Offline preparedness pack

Extended power outage

Store safe water, essential medications, familiar no-cook food, flashlights, spare batteries, radio and charging backups. Plan a safe warm or cool alternate location. Never use generators, charcoal grills, camp stoves or gas ovens to heat indoor spaces. Check official food-safety guidance before using food after an outage.

Nuclear fallout or radiological emergency

Get inside a substantial building promptly. Prefer an interior area or basement away from windows and roof. Stay indoors and follow official instructions, which may call for at least 24 hours of shelter. If fallout dust may be on you, carefully remove outer clothing, isolate it and wash exposed skin. Do not assume boiling or a hiking filter removes radioactive contamination. Take potassium iodide only if public health authorities direct you.

Explosions or drone-related danger

Follow local alerts and shelter orders. Move away from windows into sturdy cover or an interior room. Do not go out to photograph an explosion or inspect an unknown device, downed drone or debris. Report hazards to emergency services from safety. Do not use jammers or try to intercept drones.

Water safety

Store known-safe drinking water before an emergency; one US gallon (about 3.8 liters) per person per day is a starting point, adjusted for climate, medical needs and pets. Portable filter straws do not all remove viruses and cannot be assumed to remove chemicals or radioactive material. Follow the local drinking-water authority.

Food and basic sanitation

Keep familiar shelf-stable foods, a manual can opener, safe food preparation options, sanitation supplies, waste bags and soap. Compare emergency meals by total calories, allergens, preparation water and fuel. Do not trust smell alone for spoiled refrigerated food.

Family communication

Choose an out-of-area contact, a near-home meeting point and a secondary meeting place. Know school/caregiver pickup procedures. Write down local emergency numbers, official alert sources and two methods of contacting loved ones. Keep completed sheets private.

Evacuation and shelter

Pack a light accessible go-bag with essential medications, documents, water, food, sturdy shoes, flashlight, radio, and power bank. Include pets and mobility needs. Follow official shelter-in-place or evacuation orders; travel may be riskier than shelter during radiation or explosive threats.

Offline maps and practice

Before an outage, download or print trusted maps covering home, school, work and alternate routes; mark meeting points and verified services. Practice a short unplugged check without interrupting critical medical equipment. Test radios, batteries, contact plan and pantry meals.

Write your local family contact plan

Keep any completed sheet away from public access; protect addresses and children’s routines.

Trusted sources for your next online check

These addresses require internet access; they are included here as references only. International aggregators may not display every warning. Check your own local government and weather service.

• WMO global weather warnings: https://severeweather.wmo.int/
• GDACS major disaster alerts: https://www.gdacs.org/
• US state and territory emergency-management directory: https://www.usa.gov/state-emergency-management
• USGS worldwide earthquakes: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/
• CDC radiation emergencies: https://www.cdc.gov/radiation-emergencies/
• CDC emergency drinking water: https://www.cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/
• OpenStreetMap export: https://www.openstreetmap.org/export