Sample for a fictional household. Scores, plan and quantities come from the real engine; the address and public-data values are illustrative.
Check my home - $29.99Your Home Prep Report
123 SAMPLE ST, ANYTOWN, USA
2 adults, 2 children, 1 pet · 14-day plan · Public data retrieved November 1, 2026
Readiness
52
out of 100
You have a solid start. The plan below covers what's missing, most important first.
Water to store
56 gal
4 people × 14 days (CDC minimum)
Food per day
7.0k kcal
Your household's planning need
Nearest ER
2.6 mi
Sample Regional Hospital
Weather radio
162.550
SAMPLE · county code 000000
Flood zone
Zone X
FEMA digital map
Top local hazard
Hurricane
Relatively High (FEMA)
Your plan
Here's exactly what to do.
0 of 28 done
Free or inexpensive steps that cover the biggest risks. Estimated spend $106–$226.
Sign up for your county's emergency alerts
Free
Local officials announce evacuation orders and which shelters are actually open through these alerts. It takes two minutes and it's free.
Write your family contact plan
Free
Choose an out-of-area contact and two meeting places. When cell networks are overloaded, everyone knows what to do without needing to call.
Print the one-page quick reference
Free
Keep it on the fridge. It works when the power and internet don't.
Unscented household bleach (6% or 8.25%) × 2
$8–16
Disinfects stored or collected water against microbes, following the CDC/EPA dosing table in your report.
Look for: Plain, unscented, no additives · Label lists sodium hypochlorite % · Replace yearly; strength fades
Bulk shelf-stable staples (rice, beans, oats)
$20–45
Rice for the calorie gap (9 days × 7,000 kcal/day).
Look for: Store in sealed food-grade buckets with gamma lids · Rotate first-in, first-out
Manual can opener
$8–15
Many shelf-stable foods are canned.
Look for: Stainless steel
NOAA Weather Radio with SAME alerting
$30–70
Receives your local NOAA Weather Radio transmitter (SAMPLE, 162.550 MHz) and alarms for warnings even when internet and cell are down.
Look for: SAME county coding so it alarms only for your area · Battery backup · Public Alert certified if available
Carbon monoxide alarm (battery or battery-backup) × 2
$40–80
Generators, furnaces and camp stoves all produce carbon monoxide. You need a working alarm on every level.
Look for: UL 2034 listed · Every level and outside sleeping areas
Where you stand
Scores measure how complete your preparations are against published rules. They don't predict outcomes. How scoring works
The details
Everything behind your plan, with sources.
Why these steps matter most
- 1
Store enough drinking water for your horizon
4 people need a minimum of 56 gallons for 14 days (1 gal/person/day, CDC). Current drinking-water shortfall: 32 gallons.
- Buy food-grade containers sized to the gap (see shopping list).
- 7 × 5-gal containers covers it.
- Put a recurring reminder every 6 months to rotate self-filled water.
Estimated cost: $105–$210 (estimate)
- 2
Install and test carbon monoxide alarms
Carbon monoxide poisoning from generators and fuel-burning appliances is a common, preventable cause of death during power outages. Your household runs a generator, so a working alarm on every level is the single cheapest life-safety step.
- Install UL 2034 alarms on every level and outside sleeping areas.
- Test monthly. Replace each unit per its end-of-life date.
- 3
Build food stores to your horizon
Your household needs about 7,000 kcal per day, or 98,000 kcal for 14 days. You have about 5 days.
- Start with 7 days of food your household already eats.
- Add the bulk staples in the shopping list, stored in sealed buckets.
- Store about 13 extra gallons for cooking those staples.
- 4
Verify the generator: data plate, service, load test
Portable 5,500 W (portable gasoline), rated 5.5 kW.
- Photograph the data plate: model, serial, kW rating.
- Book service, and ask for a load test and a starting-battery test.
- Buy an oil change kit per the manual, and learn the procedure.
- Confirm which circuits the transfer switch covers.
- 5
Set up a layered communications plan
Communications scored 53/100. a NOAA Weather Radio tuned to 162.550 MHz gives warnings with no internet.
- Buy a NOAA Weather Radio with SAME, and program your county code.
- Identify a backup internet path.
- Optional: earn an FCC Technician license (one exam) to use your radios legally.
- Write the family contact plan (template in this report).
Information still needed. We didn't guess these:
- Family contact plan not confirmed. Use the template in this report.
- Emergency toilet supplies not inventoried.
- Go-bags not confirmed.
- Meeting points not confirmed.
- Children's contact cards not confirmed.
Property hazards and map
FEMA flood zone
Zone X
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.
Ground elevation (USGS)
640 ft
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.
Community risk (FEMA NRI sample)
Relatively Moderate
Community resilience: Relatively High. Ratings compare census tracts nationally; they don't describe your specific house.
| Hazard (census tract) | FEMA NRI risk rating |
|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
Recorded earthquakes M2.5+ within 100 km since 1976: 4 (largest M3.1) (USGS). Historical counts are not a forecast.
Nearby emergency resources
| Facility | Type | Distance* | Emergency dept. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample Fire Station | fire station | 0.9 mi | |
| Sample Regional Hospital | hospital | 2.6 mi | Yes |
*Straight-line distance. Hospitals and emergency-department status come from CMS (Medicare) data where available; other facilities come from OpenStreetMap community data. A listed hospital may not have an emergency department or be reachable during a disaster. A mapped AED may be inside a building that is locked. Call 911 for emergencies.
Shelters
No shelters reported open within 60 miles at retrieval. That's normal outside an active emergency. Local officials open and announce shelters during an event. Confirm one is open before you travel.
Official sources & alert sign-up
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.
Power and utility resilience
Portable 5,500 W (portable gasoline), rated 5.5 kW
Fuel: Gasoline (stored cans)
Rated 5.5 kW. Use your fuel's rating from the data plate (natural-gas output is usually lower than propane). That comfortably covers the estimated essential peak of 2.6 kW.
- Gas stations need electricity to pump fuel. Store fuel only in approved containers, outdoors or in a detached shed, with stabilizer, and rotate it.
- You reported about 5 gallons on hand. Measure your actual burn rate at typical load during a test run.
- Portable units need a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet or the panel, and never use a double-male cord: backfeeding can electrocute utility workers and neighbors and start fires.
Essential loads (planning values; replace with your nameplate figures)
| Load | Running W | Starting W |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 700 | 2,200 |
| LED lighting (whole house) | 300 | 300 |
| Router, modem, phones charging | 60 | 60 |
| Total running | 1,060 | peak ≈ 2,560 |
Circuit priorities
- 1. Medical equipment (if any) and the refrigerator holding medications
- 2. Heat source controls and blower (winter) or one cooling zone (heat wave)
- 3. Sump pump (if basement)
- 4. Refrigerator and freezer
- 5. Lights, communications, phone charging
- 6. Comfort loads: microwave, AC, laundry. Run these one at a time.
Battery bridging & maintenance
- Put your router, modem and Starlink power supply on a small UPS (battery backup). That keeps the internet up through the gap while a generator starts and transfers, and while you refuel a portable unit.
- Keep phones and radios topped up from power banks. Charge them when you hear a storm watch.
- Follow the maintenance schedule in your generator's owner's manual for oil, filters, spark plugs and battery. We don't estimate manufacturer intervals.
- Last service was over a year ago, or never. Book a service before storm season.
Carbon monoxide
- Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which can kill in minutes. Never run a portable generator inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or shed, even with doors open (CPSC).
- Place portable generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house (CPSC), with the exhaust pointed away from windows, doors and vents.
- Turn a portable generator off and let it cool before refueling. Keep it dry; don't run it in rain unless it is under an open, canopy-style cover.
- Have working, battery-backed CO alarms on every level and outside sleeping areas.
Drinking water and water treatment
28
gallons · 7 days
56
gallons · 14 days
120
gallons · 30 days
360
gallons · 90 days
4 people × 14 days × 1 gallon = 56 gallons minimum (CDC). In-date drinking water stored: 24 gal. Shortfall: 32 gal. Hot-weather planning ceiling: 112 gal.
Your water sources
| Source | Available | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Commercially bottled water | yes | Best choice. Check printed dates. |
| Stored tap water (dated, under 6 months) | unknown | Rotate every 6 months. |
| Public tap water | yes | Usually safe. Follow any boil-water or do-not-drink notice exactly. If pressure drops or the water looks, smells or tastes off, use stored water and check with your utility. |
| Collected rainwater | no | Treat roof runoff as contaminated. Best for flushing and cleaning. Drink only after filtering and disinfecting, and never if chemical contamination is suspected. |
| Lake, pond or stream | yes | Last resort for drinking. Check for local health advisories and algal blooms first. Flush toilets with it before you drink it. |
Disinfecting with household bleach
| Bleach | Water | Clear | Cloudy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% sodium hypochlorite | 1 quart or 1 liter | 2 drops | 4 drops (double the amount) |
| 6% sodium hypochlorite | 1 gallon | 8 drops | 16 drops (double the amount) |
| 8.25% sodium hypochlorite | 1 quart or 1 liter | 2 drops | 4 drops (double the amount) |
| 8.25% sodium hypochlorite | 1 gallon | 8 drops (CDC's amount for any 5%–9% bleach; EPA lists 6 drops for 8.25%; we use the higher amount) | 16 drops (double the amount; EPA's doubled figure would be 12 drops) |
| Any bleach labeled 5%–9% sodium hypochlorite | 1 gallon | 8 drops (about 1/2 mL, a little less than 1/8 teaspoon) | 16 drops (about 1 mL, a little less than 1/4 teaspoon) |
| Any bleach labeled 5%–9% sodium hypochlorite | 5 gallons | 40 drops (about 2 1/2 mL, or 1/2 teaspoon) | 80 drops (about 5 mL, or 1 teaspoon) |
| 1% sodium hypochlorite | 1 gallon | 40 drops (about 2 1/2 mL, or 1/2 teaspoon) | 80 drops (about 5 mL, or 1 teaspoon) |
- Use only plain, unscented household bleach whose label says it is for disinfection or sanitization, and check the sodium hypochlorite percentage.
- If the water is cloudy, let it settle, then filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel or coffee filter. Use the clear water.
- Add the amount in the table. Double it for cloudy, colored or very cold water.
- Stir and let it stand for at least 30 minutes.
- It should smell slightly of chlorine. If it doesn't, repeat the dose and let it stand another 15 minutes.
- Bleach kills germs. It does not remove fuel, chemicals or algal toxins. Never use water you suspect is chemically contaminated.
Boiling
- If the water is cloudy, let it settle, then filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter.
- Bring the clear water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute.
- Let the water cool naturally. Allow it to cool before use to avoid burns.
- Store the boiled water in clean, sanitized containers with tight covers.
- To improve the flat taste, pour it from one clean container to another several times, or add a pinch of salt per quart or liter.
CDC says to boil for 3 minutes at elevations above 6,500 feet. EPA says to boil for 3 minutes at altitudes above 5,000 feet. To follow both, boil for 3 minutes if you are above 5,000 feet.
What boiling, bleach and filters do NOT do
- Boiling kills disease-causing germs (bacteria, viruses, and parasites). It does not remove heavy metals, salts, or most other chemicals, such as fuel or pesticides.
- Boiling water from a harmful algal bloom does not remove the toxins and can concentrate them.
- Water containing fuel, toxic chemicals, or radioactive materials cannot be made safe by boiling. Use a different source.
- Boiling does not make water safe under a do-not-drink or do-not-use advisory.
- Portable and household water filters do not remove all germs. CDC notes that most portable filters remove parasites but not viruses or bacteria; filters with an absolute pore size of 0.3 micron or smaller remove bacteria and parasites but not viruses.
- Gravity filters, including popular countertop brands such as Berkey, are not a guarantee that untreated lake, river, or rain water is safe to drink. If you filter untreated water, disinfect it afterward (boil it, or use bleach or another disinfectant) as CDC advises.
- Do not assume any filter is certified for a particular use. Check the product's own labeling and look up the model in the certifier's listing before relying on any claim. CDC points to certification to NSF Standard 53 or 58 for cyst (parasite) reduction.
- During a boil water advisory, boil tap water even if you filter it. A home filter or filter pitcher is not a substitute for boiling.
- Neither CDC nor EPA guidance reviewed here says that ordinary filtration or chlorination makes chemically contaminated water safe. If you suspect fuel, chemical, or algal-toxin contamination, do not try to treat the water; use another source.
- When in doubt, stay out. If water looks or smells bad, stay out and keep children, pets, and livestock away.
- Do not drink water from a lake, pond, or river with signs of a bloom. Boiling does not remove the toxins and can concentrate them. EPA says boiling may increase toxin levels.
- Avoid swimming, wading, fishing, boating, or playing in water with signs of a bloom.
- Pets are at particular risk. Animals can get sick and die within hours after swallowing algal toxins. Do not let pets drink from, swim in, or play in suspect water.
- If a pet goes into possibly affected water, rinse it off right away with clean water and do not let it lick its fur. Call a veterinarian right away if it seems sick.
- If you think you got sick, contact your healthcare provider or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
- If your water utility reports algal toxins in tap water, follow its advisory and use bottled water for drinking, cooking, making ice, and preparing infant formula until the problem is fixed.
Every water source ranked, with microbial and chemical risks
#1 · Store-bought bottled water (unopened): Best choice. CDC calls unopened, commercially bottled water the safest and most reliable source in an emergency.
Microbial: Low while the original seal is intact.
Chemical: Low while the original seal is intact and the bottle has been stored away from chemicals.
- No treatment needed while the original seal is intact.
- Check the expiration date and use the oldest bottles first.
- Store away from direct sunlight and away from gasoline, pesticides, and other chemicals.
Do not: Do not ignore the expiration date. Rotate your supply so older bottles are used first.
Do not: Do not store bottles next to gasoline, pesticides, or other toxic substances.
#2 · Tap water you stored yourself (less than 6 months old): Good choice when it was put in clean, sanitized, food-grade containers, labeled, and is less than 6 months old.
Microbial: Low if containers were cleaned and sanitized and the water has not been touched by hands or dirty scoops.
Chemical: Low if the container never held chemicals and was stored away from fuel and pesticides.
- Check the storage date on the label. CDC says to replace stored tap water every 6 months.
- Pour or use a clean scoop. Do not touch the water or the inside of the container with your hands.
- If you are unsure whether the water stayed clean, boil it or disinfect it with bleach before drinking.
Do not: Do not use containers that ever held bleach, pesticides, or other toxic chemicals.
Do not: Do not dip hands or unwashed cups into the container.
#3 · Tap water under a boil water advisory: Usable only after boiling, and only when the advisory is a boil water advisory, not a do-not-drink or do-not-use advisory.
Microbial: Elevated. Germs may be present until officials lift the advisory.
Chemical: A boil water advisory is about germs. If officials issue a do-not-drink or do-not-use advisory, boiling will not help.
- Use bottled water if you have it.
- Otherwise: Bring the water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. If you are above 5,000 feet, boil for 3 minutes.
- Let boiled water cool before using it, to avoid burns.
- Boil the water even if you have a home filter or filter pitcher.
- Use boiled or bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, making ice, and for pets.
- Follow your local water utility or health department's instructions until the advisory is lifted.
Do not: Do not use unboiled tap water to brush teeth.
Do not: Do not use water or ice from refrigerator or freezer dispensers.
Do not: Do not rely on a home filter or filter pitcher instead of boiling.
Do not: Do not boil and drink water under a do-not-drink or do-not-use advisory. Boiling does not remove chemicals or toxins.
#4 · Stored water older than 6 months, or of unknown age: Use only if better sources are not available, and treat it first. CDC says to replace self-stored water every 6 months.
Microbial: Uncertain. Treat it as water whose safety you cannot confirm.
Chemical: Low if it was stored in a food-grade container away from chemicals. Unknown if you do not know what the container held before.
- Bring the water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. If you are above 5,000 feet, boil for 3 minutes. Let it cool.
- If you cannot boil, disinfect with unscented household bleach using the bleach table, then wait at least 30 minutes.
- Replace the water with a fresh supply as soon as you can.
Do not: Do not use water from a container that may have held chemicals. Boiling and bleach will not make it safe.
#5 · Private well after a flood or other emergency: Do not drink well water after extensive flooding until the well has been disinfected and tested. Use bottled water until then.
Microbial: Can be high after flooding. Germs from floodwater can enter the well.
Chemical: Possible. Floodwater can carry fuel and chemicals, and boiling or disinfection will not remove them.
- If you suspect your well is contaminated, contact your local or state health department or agriculture extension agent.
- Use bottled water. Until the well has been tested, boil well water (rolling boil for 1 minute; 3 minutes above 5,000 feet) or use another source.
- CDC advises that the well be disinfected by a well or pump contractor, due to safety concerns.
- After disinfection, wait at least 7 to 10 days and until all chlorine has been flushed out, then have the water tested.
Do not: Do not drink well water after extensive flooding until it has been tested.
Do not: Do not use well water that may contain fuel or toxic chemicals. Boiling or disinfection will not make it safe.
#6 · Rainwater or roof runoff: Not safe to drink without treatment. Treat it as possibly contaminated and use it only if better sources are not available.
Microbial: Can be high. Bird droppings on the roof can wash into rain barrels and tanks, especially after several dry days.
Chemical: Possible. Dust, smoke, and other particles in the air, and roofing, gutters, pipes, and storage tanks, can add chemicals such as lead, copper, or asbestos. Boiling and disinfection do not remove these.
- Use a first-flush diverter if you have one, so the dirtiest first runoff is not collected.
- If cloudy, let it settle, then filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter.
- Bring the water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. If you are above 5,000 feet, boil for 3 minutes. If you cannot boil, disinfect with unscented household bleach using the bleach table.
- If you use rainwater regularly for drinking, cooking, or bathing, test it for germs and chemicals. Your health department can advise what to test for.
Do not: Do not assume rainwater is safe because it looks clear.
Do not: Do not rely on boiling or bleach to remove chemicals from roofing materials, smoke, or pollution.
#7 · Melted ice or snow: Ice cubes made from safe water before the emergency are a reasonable source. Treat melted snow like surface water.
Microbial: Low for ice made from safe tap water before an emergency. Unknown for snow, which should be treated like any untreated outdoor water.
Chemical: Unknown for snow. Any chemicals it picked up will not be removed by boiling or disinfection.
- Melt the ice or snow in a clean container.
- For snow: let it settle and filter out debris through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter.
- Bring the water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. If you are above 5,000 feet, boil for 3 minutes. If you cannot boil, disinfect with unscented household bleach using the bleach table.
Do not: Do not use ice from refrigerator or freezer dispensers during a boil water advisory.
Do not: Do not use melted water with floating material, a dark color, or a questionable odor.
Do not: Do not use snow you suspect is contaminated with fuel or chemicals. Boiling and bleach will not remove them.
#8 · Lake, river, stream, or pond water: Last resort. Use only when no better source exists, and only after treatment. Flowing water is generally better than still water.
Microbial: High. Even clear mountain streams are generally not safe to drink untreated.
Chemical: Unknown. Runoff, fuel, farm chemicals, and algal toxins cannot be removed by boiling, bleach, or ordinary filters.
- Choose flowing water over still water when you can.
- If cloudy, let it settle, then filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter.
- Bring the water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. If you are above 5,000 feet, boil for 3 minutes. Boiling is the best way to kill germs.
- If you cannot boil, disinfect with unscented household bleach using the bleach table (use the cloudy-water amount if the water is cloudy, colored, or very cold).
- If you use a portable filter, disinfect the water after filtering. Most portable filters do not remove viruses.
Do not: Do not use water with floating material, a dark color, or a questionable odor.
Do not: Do not use water with signs of a harmful algal bloom, or water that looks or smells bad. Do not boil it and drink it.
Do not: Do not use water you suspect contains fuel or chemicals. Find another source.
Do not: Do not rely on a filter alone, including gravity filters, to make lake or river water safe.
Non-drinking · Water you should not drink: Do not drink, even after treatment. Its hazards cannot be fixed with home methods.
Microbial: Varies.
Chemical: High or unknown. Includes water from home heating radiators or boilers, water that may contain fuel, toxic chemicals, or radioactive materials, water under a do-not-drink or do-not-use advisory, and water from a harmful algal bloom.
- Do not treat and drink. Use bottled water or another safe source.
- Contact your local health department if you are not sure whether your water is safe.
Do not: Never use water from radiators or boilers that are part of your home heating system for drinking, cooking, or hygiene.
Do not: Never drink water that may contain fuel, toxic chemicals, or radioactive materials. Boiling or disinfecting will not make it safe.
Do not: Never boil and drink water from a harmful algal bloom. Boiling does not remove the toxins and can concentrate them.
Do not: Never use tap water under a do-not-use advisory for any purpose; use commercially bottled water.
Food and nutrition planning
About 7,000 kcal/day for your household, or 98,000 kcal over 14 days. On hand: 5 days.
| Illustrative mix for the gap | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-eat canned goods (beans, stews, fish, fruit) | 38 lb | Assumes about 500 kcal per pound of typical canned food. Read labels. |
| White rice (dry) | 11 lb | Needs cooking water and fuel |
| Dried beans (pinto/black) | 6 lb | Needs soaking, long cooking |
| Rolled oats | 4 lb | Quick cooking |
| Peanut butter | 4 lb | No cooking; dense calories. Skip it if anyone has a peanut allergy. |
- Extra cooking water for staples: about 13 gallons.
- Buy what your household already eats, and rotate stock first-in, first-out.
- Dry staples need extra water and fuel to cook. The cooking water is in addition to the drinking-water minimum.
- Keep a manual can opener.
- Store pet food for the full horizon as well.
Sanitation, medical and first aid
Sanitation
- Municipal sewers can back up if pump (lift) stations lose power. If your utility or local officials say to limit water use, stop flushing and switch to bagged toilets.
- Flush with a bucket by pouring non-drinking water (lake, rain or old stored water) into the bowl.
- Emergency toilet: line a bucket with a heavy-duty bag and add an absorbent such as cat litter. Seal the bags and store them outdoors until collection resumes.
- Wash hands with soap and water; hand sanitizer is a backup.
Medical readiness
- Keep at least a 14-day supply of every prescription where your insurer allows early refills. Keep a printed list of medications, doses and prescribers.
- Take a first-aid or Stop the Bleed course. Supplies help most in trained hands.
- Children: keep pediatric-dose fever and pain reducer and any child-specific medications.
AEDs mapped in OpenStreetMap within ~2 mi: none recorded. That doesn't mean none exist; we couldn't verify any publicly accessible AED.
Heat and cooling
- Electric heat draws heavy load. Most portable generators can't run it, so plan one warm room instead.
- Cold plan: pick one interior room, close it off, layer clothing and sleeping bags, and keep pipes from freezing (drip faucets, open cabinet doors).
- Never use a generator, charcoal or gas grill, camp stove, or outdoor-rated heater indoors, or a gas oven or range for heat. They cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep CO alarms working on every level.
- Heat plan: use a cooler basement level if you have one, shade windows, and hydrate. Fans alone don't prevent heat illness in extreme heat. Watch for confusion, headache, heavy sweating or hot dry skin, and go to an announced cooling center.
Communications plan
| Layer | Your status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Official warnings (one-way) | Wireless Emergency Alerts on phones only | Tune NOAA Weather Radio to 162.550 MHz (SAMPLE, Sample transmitter). Set SAME code 000000 for your county. |
| Internet | None beyond home broadband | Keep the router and modem on a UPS. Wi-Fi calling only works while internet works. |
| Cellular | Depends on towers having backup power and backhaul | During wide outages texts often go through when calls don't. Keep messages short. Text 911 only where your county supports it; otherwise call. |
| Satellite messaging | Available | Check whether any household phone supports satellite SOS or messaging, and try the demo mode where the phone offers one. |
| Two-way radio | Hand-crank AM/FM | Optional: FCC-certified FRS radios for short-range household use. |
| NOAA Weather Radio | Frequency | Site | Status | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAMPLE | 162.550 MHz | Sample transmitter | NORMAL | 18 mi |
SAME code for your county: 000000. Source: NOAA NWS.
Stay-or-evacuate framework
If officials order an evacuation for your area, leave. This framework never overrides official orders or emergency responders.
Get official information from your county emergency management office, NWS alerts, Wireless Emergency Alerts, and local broadcast radio.
Favors staying
- No evacuation order or warning is in effect for your area.
- Indoor temperature can be kept safe for everyone, including children and older adults.
- You have safe drinking water (stored, or tap with no boil/do-not-drink notice) for the expected duration.
- Roads are passable if you later need to leave, and no flood water is approaching.
- No one has an urgent medical need.
Requires leaving
- An evacuation order covers your area.
- Rising water from the nearby lake or stream approaches the house or access road. Leave before roads flood; never drive through flood water.
- You smell natural gas or the generator is damaged. Leave first, then call the gas utility or 911 from a safe distance.
- Indoor temperature becomes unsafe (heat or cold) and can't be fixed.
- Drinking water will run out before services are expected back.
- Someone develops a medical need that can't be met at home.
Call 911 now
- A CO alarm sounds, or anyone has headache, dizziness, nausea or confusion that could be CO poisoning. Get everyone outside into fresh air first, then call 911.
- Fire, a downed power line on the property, injury, chest pain, trouble breathing, or any life-threatening emergency.
- Someone trapped by rising water.
Evacuation checklist
- ☐ Go-bag for each person (water, food, medications, copies of IDs and insurance, cash, chargers, change of clothes)
- ☐ Prescriptions and medical devices with chargers
- ☐ Pets: carriers, leashes, food, vaccination records
- ☐ Phones charged, plus a power bank per adult
- ☐ Shut off utilities only if officials instruct you to, or if there is damage
- ☐ Lock the house, and leave a note saying where you went if officials recommend it
- ☐ Take the printed quick-reference page from this report
Reunification & transport
- Choose an out-of-area contact everyone calls or texts to check in. Long-distance calls often go through when local ones don't.
- Neighborhood meeting point: ______________________ (fill in)
- Out-of-neighborhood meeting point: ______________________ (fill in)
- Each child carries a card with the contacts and meeting points. Know each school's reunification policy.
- Your household needs about 4 seats plus room for pets and carriers. At about 5 seats per vehicle, that's about 1 vehicle(s). You reported 1.
- Keep each vehicle at least half full of fuel during storm season. Gas stations need electricity to pump.
- Children need appropriate car seats in whichever vehicle carries them during an evacuation.
| Destination (confirm first) | Why | Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Sample Regional Hospital | Nearest mapped hospital with emergency dept., about 2.6 mi (medical emergencies only, not a shelter) | Call ahead if possible |
| Public shelters | Opened by county or municipal emergency management during an event | Confirm a shelter is open through official announcements before you travel. A listed shelter is not necessarily open. |
| Relatives or friends outside the affected area | Usually the most comfortable option for a large household | Agree on this in advance |
We did not verify road routes for this address. Choose a primary and a backup route away from low-lying roads near water, and drive both in good weather.
Supplies and personalized recommendations
Essential
$291–$656
Closes the gaps that matter most for safety. Estimated, not current prices.
Recommended
$698–$1,616
Essential + recommended items. Estimated, not current prices.
Comprehensive
$830–$1,921
Everything in this report. Estimated, not current prices.
essential · Water storage
5-gallon food-grade water container × 7
Portable containers for the rest of the gap. You can carry these during an evacuation.
Look for: BPA-free HDPE, food-grade · Spigot or pour cap · Stackable if storing many
Est. $15–$30 each
essential · Water treatment
Unscented household bleach (6% or 8.25%) × 2
Disinfects stored or collected water against microbes, following the CDC/EPA dosing table in your report.
Look for: Plain, unscented, no additives · Label lists sodium hypochlorite % · Replace yearly; strength fades
Est. $4–$8 each
essential · Emergency food
Bulk shelf-stable staples (rice, beans, oats) × 1
Rice for the calorie gap (9 days × 7,000 kcal/day).
Look for: Store in sealed food-grade buckets with gamma lids · Rotate first-in, first-out
Est. $20–$45 each
essential · Emergency food
Manual can opener × 1
Many shelf-stable foods are canned.
Look for: Stainless steel
Est. $8–$15 each
essential · Battery backup
UPS battery backup for router/modem/Starlink × 1
Keeps the router and Starlink online through the gap while a generator starts or is refueled.
Look for: 600–1,500 VA · Sine wave output preferred · Check the Starlink power supply's wattage
Est. $80–$220 each
essential · Radios
NOAA Weather Radio with SAME alerting × 1
Receives your local NOAA Weather Radio transmitter (SAMPLE, 162.550 MHz) and alarms for warnings even when internet and cell are down.
Look for: SAME county coding so it alarms only for your area · Battery backup · Public Alert certified if available
Est. $30–$70 each
essential · Fire safety
Carbon monoxide alarm (battery or battery-backup) × 2
Generators, furnaces and camp stoves all produce carbon monoxide. You need a working alarm on every level.
Look for: UL 2034 listed · Every level and outside sleeping areas
Est. $20–$40 each
recommended · Water treatment
Medicine droppers / graduated pipettes × 1
Accurate bleach dosing.
Look for: Marked in mL for accurate bleach dosing
Est. $5–$10 each
recommended · Water treatment
Portable water filter (0.3 micron absolute or NSF Protocol P231 purifier) × 1
Removes parasites, and bacteria if rated 0.3 micron or smaller. Always disinfect afterward. It does not remove chemicals.
Look for: Absolute pore size 0.3 micron or smaller removes bacteria and parasites, not viruses · An NSF Protocol P231 purifier is also tested for viruses · Always disinfect after filtering; filters do not remove chemicals
Est. $30–$90 each
recommended · Emergency food
Food-grade buckets with gamma seal lids × 1
Rodent- and moisture-proof storage for bulk staples.
Look for: 5 gallon, food-grade · Screw-top gamma lid
Est. $12–$25 each
recommended · Battery backup
USB power bank (20,000 mAh) × 2
One per adult for phones, radios, and headlamps.
Look for: USB-C PD · One per adult
Est. $25–$50 each
recommended · Lighting
AA/AAA batteries, bulk × 1
Spare batteries for radios, lanterns, headlamps.
Look for: Check radio/lantern requirements · Lithium for long storage
Est. $15–$30 each
recommended · Heating and cooling essentials
Cold-rated sleeping bag (0–20°F) × 4
Winter outage warmth without a heat source.
Look for: One per person for winter outages
Est. $35–$90 each
recommended · Sanitation
Emergency toilet kit (bucket, seat, bags, absorbent) × 1
For when sewers or water service fail.
Look for: Snap-on seat lid fits 5-gal bucket
Est. $25–$50 each
recommended · Sanitation
Contractor trash bags 42 gal (box) × 1
Toilet waste and trash.
Look for: 3 mil thickness
Est. $20–$35 each
recommended · Emergency bags
Backpack for go-bag × 4
A packed go-bag per person makes a fast evacuation possible.
Look for: One per person; children's sized for them
Est. $25–$60 each
recommended · Emergency bags
Waterproof document pouch × 1
Copies of IDs, insurance, prescriptions.
Look for: Holds ID copies, insurance, medication list
Est. $10–$20 each
optional · Water storage
Bathtub water storage bladder (~100 gal) × 1
Quick extra storage to fill when a major storm is forecast.
Look for: Fills from tub faucet before a forecast storm · Includes hand pump · Single-use or short-term
Est. $25–$45 each
optional · Radios
FCC-certified FRS or GMRS handheld radios (pair) × 1
Legal short-range household radios (FRS-certified radios need no license; GMRS-certified radios need a no-exam FCC license that covers your family).
Look for: FRS-certified radios: no license needed · GMRS-certified radios: an FCC GMRS license is needed for any transmission (no exam; covers immediate family) · Check the certification on the box
Est. $40–$120 each
optional · First aid
Tourniquet (CoTCCC-recommended type) × 1
Severe bleeding control. Train first (Stop the Bleed).
Look for: Buy from reputable sellers; counterfeits are common · Take a Stop the Bleed class
Est. $25–$40 each
optional · Vehicle emergency supplies
Vehicle emergency kit (jumper cables, first aid, blanket) × 1
One per vehicle.
Look for: One per vehicle
Est. $30–$70 each
optional · Weather monitoring
Indoor/outdoor thermometer-hygrometer × 1
Monitor indoor temperature for children and older adults during heat or cold.
Look for: Tracks indoor temperature during outages
Est. $12–$30 each
Maintenance and replenishment calendar
| When | Task | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | Test smoke and CO alarms (press test button) | U.S. Fire Administration / manufacturer instructions |
| As the label directs | Check fire extinguisher pressure gauge and condition | Manufacturer label / NFPA consumer guidance |
| Monthly | Charge power banks, radios and lanterns; test the NOAA radio | Planning practice |
| Every 6 months | Replace self-filled stored water; sanitize containers | CDC |
| Every 6 months | Rotate food (first-in, first-out); check dates | Planning practice |
| Every 6 months | Review medications and first-aid supplies; replace expired items | Planning practice |
| Yearly | Replace bleach stored for water treatment | Bleach strength declines over time |
| Yearly | Review family communication plan and meeting points with everyone | Ready.gov |
| Yearly (before storm season) | Drive both evacuation routes | Planning practice |
| Per owner's manual | Generator oil, filters, spark plugs, battery, valve checks | Your generator's owner's manual. We don't estimate these intervals. |
| Per owner's manual | Run the portable generator under load briefly, outdoors | Owner's manual |
| Quarterly | Listen on programmed frequencies; check batteries | Planning practice |
Sources, citations and limitations
Census Geocoder (Public_AR_Current): U.S. Census Bureau verified
https://homeprepreport.com/sources · retrieved 11/1/2026, 12:00:00 PM · Public domain (U.S. Government work)
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.
Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP): U.S. Geological Survey verified
https://homeprepreport.com/sources · retrieved 11/1/2026, 12:00:00 PM · Public domain (U.S. Government work)
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.
National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL): Federal Emergency Management Agency verified
https://homeprepreport.com/sources · retrieved 11/1/2026, 12:00:00 PM · Public domain (U.S. Government work)
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.
National Risk Index (census tract): Federal Emergency Management Agency verified
https://homeprepreport.com/sources · retrieved 11/1/2026, 12:00:00 PM · Public domain (U.S. Government work)
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.
National Weather Service API (points, forecasts, active alerts): NOAA National Weather Service verified
https://homeprepreport.com/sources · retrieved 11/1/2026, 12:00:00 PM · Public domain (U.S. Government work)
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.
ComCat earthquake catalog (FDSN event service): U.S. Geological Survey verified
https://homeprepreport.com/sources · retrieved 11/1/2026, 12:00:00 PM · Public domain (U.S. Government work)
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.
OpenStreetMap (via Overpass API): OpenStreetMap contributors reported(community data)
https://homeprepreport.com/sources · retrieved 11/1/2026, 12:00:00 PM · Open Database License (ODbL) — attribution required: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.
Hospital General Information (Care Compare): Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; locations geocoded with the U.S. Census Geocoder (OpenStreetMap Nominatim as fallback) unavailable
https://homeprepreport.com/sources · retrieved 11/1/2026, 12:00:00 PM · Public domain (U.S. Government work)
Lists Medicare-certified hospitals and whether they report providing emergency services. Locations are geocoded from the listed address (a few addresses can't be matched). It doesn't tell you whether an emergency department is open, on diversion, or reachable during a disaster. Distances are straight-line.
FEMA ESF#6 Shelter System — Open Shelters: Federal Emergency Management Agency / American Red Cross verified
https://homeprepreport.com/sources · retrieved 11/1/2026, 12:00:00 PM · Public domain (U.S. Government work)
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.
NOAA Weather Radio county coverage listing: NOAA National Weather Service verified
https://homeprepreport.com/sources · retrieved 11/1/2026, 12:00:00 PM · Public domain (U.S. Government work)
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.
Safe Drinking Water Information System (Envirofacts): U.S. Environmental Protection Agency unavailable
https://homeprepreport.com/sources · retrieved 11/1/2026, 12:00:00 PM · Public domain (U.S. Government work)
Systems are listed by the city they report, not by service area; we cannot confirm which system serves an address. Private wells are not regulated or listed.
Home Prep Report verified directory of state and county emergency resources: Home Prep Report (links to official agencies) unavailable(community data)
https://homeprepreport.com/sources · retrieved 11/1/2026, 12:00:00 PM · Links only
Illustrative sample value. A real report retrieves this live for your address.