Category Hub
Home Readiness
Your home is your first line of defense in most emergencies. Here's how to make it more resilient.
Why This Category Matters
Home readiness is the foundation of household preparedness. Before bags and evacuation plans, your home should be stocked with the basics and equipped to handle common disruptions without outside support.
Where to Start
1
Complete the home readiness audit checklist
2
Store 2 weeks of food and water
3
Ensure all smoke and CO detectors are functional
4
Know where your main gas, water, and electrical shutoffs are
5
Have a plan for heating and cooling without power
Guides in This Category
How to Prepare Your Home for a Power Outage
Room-by-room steps to prepare your home for a power outage — before it happens.
Emergency Tools Every Home Should Have
The basic tools every household should own for emergency situations — utility shutoffs, repairs, and…
Earthquake Retrofitting Basics for Homeowners
What seismic retrofitting is, whether your home needs it, and how to find out more.
Complete Emergency Preparedness Guide for Renters
Everything renters need to know about emergency preparedness — from go-bags to building protocols to…
Common Mistakes
- Not starting because it seems overwhelming
- Skipping the planning step and jumping to gear
- Not reviewing and updating preparedness annually