How scoring works

Each of 11 categories has a fixed list of rules, each worth a set number of points. Each rule is earned (fully or partly), missed, or unknown.

• Category score = points earned ÷ points possible among known rules × 100. Unknown rules are excluded and listed separately, so not knowing never counts as having.
• Grades: 80+ Strong · 60–79 Adequate · 35–59 Gaps · under 35 Critical gaps. If unknown rules make up more than half of a category's points, the grade is "Insufficient information" and unknowns are scored as not yet credited, so a mostly-unknown category can't score high.
• Equipment answers map to: tested = full points; on hand but untested = 60%; needs replacement = 20%; missing = 0.
• The readiness index is a weighted average (water ×2; food, power, medical ×1.5; communications, heat, sanitation, evacuation ×1; transportation, local hazards, information ×0.75).

What the score is not

It doesn't predict whether a household will be safe in any particular emergency. It measures how complete your preparations are against published, public-health-based rules. Every rule applied to your household is listed under each category in your report.

Key calculations

• Water: at least 1 gallon per person per day (CDC). Self-filled water older than 6 months counts as non-drinking until replaced (CDC). Hot weather can double needs (CDC). Pet water is listed separately.
• Food: 2,000 kcal per adult per day (FDA Daily Value reference); mid-range Dietary Guidelines values for children.
• Power: typical planning wattages, clearly labeled. We never estimate manufacturer maintenance intervals; we quote them only from manufacturer documents.
• Vehicles: about 5 seats per vehicle (planning assumption; confirm your actual seating).

Priorities

Gaps are ranked by life-safety impact (for example, carbon monoxide alarms and medical power rank above comfort items), then by the size of the gap. The top five appear with the specific facts that triggered them.