Household Planning Framework
3 to 90: Ready to Leave. Prepared to Last.
Three days or three months — what would your household need?
Staged planning framework
Build your preparedness in stages. Each level builds on the previous one. Start where you are.
72 Hours
First-response essentials
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day (minimum 3 days)
- Non-perishable food requiring no cooking or refrigeration
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Copies of critical medications (7-day supply minimum)
- Phone charger and backup battery bank
- Cash in small bills
- Paper copies of emergency contacts
- Basic tools: manual can opener, wrench to shut off utilities if directed
The EU recommends a minimum 72-hour self-sufficiency baseline. Many preparedness experts and some governments recommend longer. Three days is a starting point, not a ceiling.
Sources and what is confirmed
EU 72-hour preparedness guidance
The European Commission recommends a minimum 72-hour self-sufficiency baseline for households. Not every government uses the same duration; three days is not a maximum.
European Commission — PreparednessMilitary resilience planning
Recent reporting describes Army installations pursuing independent power and deeper energy reserves. A blanket 90-day requirement for every base has not been verified here. Military resilience planning is mission-specific; civilian guidance and base requirements are not directly interchangeable.
Army.mil — Energy Resilience Initiative
Evacuation Planning
Your bug-out plan
Make the decision before the emergency. Leave promptly when evacuation is ordered or your location becomes unsafe.
A blackout alone is not an automatic reason to flee. Follow official shelter-in-place or evacuation guidance from local emergency management. The worksheet below helps you plan your response before you need it.
Household planning worksheet
This worksheet stays in your browser only. Browser storage is not guaranteed to persist. Print or download your completed plan. No data is sent to any server.
What conditions would cause you to evacuate? (e.g., official evacuation order, loss of heat in winter, medical emergency)
Address and contact of first choice — confirm permission in advance
Address and contact of backup location — confirm permission in advance
Main roads and key turns — written out, not relying on GPS
Different path in case primary is blocked or congested
Vehicle(s), fuel plan, who drives, car seats, accessibility needs
Where to gather if separated — a specific location, not just "home"
Names and phone numbers — do not rely on your phone being charged
List medications, dosages, prescribing doctor. Note any powered devices (CPAP, oxygen) and their backup power plan.
Passports, driver's licenses, insurance cards, financial account info, property records
How much, where stored, who carries it
Flashlights, headlamps, batteries, hand-crank radio location
Season-appropriate layers, sturdy shoes, rain gear
Pet carrier, food, medications, vaccination records, ID tags
Mobility aids, communication devices, medical equipment, caregiver contacts
Critical safety notices
- Never run generators indoors or in garages — carbon monoxide is odorless and lethal.
- Keep generators outside, at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents.
- Follow manufacturer directions for all equipment.
- Avoid downed power lines — treat all downed lines as live.
- Never drive through floodwater — 6 inches can knock you down; 12 inches can carry a vehicle.
- Do not improvise sewer or water systems without utility guidance.
- For medical emergencies, contact local emergency services (911).