Start here
Start with your household. Build from there.
Identify the people, pets, space, supplies, and likely disruptions in your home. Then check the essentials and improve one useful gap at a time.
Before the list
Preparedness starts with the home you actually live in.
Use the Household Snapshot above, then sanity-check the practical details that change the right starting point.
Six essential capabilities
Check what each essential helps your household do.
Each row stays practical: capability, first thing to check, and the PrepSignals action that fits.
Drink, cook, and handle basic hygiene. First check: gallons by people, pets, heat, and days.
Use the calculatorEat familiar meals without power. First check: shelf-stable foods your household already uses.
Open food planningKeep safe light, alerts, phone charging, and food-safety decisions available. First check: working lights and charged banks.
Review outage basicsTreat small injuries and find health notes quickly. First check: supplies, medications, contacts, and refill dates.
Open medical checklistFind identity, insurance, and household details offline. First check: IDs, policy numbers, medical notes, and backups.
Build document binderReceive warnings and reach people without depending on one device. First check: printed contacts and alert options.
Compare alert optionsUse what you already own
Gather and label before buying.
PrepSignals should help you avoid duplicates and unnecessary spending. Open the store only when a real gap is clear.
Open the store only when a gap is clear- Flashlights
- Chargers
- Pantry food
- First-aid supplies
- Documents
- Bags
- Water containers
- Pet items
Personalized outcome
Emergency Kit Builder
Answer a few household questions and get a private plan that separates essential gaps, important improvements, optional upgrades, and items you already have covered.
Approx. time: 3 to 5 minutes. Privacy: answers stay in your browser unless you choose to save or share them.
Build My Emergency KitFAQ
Beginner questions, answered calmly.
What should I do first?
Choose the closest household situation, then use the Builder if you want a personalized path or the checklist if you want a shorter printable start.
How much should I prepare?
Start with 72 hours, then improve one category at a time as space and budget allow.
Which tool should I use?
Use the Water Calculator for storage targets and the Kit Builder for a whole-household plan.
When should I buy something?
Buy after you know the exact gap, where the item will live, and how you will maintain it.
How much water should I store?
Use one gallon per person per day as a baseline, then add extra for pets, heat, cooking, hygiene, and any local guidance.
Do I need a generator as a beginner?
No. Start with safe lights, batteries, power banks, charged devices, and food-safety habits before considering larger backup power.
Can apartment renters build an emergency kit?
Yes. Use compact bins, under-bed storage, indoor-safe lighting, familiar no-cook foods, and water containers that fit your lease and space.
What mistakes should beginners avoid?
Avoid panic buying, skipping water, buying food your household will not eat, relying on candles, and forgetting can openers, medications, documents, or pet needs.
Should I print my checklist?
Yes. A printed checklist helps if your phone is dead, internet is out, or another adult needs to find supplies quickly.
What is medical readiness?
Medical readiness means basic first-aid supplies, medication notes, emergency contacts, refill awareness, and copies of important health information.