Start here · Step-by-step plan
Quick variants by type of emergency
The timeline is the same; what changes is the action in the first minutes, how long you stay inside, and when you evacuate.
| Emergency | First 10 min | First 24 h | What changes afterward | See |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackout / winter storm | Flashlights, don't open the refrigerator, CO detector working | Everyone in one room, layers of clothing; fill water in case the pipes freeze or a boil notice arrives | It can last days (as in historic winter storms). If the indoors becomes dangerous from cold or heat, go to a warming or cooling center | Chs. 9, 10, 14 |
| Flash flood | To high ground; the lower floors are the first to get wet. Never drive or walk in moving water | Don't return until allowed; cut the power if water reaches outlets and it's safe to do so | Cleanup with protective equipment; photos for insurance before throwing anything out | Chs. 10, 24 |
| Tornado | With a Tornado Warning: to the interior bathroom, heads covered, shoes on, and pets on leashes | Come out only when the warning ends; check for gas, glass, wires | If the building was damaged, find lodging; assess the structure before returning | Ch. 10 |
| Hurricane (inland, as a host city) | There's days of warning: Watch about 48 h and Warning about 36 h before the winds | Torrential rain, flash flooding, tornadoes in the rain bands | Evacuees arrive from the coast: gas, hotels, and stores run out. Shop and fill tanks beforehand | Ch. 10 |
| Nuclear | Get into the best building within reach (you have 10 min or more before the fallout); to the center of your home or apartment | Stay inside at least 24 hours, unless there's immediate danger or a different order | Authorities will say when and by what route to leave; decontamination on entering | Ch. 15 |
| Chemical | Go in, close doors and windows, turn off the air conditioning and fans that draw in outside air | Seal a room only if authorities say so; listen to the radio until they announce it has passed | Ventilate when the notice ends; follow decontamination instructions | Ch. 16 |
| Evacuation | Backpacks, pets in carriers, documents, medicines; Appendix G | Leave by the indicated route; notify your contact when leaving and arriving | The timeline continues at the destination; see chapter 24 for evacuating with multiple cars | Ch. 24 |
