Welcome to the ultimate guide to emergency planning and preparedness!
It is my hope that the resources here will help you put together a disaster preparedness and response plan.
Emergency situations are highly unpredictable and can range from natural disasters to man-made catastrophes.
Often people take the time to prepare for a crisis situation, but not natural disasters.
If there is an earthquake, hurricane or tornado in your area and your home comes crumbling down around you, whatever food and water supplies you have stored are going to destroyed.
The structural integrity of your home will be compromised, and it won’t be safe to stay there or even safe enough to try to salvage anything that might be left.
At this point, you and your family have no choice but to evacuate.
This is why every prepper needs to have an evacuation plan that the entire family knows and can execute in a moments notice.
This is why packing at least one, if not two, emergency evacuation bug out bags well ahead of time and placing them in several easy to access locations – such as right by your front door and in your vehicle – is so important.
Hopefully these articles will give you a few points to bear in mind when formulating your plan.
Consider The Location When Doing Your Emergency Planning
During a catastrophe of any type the roads may be impassable.
Sometimes this is because of a natural disaster.
For example the roads could be flooded making them unsafe to travel on.
Another possibility is your vehicle could get damaged while trying to evacuate.
Consider how close your shelter is.
In the event that you cannot get there, do you have family, friends or even neighbors who are nearby and could take you in?
If not, is the nearest safe shelter within walking distance or will you need a vehicle to get there?
If you need a vehicle, how will you get one?
Have you thought about the possibility that there could be a fuel shortage and made plans on how to deal with that?
These are all important things to consider and plan for even if you never need to implement them.
Make Sure Your Family Is Familiar With Your Emergency Preparedness Plan
No matter how good your emergency planning and preparedness plan is, it is only good when everyone is onboard and knows what is going on.
What if your spouse is at work?
If the kids are at a friend’s house, do they know what to do?
Will everyone meet at home and evacuate, or will they meet you at a secondary location such as a family survival camp?
During a crisis, there is not a lot of time to think and people often panic making it even harder to make rational decisions, especially if it is a man-made catastrophe such as an active shooter situation.
Contacting your family members may not be possible if they don’t have access to a phone.
Don’t count on cell phones because the grid could be down or there could be so many people trying to use the phone lines that you can’t get through.
Any of these scenarios could happen, and they usually do, especially during natural disasters.
So, make a plan, get prepared and go over the plan with every member of your family.
You might even consider having fake drills so everyone has a chance to practice the plan before an actual emergency comes up.
Make Sure Your Emergency Preparedness Plan Is Very Detailed
Ensure that all family members from infants to adults have a laminated card with a list of all their family members and their contact information.
For infants and young children it is a good idea to secure this laminated card to their clothing using safety pins or some other method so if they are separated from you, someone else can find the information and know who to contact.
Include emergency phone numbers such as the hospital, doctors office and police stations.
You might even include the poison control center just in case someone is accidentally poisoned while trying to evacuate.
Best of all, if anyone is alone and injured, first responders will know how to reach the next of kin.
Including information about allergies or medications on this card is a good idea so the first responders have that information before they begin treatment.
If there is panic and everyone is scrambling for their lives, as would happen in a tsunami or other type of natural disaster, you may lose sight of a family member or two because of how chaotic the situation is.
By taking the time before hand to make sure every member of your family has this information easily accessible, there is a much higher chance of finding them sooner.
This means you can get to a safe place as a family sooner instead of later.
Another option is to pick up a copy of my Printable Emergency Prep Journal Coloring Pages.
Even if you don’t want to spend your time coloring the pages in, the information you can put into this is quite detailed and perfect to stick in a bug out bag.
Communication Is Important When Executing An Emergency Preparedness Plan
During a crisis there must be a plan of communication.
As mentioned above, if everyone is calling the same person for information, calls may not go through or be delayed.
One way to do it if you have children, will be for one child to call the mother while another child calls the father.
If calls don’t work, ask them to try texting.
It is a good idea to make up codes before an emergency situation occurs that everyone remembers, or at least has a list of, so that you do not have to send long texts to get your message across.
Of course, phones are not the only way to communicate.
Consider walkie-talkies, CB radios, email if the grid is up and you can access a computer or simply putting a post on social media and setting it to friends only so the world does not know you have evacuated your home.
Don’t Forget To Pack The Emergency Evacuation Kits
It goes without saying that every family member needs a bug out bag or an emergency evacuation bag that they can grab and take with them in an emergency.
The emergency evacuation bag will contain supplies such as food, water and other items that will help you get through the next 72-hours as smoothly as possible.
Include Your Pets In Your Emergency Planning And Preparedness Plan
If you have pets, you will need to evacuate them too in the event that you must leave your home.
While you can’t move an aquarium, you can save your cat, dog, hamster or rabbit.
Larger animals such as livestock are also harder to move, but not impossible to move to safety.
Pack an emergency evacuation bag for your pets.
You will need food supplies for them and a portable carrier to transport the pet.
Be aware that evacuation shelters may not allow pets and if they do they will request their shot records, so pack a copy of those in their bug out bag.
This is why it is a good idea to bring a tent or small shelter for them so they stay warm and dry, that way if you must leave them outside, they will have shelter.
It is important for you to check on them at regular intervals and take them for a walk so they can get some exercise and relieve themselves.
Be sure to follow these tips when creating your emergency preparedness plan.
It is imperative that you have a good plan in place long before you need it and a good support network to help you implement the plan if you need to.
Get to know the people around your neighborhood and know who you can and cannot count on in an emergency situation.
Below are links to very specific situations that require emergency planning ahead of time and a very well thought out preparedness plan.
There is also some good information to help you make an emergency readiness plan for your entire family.
Armed Shooter And Riot Tips
Stay Safe by Raising Your Situational Awareness Levels
One of the best ways to stay safe in any situation is to raise your situational awareness levels. Being aware of what is going on around you is one of the most important skills you can develop. It is also important to teach children what to say and do in case they have to deal with a stranger.
How To Prepare For Civil Unrest So It Does Not Severely Impact You
Understanding how to prepare for civil unrest is extremely important. Escaping riots and violent demonstrations safely is one of the main reasons to prepare for civil unrest.
Civil Unrest Survival Planning
In times of civil unrest, survival planning ahead of time is the best way to be sure to keep your family safe. Family survival planning is a smart move.
Emergency Survival Tips For Escaping A Riot
Check out these emergency survival tips for escaping a riot! These tips also work well for other types of survival prepping plans.
Top Survival Tips And Strategies When Facing An Armed Shooter
Active shooter situations are very common these days. This is why understanding the top survival tips and strategies is so important. The more prepared you are and the calmer you are, the more likely you are to survive.
Bug Out Bag + Evacuation Tips
Essential Evacuation Bag Contents For Everyone
Learn what your evacuation bag contents needs to include. A survival backpack is a very important part of a good emergency readiness plan.
Evacuation Bag Weight Recommendations
An emergency evacuation bag should contain essentials to get you through a 72 hour time period. Overpacking your evacuation bag is dangerous! Learn more!
What Goes Into Your Emergency Evacuation Bag?
Have you ever wondered what goes into an emergency evacuation bag or as it is sometimes called, a bug out bag? In a nutshell, you need to include things that are essential for survival in an emergency situation over a three day period.
Useful Survival Disaster Gear That Every Prepper Should Pack
It is important to know what the most useful survival disaster gear is so you include it in your bug out bag. Here is what every prepper should pack!
What To Pack In A Children's First Aid Disaster Survival Kit
Knowing what to pack in a children's first aid disaster survival kit is important, even if you don't have children. These kits are handy in emergencies.
Weapons To Include In Your Homesteading Self Sufficiency Survival Kit
Learn what weapons - both lethal and non-lethal - to include in your homesteading self sufficiency survival kit and why you need them.
Paracord Bracelet Uses
Have you ever wondered what paracord bracelet uses are? Check out these paracord uses for survival situations and everyday situations!
Emergency Planning And Preparedness Tips
The Importance Of Taking Survival Preparedness Seriously
Survival preparedness needs to be taken seriously because you never know when a natural disaster or a man-made catastrophe might happen. A disaster can occur when you least expect it, and this is why it is extremely important to be well-prepared before you are caught off-guard.
Prepper Water Storage Tips And Ideas
Check out these prepper water storage tips and ideas to learn the options for storing water or having access to clean water should you need to bug out.
How To Stay Warm In Winter If The Power Goes Out
Power outages happen. The key is to be prepared ahead of time so you can stay warm in winter if the power goes out or the grid goes down.
Planning Your Family Survival Camp
Family survival camps are an essential part of wilderness survival. Don't wait for shtf before you make a plan and gather survival gear.
Emergency Survival Tips for Single Mothers
Learn how to start preparing for a potential crisis situation by following these emergency survival tips for single mothers.
Tips For Prepping For Survival On A Budget - Experimental Homesteader
Prepping for survival on a tight budget is possible. The first step is to prepare your emergency readiness plan so you know what supplies you need.
How To Start Prepping On A Budget With Groupon Coupons
Learn how to start prepping on a budget and get those basic homesteading supplies plus the gift items you need using Groupon Coupons.
How To Survive During Economic and Political Chaos
Learn how to survive during economic and political chaos. Having a plan in place to keep you and your family safe is essential.
Survival Grocery List - First Month
Find out where to start your survival grocery list. The first month lays the ground work for basic survival needs and your emergency survival food list.
Food Security Preparedness - What To Do Before Disaster Strikes
Learn what food security preparedness skills you need to survive any natural or man-made disaster, and why you should grow your own food.
How To Plan For Survival Emergency Preparedness Situations
These fifteen critical survival scenarios are exactly the reason you need to plan for survival emergency preparedness situations today.
Are You Ready To Start Becoming A Survivialist?
Becoming a survivalist is a lifestyle and mindset change. You must consider the pros and cons of prepping for survival because it does require commitment.
10 Essential Prepper Supplies For Home Remedies
Emergencies such as natural distasters are happening at an alarming rate these days. Be prepared by stocking up on these supplies for home remedies.
9 Tips To Stay Safe During The Human Coronavirus Outbreak
These 9 coronavirus outbreak safety tips are sure to help keep you and your family safe during this rapidly spreading pandemic.
4 Questions To Ask During A Health Disaster
There seems to be a new health disaster every year! Find out what 4 questions to ask during a health diaster to keep your family safe.
9 Quick Pointers To Reduce Your Risk Of Infectious Diseases
Follow these nine quick pointers to help reduce your risk of infectious diseases, including those that are on their way to becoming a pandemic.
Flu Prevention Tips
Learn about some simple flu prevention tips to help you and your family stay healthy this winter. Plus get the facts on just how serious the flu really is.
Safety Measures To Take When Self-Isolation is Not an Option
Learn what to do when self-isolation is not an option because the company you work for does not shut down or you are considered an essential worker.
Running Out Of Toilet Paper? You Need To Read This!
If you're like many people and running out of toilet paper because of the hoarding that is happening, here are some emergency alternatives to try.
Emergency Duct Tape Tire Repair
Have you ever been in an emergency situation where you needed to know how to fix a tire? Try this emergency duct tape tire repair solution!
Weapons To Include In Your Homesteading Self Sufficiency Survival Kit
Learn what weapons - both lethal and non-lethal - to include in your homesteading self sufficiency survival kit. Also learn why you need to include them.
Emergency Survival Tips For Escaping A Riot
Check out these emergency survival tips for escaping a riot! These tips also work well for other types of survival prepping plans.
Secure Your Home From Intruders And Prevent Break-Ins
Today is the day you need to secure your home from intruders. A secure home helps prevent break-ins and keeps your family safe.
Top Survival Tips And Strategies When Facing An Armed Shooter
Active shooter situations are very common these days. This is why understanding the top survival tips and strategies is so important. The more prepared you are and the calmer you are, the more likely you are to survive.
Child Safety Tips
The National Child Safety Council shares information on what child safety tips you need to teach children to keep them safe.
Learn What A Survival Pantry Is And Why You Need One
Create a survival pantry so you can avoid panic buying and feel secure knowing your family has the essentials no matter what emergency situation occurs.
How To Create Your Own Short-Term Emergency Preparedness Disaster Survival Kit
An important part of survival prepping is being ready for any situation - long or short-term. Start prepping today by creating your own short-term emergency disaster survival kit!
What To Pack In A Children's First Aid Disaster Survival Kit
Knowing what to pack in a children's first aid disaster survival kit is important, even if you don't have children. These kits are handy in emergencies.
How To Prepare For Civil Unrest So It Does Not Severely Impact You
Understanding how to prepare for civil unrest is extremely important. Escaping riots and violent demonstrations safely is one of the main reasons to prepare for civil unrest.
How To Prepare For Disaster Survival
Now is the time to learn how to prepare for disaster survival! Disaster prepping helps with everything from nuclear threats to natural disaster survival.
How To Avoid Becoming A Target In A SHTF Situation
Learn how to avoid becoming a target in a potential SHTF situation such as a natural disaster or other unexpected event, such as a pandemic.
Grid Down Prepping For Electromagnetic Interruptions
Grid down prepping for electromagnetic interruptions includes having the right survival gear and using it to protect your electronics.
Preparing for Everyday Emergencies
70+ preparedness articles to help you prepare for everyday emergencies - food and water, emergency power, cold weather, health, first aid and more.
Bloom! Make Gardening Part of your Preparedness Plan
Preparedness is a popular past time and serious concern for a large number of people. While food storage, water, emergency preparedness, and fuel are usually the focus. Have you thought about producing your own food?
Food Storage Tips
Best Things To Stock Up On For Survival Now With The Shortages
With all the supply chain shortages and more shortages expected in the future, find out the best things to stock up on for survival now.
Survival Grocery List - First Month
Find out where to start your survival grocery list. The first month lays the ground work for basic survival needs and your emergency survival food list.
Stock The Perfect Survival Freezer With These Prepper Freezer Food Storage Tips
Learn how to stock the perfect survival freezer with these prepper food storage tips. Plus learn what to do if the grid goes down.
Best Foods For A Survival Pantry
Learn what the best foods for a survival pantry are and how you can build your own effective emergency food supply.
10 Home Food Storage Solutions That Will Inspire You
These 10 home food storage ideas make family food storage possible even in small apartments. Now you can stock up on essentials and hide them in plain site.
Home Food Storage Solutions
Learn about home food storage solutions that are psossible even if you have limited space as well as how to stock up on food is essential for everyone.
Home Food Storage Guidelines
Long term food storage is a great way to be prepared for an emergency. Check out these home food storage guidelines and be sure to print the handy chart!
5 steps to Start your Food Storage
Are you overwhelmed with how to start building a food storage? You want to store food, but not waste space with food you don’t know how to use or will eat? Read below for 5 steps you can take to start you food storage and make it work for you.
How to Rotate Your Food Storage
It’s so hard to remember to use food storage when it’s stored all over your house… or downstairs in the basement. I get it, our is there too. That’s why I’ve come up with 8 tips to teach you how to rotate your food storage.
Long Term Food Storage Planning
Have you built up a small food storage and are looking to grow that into a year supply? There are a few things you need to know and will want keep in mind when planning for long term food storage so you can be sure you have the quality and type of food to fit your exact families needs. Once you know exactly what you need, then you won’t be wasting money and spending hundreds on items you don’t need.
Prepper Food Storage Tips And Long Term Food Storage Ideas
These prepper food storage tips are sure to help you come up with some long term food storage ideas to help you survive during an unexpected situation.
How To Store Noodles
Learn how to store noodles including fresh homemade noodles and store bought noodles. Also learn how to store noodles long term.
How To Dry And Store Homemade Noodles
Learn how to dry homemade pasta plus the best method for storing homemade noodles so they stay fresh for up to six months!
Preserving Herbs For Winter Use eCourse
Do you love fresh herbs but wonder if there is an easy way to preserve them for the winter?
Do you seek other ways to use herbs other than just as a seasoning on food?
There are so many ways to preserve herbs for winter use – from various methods of drying them to freezing them, but it doesn’t end there.
Some of the best ways to preserve herbs in right in the foods you would normally incorporate herbs into – pre-made seasonings, teas, butter or oil.
Then this is the course for you!
What You Will Learn In This Course:
Hang herbs to dry
Use a hanging herb dryer
Dry herbs on a window screen dryer
Dry herbs in a dehydrator
Dry herbs in an oven
Dry herbs in a microwave
Freeze herbs whole
Make herb ice cubes
Add fresh herbs to freezer meals
Add herbs to canned sauces
Preserve herbs in vinegar
Preserve herbs in oil
Preserve herbs in butter
Preserve herbs in salt or sugar
Make pre-made seasonings
Make herbal tea
Make herb jelly (plus tips on how to use these)
Tips For Cooking In An Emergency Situation
How To Build An Efficient Portable Stove For Grid Down Survival
Learn how to build an efficient portable stove for grid down survival using readily available items. Make this stove part of your emergency readiness plan.
Tips For Cooking On A Wood Stove
Cooking on a wood stove was the reality for everyone not so long ago, but today it is less common because there are more convenient ways to cook.
Easy Wood Stove Recipe For A Grilled Cheese Sandwich
This easy wood stove recipe for a grilled cheese sandwich paired with tomato soup is the perfect comfort food for a cold winter day.
Gluten-Free Brownie Wood Stove Recipe
This Gluten-Free Brownie wood stove recipe is ideal for those times when the electricity goes down or when you want something sweet but don’t want to fire up the electric or gas oven. It is also great for people who live off-grid or cook with their wood burning cook stove all the time.
Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe Baked In A Wood Stove
This delicious homemade dinner rolls recipe is easy to bake in a wood stove or over an open campfire. Get the printable recipe and give it a try!
Hurricane Emergency Readiness Tips
Family Survival Planning For Hurricane Season
Family survival planning for hurricane season is essential. Check out these natural disaster survival tips and prepare your emergency readiness plan now.
4 Ways To Prepare For Hurricane Season
Save time and stay safe when you prepare for hurricane season ahead of time by stocking up on supplies and getting your home hurricane ready.
Tips For Prepping For Disaster During Hurricane Season
It's a good idea to begin prepping for disaster no matter where you live. Check out these hurricane season prepping and survival tips.
Eight Ways Homeowners Need To Be Prepping For Severe Summer Storms and Hurricane Season
Are you prepping on a tight budget? Here are eight ways homeowners need to be prepping for severe summer storms or hurricanes!
How To Survive A Hurricane
To survive a hurricane it is important to understand the different categories and the risks each one poses. Prepare ahead of time and evacuate early!
Natural Disaster Emergency Readiness Tips
The Essentials Of A 72 Hour Natural Disaster Survival Kit And Their Uses
Learn what items are essential to put in a 72 hour natural disaster survival kit. You will also learn what those items are used for.
How To Create Your Own Short-Term Emergency Preparedness Disaster Survival Kit
An important part of survival prepping is being ready for any situation - long or short-term. Start prepping today by creating your own short-term emergency disaster survival kit!
Natural Disaster Survival Emergency Plan
Do you have a natural disaster survival plan in place? If not, here are some great survival tips for disasters that you can use to formulate your plan.
How To Prepare For Disaster Survival
Now is the time to learn how to prepare for disaster survival! Disaster prepping helps with everything from nuclear threats to natural disaster survival.
Natural Disaster Survival Prepping Tips
Natural disasters happen everywhere, sometimes with no advance notice. Check out these survival prepping tips and start prepping for survival now!
Urban Survival Essentials For Beginners
When SHTF, living in the city has its own set of challenges. Find what urban survival essentials for beginners you need to learn and store.
Top 10 Survival Tips For Disasters
Being prepared for disaster survival is essential. Check out these ten survival tips for disasters and start preparing today!
Tips For Shopping Online For Survival Gear
If you're thinking of buying supplies for an emergency situation or natural disaster, be sure to check out these tips for shopping online for survival gear.
Paracord Tips
Paracord Bracelet Uses
Have you ever wondered what paracord bracelet uses are? Check out these paracord survival uses and remember it also works great for everyday situations!
Winter Storm Survival Tips
4 Essential Winter Storm Survival Preparedness Tips
Get your emergency readiness plan in order with these winter storm survival preparedness tips. Includes a free downloadable emergency checklist.
How To Stay Warm When Your Power Goes Out
Learn how to stay warm when your power goes out. Learn what products can help conserve heat or even produce small amounts of heat.
Shammy Peterson
Saturday 2nd of October 2021
You made a good point when you said that your family must be aware of your emergency plan so they know exactly what to do. I will consider this tip because I would like to have an emergency plan created for our peace of mind even when there are emergency situations. Maybe, it would be best to order photoluminescent exit signs that would be placed at visible spots for an easy evacuation process as necessary.