Emergency preparedness
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
If a tornado appears stationary, assume it is moving toward you and act immediately.
If it isn't drifting left or right, it might be heading straight at you.
- It might be moving away from you.
- It can be stationary.
6 people, independently
Test your smoke detectors often and swap out the batteries when needed.
Many house fire fatalities are linked to alarms that were not working.
3 people, independently
Do not attempt to outrun a tornado by car or on foot.
Running straight away keeps you in the tornado's path; it is impossible for pedestrians and difficult for cars because tornadoes move faster than running speed.
3 people, independently
Fill gas cans and car tanks several days before a storm.
Gas stations may run dry and modern cars cannot be siphoned.
2 people, independently
Back up your contacts to a cloud service like Google, iCloud, or Dropbox to access them from any device if your phone breaks or is replaced.
This prevents losing your contacts and allows you to call someone before replacing your phone.
4 people, independently
storm, water, immediately, power33
Treat the 40-60 gallons of water in a tank-style heater as a backup supply during emergencies.
Shout loudly that you have an emergency and ask people to move.
Honesty works; others may apologize and clear a path.
- Some people may not care about your emergency compared to their own concerns.
one person who lived it
Plan ahead to evacuate with your pets during hurricanes; do not leave them behind.
Save your pets lives.
one person who lived it
- Include pets in your emergency plans and take them with you if you leave.1
Wear dry layers such as leggings under pants and change into completely dry clothes before bed.
Sweating makes you cold; dry clothing maintains warmth.
- If you are sweating, you will get cold.
one person who lived it
Air out your car immediately after a storm if you stored items inside.
Items can mold if not aired out promptly.
one person who lived it
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Store bleach and a bucket with a lid to create a makeshift toilet if plumbing fails.
You can't flush toilets after an earthquake.
one person who lived it
Monitor wave action and evacuate if swells could make it over sand dunes between your house and the beach.
one person who lived it
Stock up on water, non-perishable food, and fuel, over-supplying water since you will drink more than expected.
You'll drink more water than you think.
one person who lived it
Keep clean, warm, and dry clothes available.
It is a luxury during a storm.
one person who lived it
Treat the 40-60 gallons of water in a tank-style heater as a backup supply during emergencies.
3 people, independently
Fully charge all electronic devices and portable power banks before a storm arrives in case of power loss.
Storms can cut electricity, leaving devices with low battery.
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- Turn off chargeable smart devices during a power outage if you lack a generator.1
Practice fire drills regularly by tripping the alarm to learn where pets go when scared.
Fire drills are never a bad idea.
one person who lived it
Whenever you enter an unfamiliar venue, building, or transportation, immediately note the location of emergency exits and how to reach or activate them.
During evacuations, people instinctively head toward the point of entry, which is often overcrowded and blocked; emergency exits are designed to be visible.
3 people, independently
Avoid walking into semi-large open areas in rock or metal concert mosh pits.
You risk being squashed by two charging sections of the crowd.
one person who lived it
Search online for volunteer search and rescue groups like the Cajun Navy if trapped in a flooded home.
one person who lived it
If you have time, cook food and bring it to the shelter; otherwise, put it in the dumpster so your house doesn't stink.
To prevent your house from stinking.
one person who lived it
Give your dog a treat each time the fire alarm sounds.
To associate the noise with something positive and encourage the dog to look for you.
one person who lived it
Set a meeting place and assign specific roles to household members (e.g., who grabs whom) in case of a house fire alarm.
one person who lived it
Relocate smoke alarms away from kitchen areas if they trigger during cooking, rather than removing them.
People tend to remove or ignore alarms that go off frequently.
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Tune Sirius radios to channel 184 or XM radios to channel 1 to receive The Weather Channel live feed during emergencies.
These channels broadcast live weather feeds during events like hurricanes, even without an active subscription.
one person who lived it
Store refrigerator contents outside if secured against animals and wind, or keep items needing cold storage in a cooler replenished with snow.
It may be colder outside than inside during freezing weather.
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Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed during a power outage to preserve food temperature.
Opening the doors decreases the internal temperature and reduces how long food stays cold.
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Eat perishable items like fish or meat from your freezer immediately before a storm hits.
To avoid dealing with the mess later.
one person who lived it
When power is lost, drain hot water tanks into containers that allow easier cooling.
to cut down on the time the water spends in the bacterial growth temperature zone
one person who lived it
Lock bathroom doors if children are present when filling tubs with water due to drowning hazards.
one person who lived it
Do not run outside during a hurricane, especially on wet surfaces.
to avoid risking severe injuries like broken ankles
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If you cannot evacuate your aquarium during a power outage, insulate the tank and boil water in a fireplace to mix into it to maintain temperature.
One person reported this helped them avoid losing any fish.
one person who lived it
Search for winter storm preparation instructions specific to your location rather than relying on general advice like keeping taps dripping.
Keeping taps dripping is not always recommended depending on where you live.
one person who lived it
Get supplies early to avoid rushing stores and leaving fewer resources for those who cannot prepare immediately.
Avoids madness in grocery stores and leaves more available for others.
one person who lived it
Set barrels outside during a hurricane to collect rainwater.
it is natural and free
one person who lived it
Stock up on non-perishable food and water with expiration dates shortly after the expected storm date.
to prepare for the specific event without wasting supplies intended for an apocalypse
one person who lived it
Inform friends or family of your trip itinerary and expected return time before traveling to unfamiliar or remote areas.
one person who lived it
supplies, photos, outages, batteries18
Include a manual can opener in your emergency supplies.
Keep external batteries, a car charger, and a cheap car inverter on hand.
A car inverter is a huge help.
one person who lived it
Store emergency supplies like flashlights and radios in a small cooler.
It makes them easy to find in rubble.
one person who lived it
Include food for pets in your emergency supplies.
Pets need food just as humans do.
one person who lived it
Identify a backup location, such as an extended-stay hotel or a loved one's home, in case your home is damaged or unsafe.
Extended-stay hotels offer a kitchenette and can be cost-effective for longer stays compared to regular hotels.
one person who lived it
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Focus on obtaining basic survival essentials like water, food, and weather protection over researching niche tactical gear.
You will be better off with basics than with someone who spent time researching specific tools but lacked water.
one person who lived it
Include a manual can opener in your emergency supplies.
You will need one.
2 people, independently
Layer emergency metallic foil blankets with sheets or comforters to retain body heat during long winter power outages.
The foil helps trap body heat.
one person who lived it
Store important documents in a fireproof safe.
It allows you to run out safely without worrying about papers.
one person who lived it
Keep emergency space blankets on hand.
They are lifesavers.
one person who lived it
Take timestamped photos or videos of your property and car before a hurricane to document condition for insurance claims.
It is much easier to get insurance claims if you have pictures of your stuff before a fire, flood, or whatever.
one person who lived it
Take photos of product labels, such as furnace filters, lawn mower tags, and printer ink sizes, for future reference.
To ensure you get the right replacement parts or supplies.
one person who lived it
Place tealight candles inside lowball glasses for safer lighting during outages.
Tealights are tight-fitting and placing them in a glass makes them pretty much safe.
one person who lived it
Invest in crank-powered flashlights to avoid reliance on batteries.
Can't always rely on batteries.
one person who lived it
Use disposable plates and plasticware during emergencies.
It conserves water and effort when there is no power or water supply.
one person who lived it
Screenshot important emergency numbers and addresses, such as shelters and food banks.
This ensures access to critical information if internet service is lost due to power outages or dead phones.
one person who lived it
Take periodic photos of your belongings and keep digital copies of insurance policies and important documents before disasters occur.
Lack of internet and cell reception after a disaster can prevent finding reputable help and lead to scams.
one person who lived it
Place wet food inside cat carriers during smoke detector tests to encourage voluntary entry.
Pavlovian conditioning can be useful.
one person who lived it
Buy a dry bag to protect electronics and phones from water damage during flooding.
they are excellent for protecting devices in disaster scenarios
one person who lived it
phone, contact, contacts, emergency25
Add an 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) entry to your phone's contact list.
Use the non-emergency number for matters that do not involve death, dying, or life-threatening danger.
It frees up 911 operators; local 911 operators will thank you.
- Do not dial 911 and then state it is a non-emergency.
one person who lived it
Use websites like saynoto0870.com in the UK to find non-premium rate phone numbers for banks and services.
Standard listed numbers often charge high fees.
- Applies specifically to the UK.
one person who lived it
Set a specific contact number to display on your phone's lock screen.
It allows quick access by others in an emergency or enables a finder to return the phone easily.
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Add an 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) entry to your phone's contact list.
First responders or bystanders can notify family quickly if you are unresponsive.
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Place a sticker with alternate contact information on the back of your phone.
It allows others to find someone if you are deceased or help return the device if it is lost.
one person who lived it
Connect your modem and router to a UPS.
Especially useful if your landline is a VoIP line.
one person who lived it
Save your credit or debit card issuer's customer service number in your phone contacts.
The numbers are usually printed on the cards themselves, which you cannot access if the card is lost.
one person who lived it
Keep a written copy of emergency contacts in your glovebox and another in your wallet or pocket.
It ensures you have someone to call if stranded without phone power, helps inform loved ones in a crash, and allows access to numbers if you are unconscious or in shock and cannot remember them.
one person who lived it
Update your parents' address with emergency contacts if they move.
If you do not, authorities may not be able to find a family member to deliver bad news.
one person who lived it
Memorize the phone number of one key person who knows everyone else's number.
Provides a single point of contact to reach other important people if you cannot access your phone.
one person who lived it
- Memorize a central family landline number as a fallback contact point.1
Place a printed card with emergency contact numbers inside a transparent phone case or on the back of the phone.
Responders can read the information without needing to unlock or fiddle with the phone.
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Enable airplane mode in areas with no service to conserve battery life.
In areas without service, phones constantly search for towers, which rapidly drains the battery.
one person who lived it
Make a laminated card with emergency contacts and keep it in your wallet.
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Use encryption utilities to protect sensitive personal data stored on your phone.
It keeps the data safe.
one person who lived it
Include instructions in your emergency status text telling recipients not to call you back.
To leave bandwidth for others.
one person who lived it
Include pet care instructions or contact info in your emergency details.
Family members may not know about pets at home if you are incapacitated, leading to neglect.
one person who lived it
Select an emergency contact who can take action upon hearing the news rather than someone who may become emotionally overwhelmed.
Someone who falls apart when hearing bad news cannot handle the situation.
one person who lived it
Manually type phone numbers into your phone dial pad instead of selecting from contacts to build muscle memory for memorization.
Repeated actions foster the creation of memory; typing builds motor-memory connections that pulling up a name does not.
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Email yourself a copy of your emergency contact list.
This provides digital access if you lose your physical wallet and prevents strangers from having your family's numbers if the wallet is found.
one person who lived it
Regularly check and update your emergency contacts, removing those who have passed away or relationships that have ended.
Ensures the contacts listed are current and reachable.
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Delete names from your phone's address book for close family and friends, saving only their numbers.
Forces memorization of important numbers, ensuring you can recall them if attacked or in an accident where hospitals might be reluctant to search through your phone for contacts.
one person who lived it
Consider using a cellular repeater instead of a femtocell if you lack a reliable internet connection.
Cellular repeaters do not need an Internet connection.
one person who lived it
Register with 911 systems to ensure accurate location data.
Computer system updates may require re-registration.
one person who lived it
Store emergency contact information in your email program's address book to avoid keeping unnecessary emails.
It prevents the need to keep superfluous emails around.
one person who lived it
house, drivers, numbers, delivery19
Use a paint color for your house number that stands out against the exterior walls.
Test your house number's visibility by standing across the street at night with porch lights on.
If you can't see it from across the street, drivers likely can't either.
one person who lived it
- Avoid placing house numbers directly next to very bright lights.1
Turn on your house lights when expecting a food delivery.
It helps delivery drivers see your house without using phone flashlights in the dark.
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- Turn on your front porch or exterior light when expecting deliveries at night.4
Use a paint color for your house number that stands out against the exterior walls.
Low-contrast colors, like bronze on wood, make numbers hard to read, particularly after dark.
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Use standard Arabic numerals for your address instead of cursive fonts or written-out words.
Standard numbers are legible at night with poor lighting, whereas cursive or spelled-out addresses are difficult to read when seconds matter.
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- Add numeric digits to addresses that currently use only cursive script or words.1
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Do not use decorative signs that look like house numbers, such as 'Live Laugh Love' signs.
Drivers may overlook them while looking for actual numbers.
one person who lived it
Take down your garage sale signs immediately after the event ends.
To be a good neighbor.
one person who lived it
Print words in an enormous font and glue the paper to poster board.
More legible, better contrast
one person who lived it
Be home when delivery arrives to avoid delays and complaints about cold food.
Drivers find it frustrating to return later to an empty house, resulting in cold food.
one person who lived it
Provide dispatchers with descriptions of surrounding landmarks if you do not know your exact address or if maps are incorrect.
Dispatchers do not automatically know your location; descriptive tips help them find you.
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Ensure your house number is visually confirmable rather than relying solely on GPS.
GPS takes longer to use and requires looking away from the road; visual confirmation is faster and safer. In remote areas, GPS may fail entirely.
one person who lived it
Install illuminated or LED house numbers so they are easily seen from the street at night.
Illuminated numbers are a significant help for locating homes in the dark.
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Ensure your house number is illuminated and visible from the street.
This resolves the majority of delivery difficulties.
one person who lived it
- Make house numbers visible to help newspaper and package delivery drivers.3
Do not plant bushes or shrubbery that obscure your house numbers or fire hydrants.
Obscuring these items defeats their purpose and prevents visibility.
one person who lived it
Ask delivery drivers why they missed your house to identify potential visibility issues.
There might be a simple reason for the oversight.
one person who lived it
Check if your municipality requires clearly posted house numbers to avoid fines.
Non-compliance may result in liability for fines.
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