Start here · 27 min read

Step by step: from prevention to day 30

This plan is the thread that ties the whole guide together. It tells you what to do and in what order: first, a 12-week program to get your home ready; then, what to do when you receive an alert, in the first hour, in the first 24, 72, and 100 hours, in the first and second weeks, and up to day 30, when recovery begins. It's designed for any household: adjust the quantities to the number of people, pets, and cars you have. The details of each topic are in its chapter; here you have the sequence.

The essentials · if you only have a minute

Official orders come first. If they order an evacuation, evacuate; if they ask you to shelter in place, go in and stay inside (chapter 1).
The first 10 minutes decide almost everything: protect yourself from the immediate danger, gather your people and pets, and confirm the alert with an official source.
Your minimum goal is to last 72 hours without help; your real goal, 2 weeks at home (Red Cross: 3 days to evacuate, 2 weeks at home).
Water: 1 gallon (3.8 L) per person per day, plus water for your pets according to their weight (about 0.2 gal / 0.75 L daily for a 15 lb / 7 kg dog). Don't ration drinking water unless authorities order it: cut back on hygiene water.
Power: radio and one flashlight first; phones in battery-saver mode and turned on at fixed times; just one "on-call" phone, in shifts.
Fixed routine: news on the hour, a daily written log, assigned roles, and a reassessment every 24 hours.
After day 7 the risk changes: less immediate danger, more fatigue, illness, scams, and mistakes from exhaustion.

In this chapter

1How to use this plan2 min read 2Prevention: 12-week program6 min read0/52 3When the alert arrives: the first 10 minutes2 min read 4First hour2 min read 5Hours 1 to 242 min read 6Hours 24 to 72: the first 72 hours3 min read 7Hours 72 to 100: day 3 to day 42 min read 8Day 4 to day 71 min read 9Week 2: days 8 to 141 min read 10Day 15 to day 30: recovery1 min read 11Quick variants by type of emergency2 min read 12Roles for the adults in the household1 min read 13First 72 hours card2 min read 14Daily emergency log1 min read

Chapter sources (1)

1.Build A Kit — Ready.gov (FEMA) — https://www.ready.gov/kit 2.Water — Ready.gov (FEMA) — https://www.ready.gov/water 3.Survival Kit Supplies — Cruz Roja Americana — https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/survival-kit- supplies.html 4.IS-908 Emergency Management for Senior Officials: Individuals and Households — FEMA Emergency Management Institute — https:// emilms.fema.gov/is_0908/groups/34.html 5.Individuals and Households Program — FEMA — https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/program 6.DisasterAssistance.gov — Gobierno de EE.UU. — https://www.disasterassistance.gov 7.FEMA warns residents applying for disaster relief of scam risks — WMUK (declaraciones de FEMA), julio de 2026 — https://www.wmuk.org/ wmuk-news/2026-07-24/fema-warns-michigan-residents-applying-for-disaster-relief-of-scam-risks 8.General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) — Federal Communications Commission — https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility- division/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs 9.Emergency Alert Resource Sheet, San Antonio (AlertSA, AHAS, STEAR) — enero de 2026 — https://www.wellmedcharitablefoundation.org/ wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Emergency-Alert-Resource-Sheet.San-Antonio-1.22.2026.pdf 10.Emergency Alerts — Ciudad de San Antonio — https://www.sa.gov/Government/Emergency-Crisis-Response/Alerts 11.Get Emergency Notifications (REAN) — Condado de Bexar — https://www.bexar.org/2090/Get-Emergency-Notifications 12.NFIP Flood Insurance for Renters — National Flood Insurance Program (FEMA) — https://www.floodsmart.gov 13.Cifras de agua, refrigerador, cloro, tornado, huracán, nuclear y monóxido de carbono: ver las fuentes de los capítulos 2, 3, 9, 10 y 15 de esta guía.