Know what to do

Emergencies & Disasters

Power outages, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, winter storms. What to do before, during, and after each one, with checklists you can actually use.

An open refrigerator in a dim kitchen with lettuce, a package of meat, strawberries, and a bottle of milk on the shelves and a puddle of melted ice on the floor in front of it.

How Long Does Food Last in the Fridge Without Power?

A closed fridge lasts about 4 hours without power, a full freezer about 48. Here's how to decide what's still safe to eat.

6 min read
Three pages from the Family Emergency Binder on a desk: the Emergency Now tab divider on the left, the binder's cover page in front, and the Power Outage page on the right.

How to Prepare for a Hurricane: A Timeline That Starts Now

Hurricane prep works better as a timeline than a checklist. Here's exactly what to do before the season, at the watch, at the warning, and after the storm passes.

9 min read
Three pages from the Family Emergency Binder on a desk: the Power Outage page on the left, the Emergency Now tab divider in front listing the nine scenarios in the tab, and the 15-Minute Quick Setup checklist on the right.

How to Stay Warm Without Power: What to Do Tonight

When the power goes out in a winter storm, the plan isn't to heat the house. It's to close off one room, choose safe heat, and watch for carbon monoxide.

9 min read
A family contact map connects relatives' photos with red arrows on a kitchen table, beside a rotary phone, batteries, a flashlight, a marked map, and a first aid kit.

How to Set Up a Family Emergency Communication Plan

Spend 30 minutes as a family to set meeting spots, an out-of-state contact, and backup contact cards, plus a plan for staying in touch if cell service drops entirely.

9 min read
Open cooler packed with water bottles and ice packs next to two foil-topped coolers, loose ice packs, a bag of ice, and a thermometer reading 38 degrees

Best Ways to Keep Food Cold During a Long Power Outage

Simple steps to keep your fridge and freezer food safe during a long power outage, plus how to tell what to keep and what to throw out.

6 min read
Open SUV trunk packed with a winter emergency kit, including a folding shovel, first aid kit, water, an emergency blanket, jumper cables, and a warning beacon, parked on a snowy road

What to Pack in a Car Emergency Kit for Winter Driving

A simple winter car kit, plus where to keep it so you can grab what you need fast if you get stuck.

7 min read
Three kids playing a board game by candlelight and flashlight at the kitchen table during a nighttime power outage, with a quiet neighborhood visible through the window

What to Do During a Power Outage at Night

A calm, step-by-step plan for the first minutes of a nighttime power outage, from securing your home to keeping food cold and lighting up safely.

10 min read
A rusted, corroded can with a torn label next to a clean, undamaged can on a wood counter, showing the difference between a can to toss and one that is still safe

How Long Does Canned Food Last After the Expiration Date?

The date on a can tells you about quality, not safety, and most cans stay good for years if you store and check them right.

7 min read
A toilet with the lid up in a dimly lit home bathroom

Can You Flush The Toilet When The Power Is Out?

Your toilet flushes on gravity, not electricity, so a power outage rarely stops you from flushing.

6 min read

Coming mid-September

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The Family Emergency Binder lands mid-September at $39. Join the list and it is yours for $19 in launch week.

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