Most of us don’t think much about emergency preparedness until something happens. Maybe a storm is heading our way, the power goes out, or the grocery store shelves start looking a little empty.
Then suddenly, everyone’s scrambling to find batteries, bottled water, flashlights, and whatever else they think they’ll need.
That’s exactly what the federal government’s emergency preparedness website, Ready.gov, wants Americans to avoid. The website, which is part of a long-running national preparedness campaign, encourages families to get a few basic things in place before an emergency happens.
And no, that doesn’t mean building an underground bunker or filling your basement with years of canned food. Most of the recommendations are pretty simple things that any household can work toward.
Keep enough food and supplies for at least three days
Ready.gov recommends having enough emergency supplies to get through at least 72 hours. That includes nonperishable food, drinking water, medications, flashlights, batteries, and a first-aid kit.
Think about what your family would actually need if you couldn’t get to the store for a few days. Having extra canned foods, pantry staples, snacks, and other everyday essentials can make a big difference when your normal routine gets interrupted.
You don’t have to buy everything at once, either. Adding a few extra items to your grocery cart each week is a perfectly reasonable way to build up your supplies.
Make sure you have drinking water
Water is one of those things we take for granted because it’s always there when we turn on the faucet. But storms, flooding, and other emergencies can interrupt water service or make tap water unsafe to drink.
Ready.gov recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day, with enough for a minimum of three days. For a family of four, that’s at least 12 gallons, and you may need more depending on your household’s needs.
Related: 15 Essential Prepper Supplies to Stock Beyond Food and Water
Have a plan for getting in touch with your family
If something happened while everyone was at work, school, or running errands, would you know how to reach each other?
That’s one of the things Ready.gov encourages families to figure out ahead of time. Decide where you’ll meet if you can’t get home, who everyone should contact, and what you’ll do if phone service isn’t working.
For families with children, it’s also worth talking through what they should do if an emergency happens while they’re at school or away from home.
Keep some emergency supplies in your car
A small emergency kit in your car can come in handy if you get stranded, stuck in bad weather, or caught in an unexpected road closure.
A flashlight, bottled water, snacks, a first-aid kit, phone charger, and an extra blanket are good things to keep around. If you live somewhere with harsh winters, you’ll want to add a few cold-weather essentials, too.
It’s also worth checking those supplies occasionally, especially anything that could be damaged by extreme heat or freezing temperatures.
Prepare for the emergencies that happen where you live
Not everyone needs to prepare for the same things. Depending on where you live, your biggest concerns might be hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, flooding, earthquakes, or winter storms.
Ready.gov has information on different types of disasters, including what to do before, during, and after each one.
It’s worth knowing which emergencies are most likely in your area and whether you might need to evacuate or stay home for several days.
Related: 21 Essential Emergency Supplies That Every Home Should Have Stocked
Sign up for emergency alerts
Most of us rely on our phones for weather updates, but it’s worth making sure you’re receiving official emergency alerts, too.
Local emergency management agencies often offer alerts about severe weather, evacuation orders, road closures, and other situations that could affect your neighborhood.
The FEMA App is another option for weather alerts and emergency information. Having these resources set up before you need them can save you from searching for updates when something is already happening.
Think about what you’d do without electricity
Losing power for a few hours is usually just an inconvenience. Losing it for several days can be a different story, especially if you depend on electricity for heating, cooking, refrigeration, or running water.
Keep flashlights, extra batteries, charged power banks, and some food that doesn’t require cooking. It’s also worth knowing how you’ll stay warm or cool if your heating or air conditioning stops working.
If you have a generator or outdoor cooking equipment, make sure you know how to use it safely. Never run generators, grills, or camping stoves inside your home or garage because they can produce deadly carbon monoxide.
Don’t wait until everyone else is rushing to the store
We’ve all seen what happens when a major storm is approaching. Grocery stores get crowded, bottled water disappears, and suddenly everyone remembers they need batteries.
The whole point of preparing ahead of time is to avoid being in that situation.
You don’t need a huge stockpile or a complicated emergency plan. Having some extra food and water, knowing how to contact your family, and keeping a few basic supplies around can make an unexpected situation much easier to manage.
And that’s really the message behind Ready.gov’s advice. Take care of the simple things now, while you have the time and ability to do it, rather than waiting until you have no other choice.
For additional emergency planning resources and checklists, visit Ready.gov.
