A 12-Month Plan for a Family of Five — Plus a Dog and Two Cats

When people hear that they should prepare their household for a disaster, the list can quickly become overwhelming.

Water. Food. Flashlights. Batteries. First aid. Medications. Pet supplies. Emergency communications. Sanitation.

For a family of five, especially one with pets, trying to purchase everything at once can be expensive and discouraging.

So don't try to do it all at once.

Give yourself a year.

The goal is simple: do something every month. At the end of 12 months, your family will be much better prepared than it was when you started.

Washington Emergency Management recommends households work toward having at least two weeks of emergency supplies available at home.

For our example, we will prepare for:

5 people
1 dog
2 cats
14 days

Month 1 — Make the Family Plan

This month costs almost nothing.

Sit down together and answer:

• How will we contact each other if cell service is disrupted?
• Where will we meet if we cannot return home?
• Who is our out-of-area emergency contact?
• Who will pick up children if parents cannot?
• Who is responsible for the pets?
• Where could we go if we had to evacuate?
• What hazards are most likely where we live?

Write the plan down.

Add emergency contacts to everyone's phones and place a paper copy with your emergency supplies.

Goal this month: Everybody knows the plan.

Month 2 — Start Building Your Water Supply

Water is one of the biggest preparedness needs, so don't feel you need to purchase it all at once.

A common planning amount is one gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation.

For five people for 14 days:

5 people × 14 days = 70 gallons

That sounds like a lot—and it is.

That is why we spread it out.

This month, begin with approximately 15–20 gallons.

Also begin storing water for your dog and cats based on how much they normally drink each day.

Goal this month: Start the water supply—not finish it.

Month 3 — Build the Food Supply

Start purchasing foods your family already eats.

Consider:

• Canned meats
• Tuna or chicken
• Soups and chili
• Canned vegetables
• Canned fruit
• Peanut butter
• Crackers
• Granola or protein bars
• Cereal
• Shelf-stable milk
• Rice or ready-to-eat grains
• Comfort foods

For five people, a two-week goal represents approximately 70 person-days of food.

You do not need 70 elaborate meals. Think about simple foods that require little water, preparation, or cooking.

Remember a manual can opener.

Goal this month: Build approximately one-quarter of the family's two-week food supply.

Month 4 — Prepare for the Pets

Your animals are members of the household and need their own emergency supplies.

For one dog and two cats, begin assembling:

• 14-day supply of pet food
• Water
• Dog leash and harness
• Cat carriers
• Food and water bowls
• Waste bags
• Cat litter
• Disposable litter trays
• Any medications
• Copies of vaccination records
• Veterinarian information
• Current photographs of each animal
• Pet identification information
• Familiar blanket or toy

Make sure identification tags and microchip information are current.

Identify someone who could care for your pets if you could not get home.

Goal this month: Pets have their own preparedness plan.

Month 5 — First Aid and Medications

Build or improve the household first-aid kit.

Consider:

• Adhesive bandages
• Gauze
• Medical tape
• Antiseptic
• Disposable gloves
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Thermometer
• Cold packs
• Over-the-counter medications normally used by the family
• Prescription medication planning
• Copies of prescriptions
• Spare eyeglasses when possible

Think about the individual needs of every household member rather than purchasing a generic kit and assuming you are finished.

Goal this month: Be able to handle common minor injuries and maintain essential personal medical needs.

Month 6 — Finish More of the Water Supply

Return to water.

Add another 20–25 gallons, depending upon your available storage space.

Think about more than drinking water. Water may also be needed for:

• Food preparation
• Brushing teeth
• Cleaning
• Basic hygiene
• Pets
• Limited sanitation

Consider adding an appropriate emergency water treatment or filtration method as a backup.

Goal this month: Be approximately halfway to three-quarters of the way toward your household water goal.

Month 7 — Light, Power and Communication

Imagine the electricity has been out for three days.

What would your family wish it had?

Consider adding:

• Flashlights
• Headlamps
• Spare batteries
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• NOAA Weather Radio
• Portable phone chargers
• Power banks
• Charging cables
• Whistles
• Battery lanterns

A headlamp can be particularly valuable because it keeps both hands free.

Goal this month: The family can receive information, communicate when possible, and safely function in darkness.

Month 8 — Sanitation and Hygiene

This category is often forgotten.

Add:

• Toilet paper
• Garbage bags
• Heavy-duty trash bags
• Plastic ties
• Soap
• Hand sanitizer
• Disinfecting supplies
• Feminine hygiene products
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Baby supplies if applicable
• Disposable gloves
• Paper towels
• Moist wipes
• Pet waste supplies
• Additional cat litter

Think about what your household would need if water and sewer service were disrupted.

Goal this month: Maintain basic sanitation even when normal utilities are unavailable.

Month 9 — Clothing, Warmth and Shelter

In Western Washington, staying warm and dry matters.

Prepare:

• Sturdy shoes
• Work gloves
• Rain gear
• Warm clothing
• Socks
• Blankets
• Sleeping bags
• Emergency blankets
• Tarps
• Plastic sheeting
• Duct tape

Include clothing appropriate for every family member.

Remember that children grow. Supplies that fit them today may not fit them next year.

Goal this month: Everyone can remain warm, dry, and reasonably protected.

Month 10 — Documents, Cash and Important Information

If computers, banks, ATMs, and internet service are unavailable, important information may suddenly become difficult to access.

Prepare copies of:

• Identification
• Insurance information
• Medical information
• Emergency contacts
• Prescription information
• Pet vaccination records
• Property information
• Important account contact information

Store copies securely and protect them from water.

Begin maintaining some small-denomination emergency cash if financially possible.

Goal this month: Important information remains accessible even without electricity or internet service.

Month 11 — Build Grab-and-Go Kits

Your two-week home supply and your evacuation supplies serve different purposes.

Prepare portable bags containing essential items for each family member.

Include basics such as:

• Water
• Food
• Medications
• Flashlight
• Phone charger
• Copies of important information
• Clothing
• Hygiene supplies
• Emergency contacts

Prepare pet evacuation supplies as well.

Keep carriers where they can actually be reached quickly—not buried behind boxes in the garage.

Goal this month: Your household can leave quickly if evacuation becomes necessary.

Month 12 — Fill the Gaps and Practice

Now take everything out and look at it.

Ask:

What are we missing?

Finish the remaining water and food supplies needed to reach your two-week goal.

Check:

• Expiration dates
• Batteries
• Flashlights
• Medications
• Pet food
• Water
• Clothing sizes
• Contact information
• Important documents

Then practice.

Have everyone locate the emergency supplies.

Try your communication plan.

Make sure everyone knows the meeting locations.

Practice getting the dog and cats ready to evacuate.

Make sure everyone knows where utilities are located and who should—or should not—shut them off.

Then celebrate what you accomplished.

One Year Later

Twelve months ago, this family may have had almost nothing set aside.

Now they have:

Two weeks of food for five people
Approximately 70 gallons of water for five people
Food and water for the dog and cats
First-aid and medical supplies
Emergency lighting and communications
Sanitation supplies
Warmth and shelter supplies
Important documents
Emergency cash
Family communication and reunification plans
Pet evacuation supplies
Grab-and-go kits

Most importantly, they did not have to purchase everything at once.

One Month. One Step. Keep Going.

Preparedness isn't about having the perfect emergency kit.

It is about becoming a little more capable today than you were yesterday.

You don't have to prepare all at once. You just have to start.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Michael Cady, MSDM, NEMAA, is an emergency management professional with more than 30 years of experience working with first responders, five years of federal disaster recovery experience assisting disaster survivors and has operated LMD Disaster Survival Kits since 2007. Michael holds associate and bachelor’s degrees in Homeland Security Emergency Management and a master’s degree in Climate Security and Disaster Management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He currently supports emergency management, health, and safety measures for more than 500 staff in a behavioral health organization. Preparedness questions matter, and LMD Disaster Survival Kits welcomes the opportunity to help individuals, families, workplaces, and communities become better prepared.