Water Guide

How much drinking water do you have stored per person?

NoneAbout 3 daysAbout 2 weeks30 days or more

Plan on 1 gallon per person per day, more in heat. Two weeks is the common target.

A portable water filter (Sawyer, LifeStraw or similar)A $30 filter turns any fresh water source into drinking water once storage runs out.Purification tablets or unscented bleach with a dropperFilters don't stop viruses. Tablets or bleach do.I know how to drain drinking water from my water heaterA typical tank holds 40 to 50 gallons you already own. Shut off the supply first so it stays clean.

Food Guide

How much food could you eat without power or a store run?

Count food you can eat cold or with minimal cooking: canned goods, nut butter, freeze-dried meals.

A manual can openerThe most-forgotten item in kitchen pantries. Costs less than a sandwich.A way to cook without power, plus fuelA camp stove with spare canisters. Gas and charcoal are outdoor-only.Covered for special needs: baby formula, pet food, dietary restrictionsThese run out first in stores and are the hardest to substitute.

Power Guide

Charged power banks for every phoneA 20,000 mAh bank recharges a phone about four times.A portable power station or generatorKeeps a fridge, CPAP or router going. Essential if anyone relies on powered medical gear.A solar panel or other way to rechargeTurns a 2-day battery into an indefinite one, weather permitting.I keep my car above half a tank (or EV above half charge)Gas pumps need electricity. A half tank is your evacuation range.

Medical Guide

A stocked first-aid kit I've actually openedKnow what's in it and restock what expires.A 2-week reserve of prescriptions, plus spare glassesAsk your doctor about an emergency supply. Many insurers allow early refills before declared disasters.A tourniquet and bleeding-control suppliesTake a free Stop the Bleed class. It takes about an hour.Someone at home has current CPR / first-aid trainingTraining beats gear. Red Cross and local fire departments run short courses.

Communication Guide

A NOAA weather radio or hand-crank emergency radioBroadcast radio keeps working when cell networks are jammed or down.Local emergency alerts turned on (county system, not just phone defaults)Most counties run their own alert sign-up. Search your county name plus 'emergency alerts'.Key phone numbers written on paperIf your phone dies, can you call anyone? Most people can't recite more than two numbers.An out-of-area contact everyone in the household checks in withLong-distance calls and texts often get through when local lines are jammed.Two-way radios or a satellite messengerGMRS radios for the household, a satellite messenger for SOS from anywhere.

Light and heat Guide

A headlamp or flashlight for each person, with spare batteriesHeadlamps beat flashlights because you need both hands in a dark emergency.A battery or solar lantern for room lightCandles are a common cause of post-disaster house fires.A way to stay warm without power (sleeping bags, wool blankets)Rated sleeping bags keep you safe in a cold house. Never run outdoor heaters or grills inside.

Evacuation Guide

Do you have a packed go-bag?

NoOne for the householdOne per person, checked this year

Water, food, light, first aid, meds, documents, cash, phone charger, clothes. Ready to grab.

A car kit: water, blanket, jumper cables, snacksYou're more likely to get stuck on a road than to need a bunker.Cash in small bills ($200 or more)No power means no card readers and no ATMs.Sturdy shoes and work gloves by the bedBroken glass is the most common earthquake injury.N95 masks for everyoneSmoke and dust. Cloth and surgical masks don't filter fine particles.

Sanitation Guide

An emergency toilet: bucket, heavy bags and litter or gelIf mains break, flushing contaminates the system. This setup costs under $40.Hygiene stock: wipes, sanitizer, trash bags, bleachDiarrheal illness spreads fast when water is short. Clean hands are a medical supply.

Plans and people

Copies of IDs, insurance and deeds (paper and encrypted digital)Keep a paper set in the go-bag and a digital set somewhere you can reach from any phone.A household plan: meeting spots and two ways out of the neighborhoodPick one spot nearby and one outside the neighborhood. Write it down.We practiced our plan in the last 12 monthsA five-minute drill exposes most gaps.I know at least two neighbors I could count onNeighbors are the first responders in most disasters.

Home safety

Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarmsTest monthly. Add a battery CO alarm if you have any fuel-burning appliance or generator.A fire extinguisher I know how to usePull, aim, squeeze, sweep. Keep one in the kitchen and one by an exit.I know how to shut off gas, water and powerKeep a shutoff wrench at the meter. Only shut gas off if you smell it or hear hissing.Water heater strapped, tall furniture anchoredCheap straps prevent the most common earthquake home injuries and fires.