Your Family's 72 Hour Emergency Plan

Most families intend to get prepared. They just never get around to it until the moment they need it most. This guide changes that. Set aside 30 minutes, follow these seven steps, and your family will be more prepared than 90% of your neighbors.

Why 72 Hours?

FEMA and the American Red Cross both recommend every household be completely self-sufficient for a minimum of 72 hours following any emergency. During the first three days after a major disaster, roads may be impassable, stores may be closed, power may be out, and emergency services may be overwhelmed.

"The families who come through those 72 hours with the least stress are the ones who had a plan before the emergency arrived."

This guide walks you through exactly what that plan looks like.

Step 1: Know Your Risks

Before you can prepare, you need to know what you're preparing for. Every region faces different threats. Start by identifying the two or three most likely emergencies for your area:

• Colorado and the Mountain West - wildfires, winter storms, power outages, earthquakes
• Gulf Coast and Southeast - hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes
• Pacific Coast - earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires
• Midwest - tornadoes, severe winter storms, flooding
• Everywhere - power outages, house fires, medical emergencies

Visit ready.gov to look up your specific area's highest risk scenarios. Your preparedness plan should be built around your most likely threats first.

Step 2 - Build Your Emergency Kit

Your kit is the physical foundation of your plan. At minimum, every household needs:

Water -

One gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation. For a family of four that means 12 gallons minimum. US Coast Guard approved water pouches with a 5-year shelf life are the most reliable option, no rotation needed.

Food -

72-hour supply of non-perishable food that requires no cooking or refrigeration. US Coast Guard approved food rations are calorie-dense, require no water, and have a 5-year shelf life. Store enough for every person in your household including pets.

First Aid -

A comprehensive kit capable of handling injuries when medical care is unavailable. Should include bandages, gauze, antiseptic, pain relievers, nitrile gloves, a CPR mask, and any prescription medications your family members take regularly.

Light and Communication -

Flashlights with extra batteries, a hand-crank or battery-powered weather band radio, and a battery or solar powered phone charger. When power goes out and cell towers go down, a weather radio is your most reliable source of emergency information.

Shelter and Warmth -

Emergency Mylar blankets for every family member. If you have to evacuate and cannot reach a shelter, these can be lifesaving. Include a change of clothes and sturdy shoes for each person.

Tools and Documents -

A whistle to signal for help, a multi-tool, copies of important documents in a waterproof bag (IDs, insurance cards, prescriptions, bank information), and a written list of important phone numbers. Do not rely solely on your phone, batteries die and towers go down.

Hygiene and Sanitation -

Hand sanitizer, wet wipes, basic toiletries, and feminine hygiene products if needed. Sanitation is one of the first things families overlook and one of the fastest ways illness spreads during an emergency.

Step 3 - Make Your Family Communication Plan

Every member of your household needs to know:

An out-of-state contact:

During a local disaster, local phone lines get jammed. It is often easier to call someone out of state than across town. Choose one person, a relative or close friend in another state, and make sure every family member has their number memorized and written down.

A meeting place near your home:

If a fire or emergency forces you out quickly, where does your family meet? Choose a specific landmark , a neighbor's mailbox, the end of your street, a specific tree. Everyone needs to know this without having to think about it.

A meeting place outside your neighborhood:

If you cannot get back to your neighborhood, where do you meet? A local school, church, or community center works well. Choose one and make sure everyone knows it.

What to do if you get separated:

Children especially need to know what to do; who to call, where to go, and who is a trusted adult they can ask for help.

Write all of this down. Keep a copy in your emergency kit and a copy in each family member's backpack or school bag.

Step 4 - Plan Your Evacuation Routes

Identify at least two ways out of your neighborhood heading in different directions. Natural disasters and road closures can make your primary route impassable, always have a backup.

Know the locations of:

- Your nearest emergency shelter (check your county's emergency management website)
- At least two pet-friendly hotels or motels along each evacuation route
- Your nearest hospital and urgent care facility
- Your children's school's emergency release policy

Keep a physical map in your car and your emergency kit. GPS and phones fail when you need them most.

Step 5 - Plan for Everyone in Your Household

Children

Children who know what to do in an emergency experience significantly less fear and panic. Walk them through your plan in age-appropriate terms. Give them a role, even something simple like being in charge of carrying their own backpack gives children a sense of purpose and control during a stressful situation.

Consider a dedicated children's emergency kit with age-appropriate supplies.

Seniors and people with medical needs

Anyone who takes prescription medications needs a minimum 72-hour supply in the kit at all times. Keep a written list of all medications, dosages, and the prescribing physician. Include any medical equipment that requires power and a plan for what to do if that power is unavailable.

Pets

Pets need their own 72-hour supply of food, water, medications, and comfort items. Many emergency shelters do not accept pets, know your options in advance. Keep vaccination records and a current photo of your pet with your emergency documents.

"A kit for your pet isn't a luxury. Emergency shelters turn away animals every single disaster. Your pet's kit is their ticket to staying with your family."

Step 6 - Store and Maintain Your Kit

Choose a storage location that every adult in your household knows and can access quickly; a hallway closet, a spot in the garage, or under a bed. Avoid storing your kit in places that could become inaccessible (a basement that floods, a garage behind a car that won't start without power).

Check your kit twice a year, when you change your smoke detector batteries is an easy reminder. Rotate any food or water with an expiration date. Update medications. Refresh documents.

If you use US Coast Guard approved food rations and water pouches, you only need to check them every five years.

Step 7 - Practice

A plan you've never practiced is a plan that falls apart under pressure. Once a year, walk your family through your emergency plan. Time how long it takes to grab your kit and get out the door. Identify what's missing or what takes too long. Fix it before you need it.

Run through your communication plan with your kids. Make sure your out-of-state contact knows they're your contact. Drive your evacuation routes so everyone knows them.

The goal is not to be afraid of emergencies. The goal is to be ready for them, so when one arrives, your family moves with confidence instead of panic.

You're One Step Away From Being Ready

The best emergency kit is the one that's already packed when you need it. At Gear Up Survival Kits, every kit is built around the 72-hour standard, stocked with US Coast Guard approved food and water, and ready to grab the moment you need it. No assembly required.

Start with your household kit. Add a pet kit if you have animals. Build your plan around it.

You'll sleep better knowing it's done.