A resilient home plan starts with your location and the people who live there. Identify the hazards your area actually faces, the household members who may need assistance, and the equipment that must keep working. Then match building improvements, supplies, communications, backup power, heat precautions, and flood measures to those needs. FEMA guidance emphasizes that plans and emergency kits must be revised as health needs, household circumstances, property conditions, and local risks change.
1. Start with local risk and household needs
There is no universal resilience package. A coastal home may prioritize hurricane wind, storm surge, and evacuation; an inland property may face thunderstorms, tornadoes, wildfire smoke, winter storms, or heat waves. FEMA’s How to Prepare for the Effects of Climate Change on Disasters (FEMA P-2312) advises households to understand local hazards and account for personal factors such as health, age, occupation, and mobility.
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Make a location-specific hazard list
- Check your county, state, tribal, or municipal emergency-management information for flood zones, evacuation areas, wildfire exposure, extreme-heat resources, and shelter locations.
- Learn how your electric utility reports outages, planned shutoffs, restoration estimates, and emergency contacts. Save the utility’s outage-reporting method while the power is on.
- Ask your local building or emergency-management office which warnings require immediate evacuation and which allow sheltering in place.
- Note hazards created by your property itself, such as a low-lying basement, a sump system, large trees near power lines, an uninsulated upper floor, or a single driveway that could become inaccessible.
List people, animals, and devices that need help
Write down who may need assistance with hearing alerts, moving to another floor, leaving the house, obtaining medication, or reaching transportation. Include infants, older adults, people with disabilities, pets, and anyone whose work schedule could leave them alone during an emergency. Record essential medicines, refrigeration requirements, and powered medical equipment. A small consumer power bank cannot provide a safe continuity plan for medical equipment; discuss battery duration, approved backup systems, and emergency procedures with the prescribing clinician, equipment supplier, or care provider.
Set meeting points and decision triggers
Choose one meeting place immediately outside the home and another outside your neighborhood in case roads are closed. Decide who checks on relatives, who collects children or pets, and how messages are relayed if cellular service is congested. Put evacuation triggers in writing—for example, an official evacuation order, a rising-water warning, a utility notice about a planned shutoff, or indoor conditions that become unsafe for a medically vulnerable person. Follow official orders even if your own property appears unaffected.
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2. Build a communications and supply system that works without electricity
Keep several ways to receive warnings
Ready.gov preparedness materials recommend enrolling in local alerts and monitoring the Emergency Alert System (EAS), NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems. Use more than one method because a phone may lose service, a notification may be delayed, or a household member may sleep through an alarm. Keep written contact numbers and the address of your chosen meeting points; a paper list remains usable when a phone battery is empty.
Charge before the forecasted event
Before a storm or heat emergency, charge phones, tablets, rechargeable lights, hearing-aid batteries, and any approved medical-device batteries. Keep charging cables with the devices and store a car charger or other independent charging method where it can be reached without opening a garage door. Test the charging setup periodically rather than discovering a failed cable during an outage.
Stock supplies for the household, not a generic checklist
Maintain several days of essentials suited to the number of people and the hazards in your area. Include drinking water, shelf-stable food, prescription and over-the-counter medicines, first-aid items, flashlights or lanterns, spare batteries, sanitation supplies, weather-appropriate clothing, and pet food. Store documents such as identification, insurance records, prescriptions, and property information in waterproof containers or a secure digital location that can be reached offline.
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Understand what a portable power bank can and cannot do
A portable power bank is useful for emergency phone charging and other small USB devices. It does not run a refrigerator, pump, heater, air conditioner, range, or whole-house electrical circuit, and it is not an appropriate substitute for a medically specified backup system. Compare any power bank by the devices it must charge, the number of recharges required, connector compatibility, storage conditions, and the manufacturer’s instructions. Keep it charged and test it under normal conditions.
3. Choose backup power by critical load and duration
Decide first what must operate and for how long. “Backup power” can mean a few phone charges, refrigeration, a sump pump, selected circuits, or medical equipment. Those are different engineering problems. A qualified electrician or the equipment manufacturer should determine transfer equipment, circuit capacity, ventilation, fuel storage, and installation requirements for a generator or permanently installed battery system.
| Need | Possible approach | Important limits and checks |
|---|---|---|
| Phones and small electronics | Charged power bank, vehicle charger, or other small-device source | Supports only compatible low-power devices; plan charging quantities and cable types. |
| Refrigeration for food or medicines | Generator, battery system, or another approved source sized for the refrigerator’s starting and running load | Confirm the device’s electrical requirements, connection method, fuel or battery duration, and safe placement. |
| Powered medical equipment | Care-provider and equipment-supplier plan using an approved battery or generator arrangement | Do not improvise with a phone power bank; establish a backup location and emergency contact. |
| Sump pump or selected circuits | Battery-backed sump pump or properly installed generator/battery system where the property and system make it suitable | Check pump capacity, battery runtime, discharge path, inspection needs, and flood exposure. |
| Whole-home loads | Professionally designed standby generator or battery installation | Requires code-compliant installation, correct transfer equipment, maintenance, and a fuel or charging plan. |
Do not connect a generator to a household receptacle or alter wiring unless the installation is designed and approved for that purpose. Follow the current manufacturer instructions and local electrical and building codes; requirements vary by jurisdiction.
4. Use safe practices when the power fails
Protect food and medicines
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. FEMA’s climate-preparedness sheet gives approximate guidance of about four hours for a refrigerator and about 48 hours for a full freezer, but those are official estimates rather than guarantees for every appliance, food load, room temperature, or opening pattern. Use your utility’s and local health authority’s instructions for deciding what to discard. Have a specific plan for medicines that require refrigeration, including a pharmacist or prescriber contact and an alternate storage location.
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Reduce electrical damage
When practical, unplug sensitive electronics and nonessential appliances during an outage, especially if the utility reports unstable restoration or a storm may produce surges. Leave one light switched on so you can recognize when service returns. After power is restored, reconnect equipment gradually and inspect for water intrusion or visible damage before energizing circuits.
Operate generators outdoors
FEMA’s power-outage sheet states: “Use generators outdoors and at least 20 feet away from building openings.” Place the generator so exhaust cannot enter through doors, windows, vents, or other openings, and follow the manufacturer’s grounding, refueling, weather-protection, and extension-cord instructions. Never operate a fuel-burning generator in a home, basement, garage, crawlspace, porch, or other enclosed or partly enclosed area. A generator must remain clear of floodwater and stable on a suitable surface; if the safe location would be threatened by rising water, evacuate or use another approved plan rather than moving it into the building.
Do not heat with a gas stove
Never use a gas range or oven to heat the home. If indoor conditions become unsafe, relocate to a safe heated or cooled place identified in advance, such as a family member’s home, an open shelter, or another community facility. Keep household members together, account for pets, and follow local instructions about travel.
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5. Reduce dangerous indoor heat
Improve the building before an emergency
Ready.gov’s Extreme Heat guidance recommends covering windows with drapes or shades, weather-stripping doors and windows, and adding insulation. These measures reduce heat entering the home and help cooled air remain indoors when equipment is operating. During renovations, have a qualified professional check air sealing, insulation levels, roof and attic conditions, and the ability of windows and shading to limit solar gain. Choose improvements appropriate to your climate and moisture conditions; poorly designed work can trap moisture or create new building problems.
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Plan cooling that does not depend on one appliance
Identify air-conditioned locations that will be open during an extended heat event, such as a public cooling center, library, or family member’s home, and plan transportation before roads become difficult. Ready.gov cautions against relying on a fan as the primary cooling device. A fan may move air, but it does not provide dependable cooling during dangerously hot conditions, particularly for vulnerable people. Arrange a check-in schedule for older adults, children, people with chronic illness, and anyone living alone.
Address affordability early
If cooling costs, weatherization, or necessary home repairs are unaffordable, Ready.gov directs households to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Eligibility, application procedures, and available funds vary by location, so contact the program serving your area before the next extreme-heat season. Ask local agencies about weatherization, transportation, and cooling-center assistance as well.
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Learn how water reaches your property
Check official flood maps and local drainage information, but do not assume a property outside a mapped high-risk area cannot flood. Intense rainfall, blocked drainage, snowmelt, coastal surge, and failed infrastructure can produce water in places that have not flooded before. Note the lowest entry points, basement windows, floor drains, electrical equipment, fuel tanks, and the location of the main water and electrical shutoffs. Ask a qualified local professional which adaptations are permitted and appropriate for your site.
Keep documents and valuables above the waterline
- Store identification, insurance records, medical information, and irreplaceable papers in waterproof containers.
- Move valuables, electronics, and portable appliances to higher levels before a forecast event.
- Keep critical supplies where they can be reached without entering a flooded basement or garage.
- Photograph the home and major belongings for insurance records when conditions are safe.
Maintain drainage and pumping systems
Clear gutters, downspouts, and nearby drains before storm season and after leaf fall. Make sure downspouts discharge where they will not direct water toward the foundation, subject to local rules. Where a basement sump system is appropriate, a battery-backed sump pump can provide an additional layer of protection during an outage; verify that the sump, discharge line, check valve, battery, and alarm are compatible and maintained. A pump is not a guarantee against flooding and cannot compensate for a site or drainage problem that requires professional correction.
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Practice evacuation and avoid moving water
Map at least two routes to higher ground or an official shelter, including an option that does not depend on a single bridge or low road. Decide how pets, mobility equipment, medicines, and important documents will be transported. Leave when officials instruct you to leave. Never walk, swim, or drive through floodwater: depth and current are difficult to judge, and water may conceal debris, damaged pavement, electrical hazards, or contamination.
7. Prepare for storms, wildfire conditions, and winter outages
Thunderstorms, hurricanes, and high winds
FEMA identifies thunderstorms, hurricanes, winter storms, and wildfires as events that can cause power outages. Before a forecast storm, secure or store loose outdoor items, inspect roof and gutter conditions, and confirm that emergency supplies are not trapped behind a powered garage door. Know whether your utility uses planned shutoffs and what appliances or medical devices must be disconnected or relocated. Follow local wind, tornado, and evacuation guidance rather than relying on a generic shelter location.
Wildfire and smoke conditions
Learn local evacuation zones, warning levels, and road restrictions. Keep a go-bag and vehicle fuel ready if authorities may close roads. Protect essential documents and medicines so they can leave with you. If smoke or fire threatens the property, prioritize evacuation instructions over attempts to protect belongings or operate equipment.
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Plan for a loss of heat, frozen plumbing, blocked roads, and limited fuel access. Identify a safe alternate location with reliable heat, particularly for older adults, infants, and people with medical needs. Never burn fuel indoors or use a gas stove as a heater. Protect pipes and shut off water only according to a plan suited to your plumbing and local conditions.
8. Turn the plan into a maintained home system
Use a seasonal inspection calendar
- Before storm season: test alerts, flashlights, power banks, radios, sump equipment, and generator start-up procedures; inspect gutters, roof drainage, shutters, and window sealing.
- Before extreme heat: check shades, weather-stripping, insulation problems, cooling-center routes, and the condition of window or room air-conditioning equipment.
- Before winter: service heating equipment, confirm the alternate heated location, protect vulnerable plumbing, and replace expired batteries and supplies.
- After every event: document damage, replace used supplies, inspect systems before restarting them, and revise the plan for what failed or was difficult to access.
Review after household or property changes
Update the plan when someone moves in or out, a baby is born, a medical diagnosis changes, a pet is added, mobility changes, renovation alters drainage, or a new appliance increases the critical electrical load. Recheck insurance, utility contacts, evacuation maps, and assistance eligibility at the same time.
Consider site adaptations over time
FEMA’s climate-preparedness guidance includes adaptations such as a rain garden for flood preparation. A rain garden, drainage improvement, elevated storage, improved insulation, or other project may be useful only when matched to soil, slope, groundwater, codes, and neighboring properties. Have a qualified local contractor, engineer, or building professional evaluate the design before construction. Local permitting and stormwater rules govern what can be installed.
9. A practical decision sequence
- Identify the threat: use official local alerts and hazard information to determine whether the immediate problem is outage, heat, flood, wind, wildfire, winter weather, or evacuation.
- Protect people first: check vulnerable household members, pets, medicines, and medical devices; relocate if indoor conditions or official instructions require it.
- Protect information and essentials: take phones, documents, medicines, water, food, lighting, and evacuation bags; keep them above floodwater.
- Operate equipment safely: keep refrigerators closed, use approved charging methods, and place any generator outdoors at least 20 feet from building openings.
- Use the alternate location: go to the preselected cooling, heating, medical-support, or evacuation site rather than improvising when conditions worsen.
- Afterward, restore methodically: wait for official utility guidance, inspect for water or structural damage, replenish supplies, and record changes needed in the plan.
Resilience is not one purchase. It is a maintained match between local hazards, household needs, building condition, safe equipment use, and a clear decision to relocate when staying is no longer safe.
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