A useful 72-hour plan is not about preparing for every possible disaster. It is about helping your household stay safe, informed, and reasonably comfortable during a short disruption.
Start with what is likely
Think about the disruptions that happen where you live: a power outage, severe weather, a boil-water notice, a temporary evacuation, or roads that are difficult to travel. Planning around realistic events keeps the job manageable.
- Choose two or three likely disruptions.
- Identify who may need extra help, including children, older adults, pets, or anyone with mobility needs.
- Write down one safe place to meet and one out-of-area contact.
Cover the household basics
Work through water, food, medication, lighting, communication, sanitation, and temperature control. Check what you already own before shopping.
- Store a practical amount of drinking water and know how you would safely obtain more.
- Choose shelf-stable foods your household already eats.
- Keep flashlights, charged power banks, and a battery radio where everyone can find them.
- Maintain needed prescriptions and a written list of medications, allergies, and emergency contacts.
Make the plan usable
A plan that only one person understands is fragile. Keep a printed copy, review it together, and practice one small part—such as finding the water shutoff or sending a family check-in message.
- Label supplies and keep them accessible.
- Review expiration dates twice a year.
- Update the plan when phone numbers, medications, or household needs change.
This article provides general preparedness education. Follow product instructions and guidance from local authorities and qualified professionals.