After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, families slept in temporary shelters amid ruined infrastructure. Today the emergencies vary: storms, flooding, a long power cut, a cyberattack disrupting payments, or a sudden evacuation. Preparedness is not panic; it is deciding a few practical things before fear has to make the decisions. Authorities in different countries recommend different supply periods. A 72-hour plan is a useful starting point, not a guarantee that every crisis ends in three days.
What to have ready
- Water and food: enough drinking water and nonperishable food for household needs, including children, pets and special diets. Follow local recommendations for quantities.
- Medication and health: essential prescribed medicines where feasible, a basic first-aid kit, hygiene supplies and instructions for devices that require electricity.
- Communication: a charged power bank, phone numbers written on paper, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio if appropriate.
- Light and warmth: flashlights, spare batteries, suitable clothing and blankets. Never operate generators or fuel-burning heaters indoors.
- Documents and money: copies of identity, insurance and medical information kept safely, plus some accessible cash in usable denominations.
- People: a meeting point, an out-of-area contact, and a plan for those who may need assistance.
The ten-minute conversation most families skip
If everyone loses phone service, where will you meet? Who picks up children? How do you check on an older neighbor? What happens if you cannot return home? Keep answers simple enough to remember. Review the plan when circumstances change, and protect personal records rather than leaving sensitive copies exposed.
A supply kit should reflect local risks, not a generic fantasy of survival. In a flood-prone area, know higher ground and official evacuation routes. For power cuts, understand food safety, essential-device power needs and how to receive alerts. For wildfire or other sudden evacuation risk, keep a small ready-to-go bag rather than assuming there will be hours to pack.
The final part of readiness is social: neighbors who can help one another. Emergencies reveal who has cars, medical skills, language barriers or mobility limitations. A household plan is stronger when it is connected to a community.
Sources and further reading
- Ready.gov: build an emergency supply kit
- American Red Cross: prepare for emergencies
- Related: what changing climate risks mean at home
Historical featured photograph: see the archival image caption for location, date and source. The photograph is contextual, not a depiction of an event in 2026.
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