Building a Family Emergency Plan from Scratch

Start by understanding what you're planning for. Look up the most common emergencies in your region — your local emergency management agency's website is a reliable starting point. Consider: severe weather (tornadoes, hurricanes, ice storms), flooding, wildfires, extended power outages, and household emergencies like fire or gas leaks.

List two or three high-probability scenarios and one low-probability but high-impact scenario (such as a regional evacuation). Your plan doesn't need to cover every possibility perfectly, but it should be grounded in what's most likely where you live.

For each room in your home, identify a primary exit (usually a door) and a secondary exit (typically a window). Draw a simple floor plan — it doesn't need to be precise — and mark both exits on each room. Note any obstacles: furniture, window locks, or storm screens that would need to be removed quickly.

For households with young children or pets, assign each child a responsible adult or older sibling for evacuation, and designate a role for pet retrieval only if it is safe to do so. Practice never delays evacuation — that assignment exists for clarity, not guarantee.

Select two outdoor meeting points: one immediately outside your home (e.g., the end of the driveway or a front yard tree) and one farther away in case the immediate area is inaccessible (e.g., a neighbor's home two blocks away or a community landmark). Make sure every family member — including school-age children — can name both locations.

Designate an out-of-area contact: someone who lives at least 100 miles away who can serve as a central communication point if local lines are jammed. Everyone in your household should have that person's phone number memorized or written on a card they carry.

Generic emergency plans assume able-bodied adults — your plan must do better. For each household member, note any considerations that affect how they evacuate or shelter:

• Young children: Who carries them? Which adult is responsible if parents are separated? Coordinate with your child's school or daycare — most have their own emergency protocols, and you need to know them. See also: age-appropriate ways to talk with kids about home safety.
• Pets: Know which local shelters or hotels accept pets. Many public emergency shelters do not. Keep vaccination records accessible in your pet's emergency kit.
• Medical needs: Maintain a written list of all medications, dosages (as prescribed), and the name of each prescribing provider. Store copies in your go-bag and with your out-of-area contact.

A go-bag is a pre-packed kit designed to sustain one person for 72 hours. Pack one per household member (including pets). Core contents: water (one gallon per person per day), non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, a first-aid kit, copies of important documents, cash in small bills, a phone charger, and any required medications or medical supplies.

Separately, stock a shelter-in-place supply in your home — typically two weeks of food and water — for scenarios where leaving is not possible or advised (severe winter storms, certain hazardous material incidents).

Supporting your preparedness financially is also wise. A dedicated emergency fund can cover unexpected costs that arise during or after a crisis. See our overview of emergency fund basics for practical guidance on sizing and placement.

A plan that exists only in one person's head is fragile. Write your completed plan in plain language, make printed copies, and share it with every adult in the household and with caregivers or babysitters who regularly spend time in your home. Store a digital copy in a shared cloud folder accessible to multiple family members.

Schedule at least two practice drills per year — one announced, one as a surprise. Walk through the escape routes, meet at both designated points, and run through the contact protocol. Treat it as a routine, not a drill to be feared. Safety priorities shift as children grow, so revisit roles and assignments whenever your household changes significantly.