Archives November 2026

Begin with your household

• List everyone who depends on you, including children, older adults, people with disabilities, and pets. Note dietary needs, mobility needs, medications, and equipment that requires electricity.
• Identify likely disruptions in your area: power failures, extreme heat or cold, storms, flooding, and interruptions to water service.
• Take inventory before shopping. Record what you already have, what is missing, and where essential items are kept.
• Choose a starting goal: supplies for at least three days. Then consider a longer reserve as your needs, budget, and storage space allow.

Make water your first priority

The CDC recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days and trying to store a two-week supply if possible. Allow extra for pets, illness, pregnancy, and hot weather. For four people, the three-day starting amount is 12 gallons; a two-week amount is 56 gallons.

Three things to do today

• Find your flashlights and check their batteries.
• Write down emergency contacts and choose a household meeting place.
• Set a weekly preparation budget and add one missing essential to your next shopping trip.

Buy what you will use

Build a reserve of familiar foods and practical supplies. Choose food that meets your household’s dietary needs and can be eaten without refrigeration or extensive cooking. Buy a little at a time, use older items first, and replace what you use.

Your essential supply list

• Water: commercially bottled water or water stored in appropriate food-grade containers. Include water for pets.
• Food: shelf-stable meals, canned foods, ready-to-eat items, infant supplies where needed, and a manual can opener.
• Light and communication: flashlights or headlamps, spare batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, phone charging cables, and charged power banks.
• Health and hygiene: a first-aid kit, soap, sanitation supplies, personal hygiene items, and prescription arrangements discussed with your pharmacist or clinician.
• Practical essentials: copies of important documents, a paper contact list, some cash in small denominations, sturdy shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and pet supplies.

A manageable four-week purchasing plan

This is a suggested purchasing sequence, not a requirement to wait. Prioritize urgent household needs first and spend only what you can afford.

• Week 1 — Water and inventory: establish your three-day water supply, review your pantry, and list missing essentials.
• Week 2 — Food: add enough familiar shelf-stable food for three days, along with a manual can opener. Plan actual meals rather than collecting random cans.
• Week 3 — Light and communication: fill gaps in flashlights, batteries, radio access, and phone charging.
• Week 4 — Care and continuity: complete first-aid and hygiene supplies, gather documents and contacts, and review medication and accessibility needs.

Maintain what you build

Label supplies with purchase or storage dates, follow manufacturer storage instructions, and review the kit every six months. Keep supplies accessible, protect them from heat and water damage, and expand gradually toward a longer reserve when practical.

Before the power goes out

• Keep phones and power banks charged when severe weather is expected. Enable local emergency alerts and keep your utility’s outage-reporting information on paper.
• Decide how you will communicate if calls fail. Choose an out-of-area contact and a meeting place; make sure everyone has a paper copy of the plan.
• Plan for heat, cold, and electrically powered medical equipment. Identify a safe alternate location and arrange transportation before an emergency.
• Know when to leave. Follow evacuation orders and do not wait for supplies to run out if conditions become unsafe.

During an outage

• Use flashlights for lighting. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed, and follow official food-safety guidance before eating perishable food after an outage.
• Conserve phone batteries and use trusted local alerts for updates. Check on neighbors when it is safe to do so.
• Never use a gas stove or oven to heat your home. Never operate a generator inside a house, garage, or other enclosed space.
• Operate portable generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house, with exhaust directed away from doors, windows, and vents. Use working carbon monoxide alarms and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Never connect a generator to a household wall outlet.

Review the Ready.gov power-outage guide and CPSC generator-safety guidance when making your plan.

Practice and serve

Walk through your plan together: find the supplies, test the lights, locate your contact list, and discuss where you would go if staying home became unsafe. Ask a nearby household whether they have someone to check on them. Preparation becomes especially useful when it helps us care for one another.

Official guidance

• Ready South Texas — Ready to Respond: regional preparedness guidance and emergency supply essentials.
• CDC — Emergency Water Supplies: quantities, containers, storage, and maintenance.
• CDC — Gather Emergency Supplies: a printable supply checklist.
• Ready.gov — Power Outages: planning, communication, food storage, and safety.
• CDC — Power Sources: backup power and preparation for devices and medical equipment.

Use reliable information

Use your local emergency management office, utility provider, and official weather alerts for current instructions. Treat social-media claims about shortages or crises cautiously; check the original agency announcement and its date before acting or sharing.

Comparing recommendations across countries

When comparing national preparedness advice, check what each recommendation covers: food, drinking water, or all essential supplies. Distinguish a minimum starting supply from a longer-term goal. Different durations may reflect different hazards and household assumptions; a recommendation alone is not evidence that a specific crisis is imminent.

The resources above provide the foundation for this guide. Adapt your plan to your household and follow current local emergency instructions.