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.

Illustration of a home kitchen during a boil water notice: a stockpot at a rolling boil on a gas stove, two lidded pitchers of cooled water, a stack of paper plates and cups, and a handwritten BOIL WATER note taped to the refrigerator door.

Boil Water Notice: What to Do, What's Safe, and a Free Fridge Card

What to boil, what tap water is still fine for, the flush checklist to run when the boil water notice ends, and a free two-page printable with a fridge card for the whole house.

17 min read

Illustration of an adult hand filling in a blank ruled index card at a kitchen table, with a leather wallet, a clear plastic card sleeve, a phone lying face down and a child's backpack nearby.

Emergency Contact Card: What to Put on It (Free Printable)

The short list of what belongs on an emergency contact card, the numbers we leave off and why, and a free two-page printable: two fold-over wallet cards, a kids card, and a household contact sheet for the fridge or kit.

16 min read

Illustration of an under-stairs closet set up as a tornado shelter spot, with sturdy shoes in several sizes, two bike helmets, a quilt and pillows, a rolled mattress, a weather radio, a flashlight, a whistle and a power bank.

How to Prepare for a Tornado

Pick a tornado shelter spot for your kind of home, set up two indoor alerts, stage a small kit, and learn what a watch, a warning and a tornado emergency each mean.

21 min read

Illustration of winter storm supplies on a kitchen counter at night: gallon water jugs, canned food and a manual can opener, a lit battery lantern, a hand-crank radio, a power bank, a flashlight, and folded wool blankets, with heavy snow falling outside the window.

How to Prepare for a Winter Storm (Free Printable Checklist)

Winter storm prep works best in three windows. Here's what to do before the season, when a watch is issued, and when the warning comes, with water math, the gear test most lists skip, and a free two-page printable checklist.

23 min read

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

Hands lining up gallon water jugs on a kitchen counter beside a flashlight, a red hand-crank radio, a pack of batteries and a first-aid pouch, with dark storm clouds and windblown trees outside the window.

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.

10 min read

Living room at dusk during a power outage, with a sofa piled with wool blankets, a pair of wool socks and a mug on the coffee table, and a battery lantern giving off a soft warm glow while a dog sleeps under the throws.

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.

10 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

How to Keep Food Cold During a Long Power Outage

What the CDC and Ready.gov say about how long a fridge and freezer hold their cold, how to use coolers with ice, and when to throw food out.

7 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.

8 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.

11 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?

On most shelf-stable cans the date tells you about quality, not safety, and most cans stay good for years if you store and check them right.

8 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.

7 min read