and more detailed planning after the essentials are clear.
Emergency Contact Card
Keep the most important household, family and medical contacts together in one simple format.
Create the Contact Card WorksheetWhere Things Are Worksheet
Identify where important documents, emergency supplies and household information can be found.
Map Important Information PersonalizedMy Prepared Life Checklist
Review emergency readiness alongside home, health, family, vehicle, documents and insurance responsibilities.
Build My ChecklistFollow official guidance for emergency planning and local instructions.
Emergency risks vary by location. Use official federal, state and local sources for current preparedness guidance, alerts and emergency instructions.
Emergency preparedness FAQ
What should an emergency preparedness plan include?
A practical household plan may include emergency contacts, communication and meeting plans, evacuation options, medications and health information, important document access, household safety information, transportation and supplies appropriate to the household.
Do I need a large emergency supply kit?
The right supplies depend on your household, location and likely risks. Start with practical needs such as water, food, medications, lighting, communication, power needs and items required by children, pets or people who depend on you.
What documents should I be able to locate during an emergency?
Useful records may include identification, insurance information, medical information, property records and important contact information. Keep sensitive records secure and focus on knowing where they can be accessed when needed.
How often should an emergency plan be reviewed?
Review the plan when household members, addresses, health needs, vehicles, caregiving responsibilities or emergency contacts change. A periodic review can also help keep supplies and contact information current.
What if someone in the household has special medical or mobility needs?
Plan around the person's actual needs, including medications, medical devices, transportation, mobility support, communication needs and backup caregivers. Follow guidance from appropriate healthcare providers and local emergency agencies when necessary.
Start with the contacts, health information and household plan you would need first.
You do not have to prepare for every possible emergency today. Begin with emergency contacts, a simple communication plan, important health information, home safety basics and the people who may need extra help.