Emergency preparedness guide for American families
Plain-English, step-by-step answers for the moments that matter: the lights go out, a hurricane is coming, the water isn't safe. Based on Ready.gov, CDC, NOAA and USDA guidance — and free to print.
- Make a family emergency plan (free printable template)
- Build a 72-hour emergency kit
- Store water, then food, toward a 2-week supply
- Print the power outage checklist and keep it with your flashlights
Power outages
The most common emergency in America. What to prepare, what to do hour by hour, and how to stay safe with generators and cold weather.
Power outage checklist
What to prepare (with quantities), what to do before, during and after — plus a free printable PDF.
Read the checklist → PowerGenerator safety
The 20-foot rule, carbon monoxide alarms, why never to backfeed, and how to size a generator.
Read the guide → WinterHow to stay warm without power
The one-room method, layering, protecting pipes and the CO mistakes that kill every winter.
Read the guide → Food safetyFridge food without power
The 4-hour and 48-hour rules, what to keep, what to toss and when you can refreeze.
Read the guide → Free toolPower outage food safety calculator
Enter how long the power has been out and get a keep, refreeze or throw-out list for your fridge and freezer.
Use the calculator →Water & food
Water fails first and matters most. How much to store, how to make it safe, and how to build a food supply your family will actually eat.
How much water to store
The gallon-per-person rule, a household chart, containers, rotation and bleach dosing.
Read the guide → WaterBoil water advisory
What you can and can't do — drinking, showering, dishes, baby formula — and when it's lifted.
Read the guide → FoodEmergency food storage
Best foods, a shelf life chart and a 2-week shopping list per person.
Read the guide →Plans & kits
The decisions to make before anything happens: who calls whom, where you meet, and what you grab.
Family emergency plan
Contacts, meeting places, kids, medications and pets — with a printable fill-in template.
Read the guide → KitEmergency kit list
The Ready.gov 72-hour kit, the extras families forget, and car and work kits.
Read the guide → Free test · 2 minGrid-Down Readiness Test
Eight realistic decisions during a two-week outage. Get your score and your weakest areas.
Take the test →Severe weather
Region-specific threats, with checklists tied to official alerts.
Free printables
No email required. Print them, fill them in and keep a copy with your supplies.
Want the whole plan in one place?
The Protocol Survival System is 5 step-by-step manuals plus an offline inventory app. $19 once, instant download, 60-day money-back guarantee.
See what's insideHow we create these guides: editorial standards.