Field Guide / 01 · Start Here
Your first month of readiness
Four weeks, one small focus each week. No panic buying, no giant shopping trip.
The #1 safety rule
Never run generators, charcoal grills, camp stoves or vehicles indoors, including in a garage. Install battery-backup carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home.
The 4-week plan / 01
Week 1
Water + Light
- Store 3 gallons of water per person
- Buy a headlamp for each person
- Add a lantern and extra batteries
- Find your water shut-off valve
Week 2
Food + Health
- Stock 3 days of no-cook food
- Get a manual can opener
- Build or check your first aid kit
- Ask your doctor about a 7-day medication buffer
Week 3
Information + Charging
- Turn on emergency alerts and sign up for county alerts
- Get a hand-crank NOAA radio
- Charge power banks
- Print a family contact list
Week 4
Practice
- Run a one-hour low-light drill: flip off the lights and use only your kit
- Talk about what worked and what was missing
- Make a short shopping list for next month
Choose household roles / 02
Everyone gets a job
Roles keep things calm. Kids can share roles with an adult, like being the flashlight checker.
Supply lead
Keeps water, food and batteries stocked and rotated.
Comms lead
Manages alerts, the radio, chargers and the contact list.
People & pets lead
Checks on kids, seniors, neighbors, meds and pets.