Read the short action first. Open explanations when you need them.

PREPARE TOGETHER

Emergency Prep

Make important information easier to find when it matters.

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START HERE · THEN GO DEEPER

Your first useful action

Choose contacts and a meeting plan with the people who will use it. Start with an accessible contact card and the location of important records.

A worked example

A household plan can name one nearby meeting place, one out-of-area contact, and who assists a pet or someone with access needs. Agree on it together.

What people often mix up

An emergency binder helps you find information; it cannot guarantee communication or replace local emergency instructions.

What to ask when you are stuck

“If our normal phone or transport plan fails, how will we contact one another and where will we meet?”

Ask the organization or person responsible for the decision. Write down the answer, date, and any next action. If their answer uses an unfamiliar word, find it in Words explained below.

How to know this first action is finished

Everyone involved can find the contact plan and explain their responsibility without relying on one person’s memory.

TRY IT WITH YOUR OWN DETAILS

Test one part of your household plan

Agree on a nearby meeting place and an out-of-area contact with the people involved.
Check how each person can reach the contact information if their usual phone or internet is unavailable.
Include pet and access needs, then review local official instructions for your area.

Check your result: Each person can explain their part and retrieve the plan without relying on one person’s memory.

If something changes

Review when people, contact details or access needs change. A saved plan cannot guarantee communication.

See the emergency preparation pack

START FROM THE BEGINNING

Start with stage 1 below. Read each action, do it, then check its box. You can pause and come back anytime.

How this path works

This path is for planning during a calm moment. It helps you find official local instructions, decide how to reconnect with people, and gather useful supplies. During an actual emergency, move to safety and follow emergency officials instead of working through this website.

Checked actions stay saved. Use the bookmark to keep a stage in My Vault. Select Save notes to keep what you write. If you already did an action, you can check it now.

What to have ready

Your household’s important contact information stored privately.
Your local area and the places you regularly spend time.
A paper list, a calendar, and the official local preparation guidance.

Still in school or under 18? Start here.

Ask a household adult, residence-hall staff member, or school safety office to explain existing plans. Include any accessibility, communication, medication-storage, or transport needs. You are not expected to manage an emergency alone.

Where to go for help & useful links

If official guidance is hard to understand, contact the local emergency-management office on its non-emergency number or ask school staff for help. Ask for accessible or translated instructions if needed. During immediate danger, use emergency help rather than waiting for a support-email reply.

Household preparation resources (Ready.gov)
Choose the relevant hazard or household planning topic, then compare it with local instructions.
Organize important document locations
Know where essential records are kept without storing sensitive document numbers here.

Foundation resources reviewed September 17, 2026; new topic content added September 19, 2026. Government and regulatory resources are for the U.S.; use the relevant authority where you live. Confirm fees, eligibility, and local requirements with the organization.

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Your path, step by step

Instructions and a checklist at every stage.

Where to go / who to contact

Search “[city or county] emergency management” and confirm the office through the official government website.

Do these actions in order

ACTION 1Look for “Prepare”, “Emergency alerts”, and “Evacuation”. Identify the hazards the local office discusses for your area instead of copying a plan for a different location.
I’m stuck — help with this action
Your next small step
Look for “Prepare”, “Emergency alerts”, and “Evacuation”. Identify the hazards the local office discusses for your area instead of copying a plan for a different location.
Get ready
Search “[city or county] emergency management” and confirm the office through the official government website.
- Your household’s important contact information stored privately.
- Your local area and the places you regularly spend time.
- A paper list, a calendar, and the official local preparation guidance.
Make it manageable
1. Find the office, website, document, or person named above.
2. Work on this one action. If it needs a response, write down who you contacted and when.
3. Check the result below before checking off the action. Pause and ask if a requirement is unclear.
What finished looks like
You know the official local guidance and where urgent instructions will come from.
Words explained
“Requirement” means something you must provide or do. “Deadline” means the last date or time to complete it. “Follow up” means checking what happens next after your first contact.
What you can say
Where are official alerts posted?
Choose a call or message script
Where to get more help
If official guidance is hard to understand, contact the local emergency-management office on its non-emergency number or ask school staff for help. Ask for accessible or translated instructions if needed. During immediate danger, use emergency help rather than waiting for a support-email reply.
Household preparation resources (Ready.gov) · Choose the relevant hazard or household planning topic, then compare it with local instructions.
Organize important document locations · Know where essential records are kept without storing sensitive document numbers here.
ACTION 2Save the official page and contact information. Learn the local emergency number and which number handles non-emergency questions. Never call an emergency line just to test it.
I’m stuck — help with this action
Your next small step
Save the official page and contact information. Learn the local emergency number and which number handles non-emergency questions. Never call an emergency line just to test it.
Get ready
Search “[city or county] emergency management” and confirm the office through the official government website.
- Your household’s important contact information stored privately.
- Your local area and the places you regularly spend time.
- A paper list, a calendar, and the official local preparation guidance.
Make it manageable
1. Find the office, website, document, or person named above.
2. Work on this one action. If it needs a response, write down who you contacted and when.
3. Check the result below before checking off the action. Pause and ask if a requirement is unclear.
What finished looks like
You know the official local guidance and where urgent instructions will come from.
Words explained
“Requirement” means something you must provide or do. “Deadline” means the last date or time to complete it. “Follow up” means checking what happens next after your first contact.
What you can say
Where are official alerts posted?
Choose a call or message script
Where to get more help
If official guidance is hard to understand, contact the local emergency-management office on its non-emergency number or ask school staff for help. Ask for accessible or translated instructions if needed. During immediate danger, use emergency help rather than waiting for a support-email reply.
Household preparation resources (Ready.gov) · Choose the relevant hazard or household planning topic, then compare it with local instructions.
Organize important document locations · Know where essential records are kept without storing sensitive document numbers here.
ACTION 3For school or campus, find its own emergency and closure instructions too. Ask staff to explain unfamiliar alert terms or meeting locations.
I’m stuck — help with this action
Your next small step
For school or campus, find its own emergency and closure instructions too. Ask staff to explain unfamiliar alert terms or meeting locations.
Get ready
Search “[city or county] emergency management” and confirm the office through the official government website.
- Your household’s important contact information stored privately.
- Your local area and the places you regularly spend time.
- A paper list, a calendar, and the official local preparation guidance.
Make it manageable
1. Find the office, website, document, or person named above.
2. Work on this one action. If it needs a response, write down who you contacted and when.
3. Check the result below before checking off the action. Pause and ask if a requirement is unclear.
What finished looks like
You know the official local guidance and where urgent instructions will come from.
Words explained
“Requirement” means something you must provide or do. “Deadline” means the last date or time to complete it. “Follow up” means checking what happens next after your first contact.
What you can say
Where are official alerts posted?
Choose a call or message script
Where to get more help
If official guidance is hard to understand, contact the local emergency-management office on its non-emergency number or ask school staff for help. Ask for accessible or translated instructions if needed. During immediate danger, use emergency help rather than waiting for a support-email reply.
Household preparation resources (Ready.gov) · Choose the relevant hazard or household planning topic, then compare it with local instructions.
Organize important document locations · Know where essential records are kept without storing sensitive document numbers here.

Questions you can ask, word for word

“Where are official alerts posted?”
“How do I learn what to do for the hazards in this area?”

You are ready to move on whenYou know the official local guidance and where urgent instructions will come from.

Find help and useful links for this topic ↗Learn the words, math, and real-life impact ↗Your notes for this stage

Keep sensitive information out of these notes.

Keep the details organized

Use these practical checklists for the paperwork, routines, and follow-up work along your path.

Use notes for plans and reminders. Keep passwords, account numbers, and sensitive documents in a secure storage service.

Emergency Prep

Your first useful action

Test one part of your household plan

Your path, step by step

Where to go / who to contact

Do these actions in order

Your next small step

Get ready

Make it manageable

What finished looks like

Words explained

What you can say

Your next small step

Get ready

Make it manageable

What finished looks like

Words explained

What you can say

Your next small step

Get ready

Make it manageable

What finished looks like

Words explained

What you can say

Questions you can ask, word for word

Keep the details organized

Practical how-to guides

Wash your hands, one small step at a time

Organize household recovery administration

Benefits & practical assistance: prepare and follow through

Eldercare & caregiver coordination: prepare and follow through

Templates for this chapter

Set up a ready-to-use handwashing spot

Match handwashing to everyday moments

Practice the handwashing steps

Benefit application preparation