Know your household’s needs
Write down who lives in your home, including pets, and note medications, mobility needs, medical devices, dietary needs, caregiving responsibilities, and anything that depends on electricity.
Your calm starting point
Emergency Preparedness for Beginners
Preparedness does not begin with fear or buying everything at once. It begins with understanding your household, learning your local risks, and taking one practical step at a time.
Complete beginner guide
Build the foundation before the shopping list
A strong first plan covers the people in your household, official alerts, communication, basic supplies, and the information you would need if normal routines stopped.
Save to PinterestYour beginner path
Six decisions that turn information into progress
Follow the path in order or open the part that solves your biggest gap today.
First decision
Know the risks where you live
Learn which hazards can affect your area, how local officials send alerts, and where you would shelter or evacuate.
Open this step →First planGive everyone the same instructions
Choose contacts and meeting places before phones are busy or household members are separated.
Open this step →First suppliesUse what you own before buying more
Inventory your home, solve one real gap at a time, and prioritize reliable multipurpose supplies.
Open this step →First backupCover food, water, light, and charging
Start small with supplies your household understands, can safely store, and will actually rotate.
Open this step →First testSee your three best next actions
Use the free two-minute readiness check to turn a broad goal into a short personal list.
Open this step →Keep goingSave progress in your household plan
Track guide steps privately on your device and return without creating an account.
Open this step →Five practical steps
What to prepare first
Each step connects to deeper SWC guidance, so you can learn without searching through disconnected advice.
Create a communication plan
Choose an out-of-area contact, a near-home meeting place, an out-of-neighborhood meeting place, and the ways each person will receive official alerts. Give every household member the same simple instructions.
Prepare for power and lighting
Find your flashlights, test batteries and carbon monoxide alarms, identify safe charging options, and ask the appropriate provider or equipment supplier about any medication or medical equipment that depends on electricity.
Build a basic food and water supply
Begin with familiar shelf-stable foods and safe water storage. CDC recommends at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days and more for certain household needs, pets, or hot climates.
Organize information and practice
Keep essential documents, medication lists, insurance details, emergency contacts, and local resource numbers together. Review the plan with your household and update it after a move, health change, or major lesson.
Beginner questions
Start with useful answers
Do I need to buy a premade emergency kit?
No. A useful kit is specific to the people, pets, health needs, hazards, and routines in your household. Start with items you already own, then fill the most important gaps over time.
How much water should I store?
CDC recommends storing at least one gallon per person per day for three days and trying for a two-week supply when possible. Store more for pets, pregnancy, illness, or hot climates, and follow CDC guidance for safe containers and rotation.
What if I cannot afford everything at once?
Do not try to buy everything at once. Begin with a written plan, working flashlights, official alerts, familiar food, and one affordable gap. FEMA’s current low- and no-cost guidance also recommends building supplies over time.
How often should I review my plan?
Review it after household, health, school, work, medication, or address changes and after any event that reveals a gap. A short recurring check is easier to maintain than a major annual overhaul.
Primary sources reviewed August 11, 2026.
SWC provides general education. During an active emergency, follow local officials and the appropriate authorities.
After you download
Turn the checklist into progress
Complete the assessment
Review it with the people in your household.
Choose one gap
Pick one missing item or plan to address first.
Check in monthly
Schedule a short household preparedness review.
Take the next step