How to Prepare Your Home and Family for Extreme Weather Emergencies

At least 3,700 people were killed and millions more were displaced by extreme weather in 2024, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which found that climate change was a contributing factor in 26 of 29 major weather events studied that year by the World Weather Attribution network. The WMO also said climate change added roughly 41 extra days of dangerous heat worldwide in 2024, which it described as on track to be the warmest year on record. The preparedness steps below are drawn from guidance published by U.S. federal and state emergency-management agencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Weather Service.

Build a basic emergency supply kit

Emergency-management agencies recommend assembling a kit before severe weather is forecast, so it is ready whether the household shelters at home or has to leave quickly. Illinois's state emergency agency, Ready Illinois, lists the following as core items.

1. Water: at least 1 gallon (about 3.8 litres) per person per day, per the CDC and Utah's Division of Emergency Management (see table below for recommended duration).
2. Non-perishable food, a manual can opener and basic eating utensils.
3. Prescription and non-prescription medications, eyeglasses and contact-lens solution.
4. A first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher and waterproof matches.
5. Cloth face coverings, soap, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes.
6. Copies of important documents (identification, insurance, medical records) kept in a waterproof container.
7. Cash, since card readers and ATMs may not work during a power outage.
8. A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person, plus a change of clothing and sturdy shoes.
9. Supplies for infants (formula, diapers, wipes) and for pets (food, water, leash) if applicable.
10. Paper, pencils and activities such as books or games for children.

Create a family emergency communication plan

Florida's Division of Emergency Management and Utah's Division of Emergency Management both publish household communication-plan templates built around a similar set of steps.

1. Discuss, as a household, how you will receive emergency alerts and warnings, what your shelter plan is, what your evacuation route is, and how you will communicate if separated (Florida Division of Emergency Management).
2. Pick two meeting points: one near home, and a second, farther location — roughly two to three miles away, such as a relative's home — in case the neighborhood itself must be evacuated (Utah Division of Emergency Management).
3. Name an out-of-state contact who can relay messages between household members if local phone networks are overloaded (Utah).
4. Write phone numbers on paper contact cards for every member's wallet, vehicle and emergency kit, since phones can lose power or signal; a family group text can supplement this (Utah).
5. Tailor the plan to the household's needs: school pick-up arrangements for children, medication or durable medical equipment for seniors or people with disabilities, and food, shelter and transport for pets or livestock (Florida; Utah).
6. Practice the plan at least once a year, starting with table-top exercises and then a full walk-through, so every member knows what to do (Utah).

Guard against power-outage hazards

Prolonged power outages during hurricanes and other severe storms often lead households to run portable generators, pressure washers or camp stoves. All of these produce carbon monoxide, an odorless and invisible gas, the CDC warns.

• Run generators, pressure washers and camp stoves outdoors only, at least 20 feet (about 6 meters) from doors, windows and vents, per CDC guidance.
• Never operate this equipment inside a house, garage, basement, crawlspace or shed, even with doors or windows open.
• Install battery-powered carbon monoxide detectors on every level of the home, especially near sleeping areas, and leave the building immediately if one sounds.

What to do during and after the storm

The National Weather Service's long-standing 'Turn Around Don't Drown' guidance advises drivers who encounter a flooded roadway to find another route rather than attempt to cross it.

After a storm, the CDC advises that floodwater can carry sewage, chemicals and other contaminants, so it should never be used for drinking, cooking, baby formula or personal hygiene; bottled, boiled or properly treated water should be used instead. Food that touched floodwater, or that was left unrefrigerated during a power outage, should be discarded even if it looks, smells or tastes normal, according to the CDC. Anyone who has had contact with floodwater should wash with soap and clean water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if none is available.