Start here · Step-by-step plan
First 72 hours card
Put it on the refrigerator. Household: ____ people + ____ pets. Address: ______________________________________
| When | What to do | |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10 min | Read the alert and confirm it. Protect yourself: tornado → interior bathroom; flood → high ground; nuclear or chemical → inside, doors and windows closed, AC off; fire → get out. Count all people and pets (leashed). Shoes and flashlight. | |
| 1st hour | Injuries. Gas, power, water. Fill the tub and jugs if water still runs. Charge everything. Text the out-of-state contact. Radio 10 min. Don't open the refrigerator. | |
| 1–24 h | Roles. Inventory in the log. Perishables first. News on the hour. Sleep shifts. Emergency toilet if needed. | |
| 24–72 h | Hygiene, health checks 2 times a day, medicines counted, doubtful water treated, neighbors, backpacks by the door. | |
| Hour 72 | Adults' meeting: inventory, days of endurance (gallons ÷ daily consumption), stay or go?, rotate tasks. | |
| Item | Value | |
| Water per day | 1 gal (3.8 L) per person · 72 h ≈ 3 gal (11.4 L) per person, plus pets · Don't ration drinking water | |
| Refrigerator / freezer without power | ~4 h closed / ~48 h full (24 h half full) | |
| Unscented bleach | 8 drops/gal (6%) or 6 drops/gal (8.25%), wait 30 min | |
| NOAA radio | NOAA station: ______ MHz · Your county's SAME code: ______ | |
| News | Every hour (0–24 h) · every 3 h (24–72 h) · 7:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. (afterward) | |
| FRS/GMRS radios | Main channel: ____ · Backup: ____ · Listen :00 to :05 | |
| Out-of-state contact | Name: __________________ · Phone: __________________ | |
| Meeting place near / far | __________________________ / __________________________ | |
| Roles (primary / backup) | 1. Leader and communications: ________ / ________ 2. Water and food: ________ / ________ 3. Health and first-aid kit: ________ / ________ 4. Pets and security: ________ / ________ | |
| Phone numbers | 911 · Your city's services line (311 in many cities): ____________ · Your water company: ____________ · FEMA 1-800-621-3362 · Veterinarian: ____________ |
Never: use a generator, grill, or outdoor stove inside the home · drive through water · open the refrigerator unnecessarily · believe a rumor without confirming it.
