Emergency prep essentials: a 30-minute home checklist

Start with the 30-minute basics

The goal is to cover the next 72 hours with minimal effort.

• Charge devices and gather backup batteries.
• Stage flashlights, a weather radio, and first aid supplies.
• Set aside three days of water and shelf-stable food.

72-hour kit essentials

A basic kit should support every person and pet in the home for several days.

• One gallon of water per person per day.
• Non-perishable food and a manual can opener.
• Prescription medications and basic hygiene items.
• Cash, chargers, and spare clothing.

Power and water resilience

Short outages are common after wind, flood, and lightning events.

• Know how to shut off power and water if advised.
• Store fuel safely and keep a basic tool kit ready.
• Test your generator or backup battery seasonally.

Protect documents and valuables

Small preparation steps reduce insurance and recovery delays.

• Photograph your home and keep receipts in cloud storage.
• Move valuables above ground level during flood season.
• Pack a grab-and-go folder for IDs and policies.

Create a communication plan

Outages make it hard to coordinate. Decide who will check in and how.

Pick a local and out-of-area contact and share the plan with everyone in the household.

Know your local triggers

Every city has unique evacuation routes, flood zones, and shelter guidance.

• Save local alert sources and evacuation routes.
• Review hurricane, tornado, or flood trigger thresholds.
• Share the plan with everyone in the household.

After-storm checklist

Stay safe after the storm passes. Hazards often persist even after the wind stops.

• Avoid standing water and downed power lines.
• Document damage before cleanup.
• Report issues to your utility or local emergency management.