Preparedness Checklist: Are You Ready for the Next Emergency?
Emergencies rarely arrive with perfect timing. Storms, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, power outages, and water service disruptions can happen with little warning. A simple preparedness checklist can help your household stay calmer, safer, and more organized when normal routines are interrupted.
Preparedness is not about panic. It is about having the basic supplies, information, and habits your family may need during the first few days of an emergency.
Start With the Basics
Every household should prepare for the possibility that power, water, transportation, or communication may be temporarily unavailable.
- Store emergency drinking water.
- Keep shelf-stable food on hand.
- Prepare a first aid kit.
- Keep flashlights and extra batteries available.
- Have a battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
- Keep important documents in a waterproof folder.
- Prepare a small evacuation bag for each family member.
- Make a family communication plan.
- Know your local evacuation routes.
Emergency Water Checklist
Water should be one of the first items in your emergency plan. The CDC recommends storing at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days. If possible, store a 2-week supply.
- Store commercially bottled water when possible.
- Use food-grade containers if storing tap water yourself.
- Label containers with the storage date.
- Replace self-filled stored water every 6 months.
- Store water away from heat, sunlight, gasoline, pesticides, and chemicals.
- Keep extra water for pets, infants, seniors, and those with medical needs.
If local officials issue a boil water notice, follow their instructions. Boiling can help in some situations, but it does not remove chemical contamination, fuel, pesticides, heavy metals, or flood-related contaminants. If chemical contamination is suspected, use bottled water or another approved safe source.
Food and Cooking Supplies
Choose foods that are easy to store and do not require refrigeration.
- Canned vegetables, beans, soups, and meats
- Nut butters
- Crackers, granola bars, and dry cereal
- Dried fruit and nuts
- Ready-to-eat meals
- Baby food or formula, if needed
- Manual can opener
- Disposable plates, cups, and utensils
- Camp stove or safe outdoor cooking option
Never use grills, camp stoves, or generators indoors. They can produce carbon monoxide, which is dangerous and potentially deadly.
Flood Preparedness
Flooding can damage roads, homes, power systems, wells, and drinking water supplies. If you live in a flood-prone area, prepare before heavy rain begins.
- Know whether your home is in a flood zone.
- Keep important documents in waterproof bags.
- Move valuables and emergency supplies to higher ground.
- Keep phones and battery banks charged.
- Do not walk or drive through floodwater.
- Use bottled water if your tap water or well may be affected.
- Follow evacuation orders immediately.
If your private well has been flooded, do not drink from it until it has been inspected, treated if needed, and tested in accordance with local guidance.
Earthquake Preparedness
Earthquakes can interrupt water, power, roads, and communication. They can also knock down furniture and damage plumbing.
- Secure tall furniture, shelves, and heavy appliances.
- Know how to shut off gas, water, and electricity if needed.
- Keep shoes, gloves, and a flashlight near your bed.
- Store emergency supplies in more than one location.
- Practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”
- Keep water and food available for several days.
During shaking, get low, cover your head and neck, and hold on to a sturdy shelter if available. After the shaking stops, watch for broken glass, gas leaks, damaged wiring, and aftershocks.
Wildfire and Smoke Preparedness
Wildfires can move quickly, and smoke can affect air quality far from the flames.
- Know your evacuation routes.
- Keep your vehicle fueled or charged.
- Prepare a go-bag for each family member.
- Keep N95 masks available for smoke events.
- Store medications and important documents together.
- Follow local fire and evacuation alerts.
Power Outage Preparedness
Power outages can affect lighting, refrigeration, heating, cooling, water pumps, medical devices, and communication.
- Keep flashlights in easy-to-find locations.
- Store extra batteries.
- Charge battery banks before storms.
- Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
- Use generators only outdoors and away from windows.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
First Aid and Health Supplies
A basic first aid kit can help with minor injuries until professional help is available.
- Bandages and gauze
- Antiseptic wipes
- Medical tape
- Disposable gloves
- Tweezers and scissors
- Pain reliever
- Thermometer
- Prescription medications
- Backup glasses or contact lens supplies
- Copies of medical information
Check expiration dates regularly and replace used or outdated items.
Family Communication Plan
During a disaster, cell service may be unreliable. Decide in advance how your family will communicate and where you will meet.
- Choose an out-of-area emergency contact.
- Write down important phone numbers.
- Choose a meeting place near your home.
- Choose a second meeting place outside your neighborhood.
- Make sure children know what to do if separated.
- Keep a printed copy of the plan in each go-bag.
Important Documents to Keep Ready
Store copies of important documents in a waterproof folder or digital backup.
- IDs and passports
- Insurance documents
- Medical information
- Prescription lists
- Emergency contacts
- Banking information
- Pet vaccination records
- Home inventory photos
Emergency Supplies for Pets
Pets need their own emergency supplies, too.
- Food and water
- Bowls
- Leash, harness, or carrier
- Waste bags or litter supplies
- Medications
- Vaccination records
- Comfort item or blanket
Should You Keep a Water Filter for Emergencies?
A water filter can be a helpful part of an emergency plan, especially when paired with stored drinking water, clean containers, and a way to boil water when local guidance recommends it.
Gravity-fed water filters are popular for preparedness because they do not require electricity or plumbing. Berkey water filter systems are countertop, gravity-fed units that can be used for everyday drinking water filtration and as a backup when used according to product instructions.
View the Big Berkey Water Filter
Important: A water filter should not replace official safety guidance. If water may be contaminated by floodwater, fuel, sewage, industrial chemicals, pesticides, or other hazardous substances, use bottled water or follow local health department instructions.
Simple Preparedness Checklist
- Store drinking water.
- Keep non-perishable food.
- Prepare a first aid kit.
- Charge phones and battery banks.
- Keep flashlights and batteries.
- Prepare go-bags.
- Store important documents safely.
- Plan evacuation routes.
- Make a family communication plan.
- Check supplies every 6 months.
Final Thoughts
Being prepared does not have to be complicated. Start with the basics: water, food, first aid, light, communication, and a plan. Then build from there based on the disasters most likely in your area.
A small amount of preparation today can make a major difference during an emergency. Review your checklist, update your supplies, and make sure every family member knows what to do before the next disaster arrives.
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