Disaster ready at home
Hurricanes, floods, winter storms and long power outages hit Maryland too. The same skills that keep you safe on the trail keep your family safe at home. These checklists follow the federal government's Ready.gov guidance.
Plan, kit, stay informed
Start with the plan. A kit without a plan is just a box in the basement.
Plan: make a family plan
Talk through alerts, shelter, evacuation and how you will reconnect. Write it down and practice it. Ready.gov: Make a plan
Kit: build a supplies kit
Enough water, food and basics to get by on your own for several days, in one or two easy-to-carry containers. Ready.gov: Build a kit
Stay informed: get alerts
Know your local alerts and warnings, and keep a battery or hand-crank radio. Ready.gov: Alerts
Our family emergency plan
Your family may not be together when something happens. Agree now on how you will be warned, where you will go, and how you will find each other.
Our plan
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- How will we receive emergency alerts and warnings?
- What is our shelter plan?
- What is our evacuation route?
- What is our family communication plan (and an out-of-area contact)?
- Where is our family meeting place if we are separated?
- Needs: ages, medications and equipment, disabilities, pets, school-aged kids
- Plan written down (Ready.gov fillable family plan)
- Plan practiced with everyone at home
Basic disaster supplies kit (Ready.gov)
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- Water: one gallon per person per day for several days (drinking and sanitation)
- Food: at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Extra batteries
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air
- Plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape to shelter in place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
The basic disaster supplies kit
This is the Ready.gov basic list. Store items in airtight plastic bags, and keep the whole kit in one or two containers you can grab and carry, like plastic bins or a duffel bag.
- Keep canned food cool and dry; boxed food in sealed plastic or metal containers
- Replace expired items, and rethink your needs every year
- Make sure everyone knows where the kit is
Printable Ready.gov checklist (PDF)
Source: Ready.gov, Build a Kit
Add what your household needs
Ready.gov recommends adding items based on who lives with you: medications, babies, pets, seniors and important papers.
Additional supplies
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- Prescription medications and copies of prescriptions
- Non-prescription medications
- Glasses and contact lens solution
- Infant formula, bottles, diapers and wipes
- Pet food and extra water for pets
- Cash
- Copies of important documents in a waterproof container (or saved electronically)
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- A complete change of clothes and sturdy shoes
- Fire extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Hygiene and feminine supplies
- Soap, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes
- Paper cups, plates, utensils and paper towels
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games or puzzles for children
Home, work and car
You do not know where you will be when it happens.
Home
One designated, easy-to-reach spot, ready to grab if you have to leave quickly.
Work
Be ready to shelter at work for at least 24 hours: food, water, medicines and comfortable walking shoes.
Power outages
Flashlights, not candles; keep generators outside and away from windows. Ready.gov: power outages
Teaching kids? Ready.gov has a kids section with games and activities: Ready.gov Kids . Checklists on this page are adapted from Ready.gov (FEMA), a U.S. government resource; this ministry is not affiliated with FEMA.
Host a family preparedness night
A 90-minute session: build the family plan together, assemble a starter kit, safe water, and basic first aid. Ages 14 and up.