Guide, United States

Prepping for beginners: a calm 7-day plan to get your family ready

How we wrote this: researched from the official sources listed at the end of the page. First aid, water and medicine content restates Ready.gov and CDC guidance. General information only, not medical or legal advice. Last checked 1 November 2026.

Last reviewed: November 1, 2026

Prepping, in plain words, is getting your household ready to cope for a few days when something goes wrong: a storm, a power outage, an evacuation. The beginner version is a 7-day plan: make a family plan, store water, store food, sort out light and power, cover first aid and medicines, protect your documents and cash, and pack a go bag, all with ordinary supplies and no bunker.

Holdline Provisions sells packs and gear for this, so we say so up front. The plan below comes from FEMA, Ready.gov and the CDC, and you can follow every step without buying anything from us.

What prepping is, in plain words

Some people hear "prepping" and picture a bunker and a doomsday. That is not this page. Here, prepping means a few days of water, food and light, and a plan your whole household knows. If the word does not suit you, call it being ready. The checklist is the same.

Ready.gov, the federal preparedness site, says you may need to survive on your own for several days. That is the whole job: be the household that has what it needs for those days and knows what to do.

Why bother

FEMA's 2023 National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness, fielded from February 1 to March 14, 2023 with 7,604 responses, found that 51 percent of adults believed they were prepared for a disaster. But 37 percent had made a plan, 48 percent had assembled or updated supplies, and 15 percent had practiced emergency drills or habits. The gap between feeling ready (51 percent) and having a plan (37 percent) is 14 points. Feeling ready is not the same as being ready.

Then there is what actually happens. In February 2021, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed 246 deaths as winter storm-related, counting deaths directly, indirectly or possibly attributable to the storm. These are deaths attributed to the storm, and we do not say the loss of power alone caused them. The Texas Comptroller reports that power blackouts spanned most of the state from February 15 to 18, and that 69 percent of Texans lost power at some point from February 14 to 20, according to a University of Houston survey. The average outage among them lasted 42 hours.

A kit works like insurance: you hope you never open it, and you are glad it is there if you do. Your first step costs nothing. Sit down with your household and answer the five questions on day 1.

The 7-day plan

Each day is one job, and each job is small. You can do them on seven evenings in a row, or one a weekend. The order matters more than the speed, because the plan on day 1 decides what you need on days 2 to 7.

Day 1: make a plan and write down contacts

Ready.gov's Make a Plan page has four steps. First, meet with your family and discuss five questions: how will I receive emergency alerts and warnings, what is my shelter plan, what is my evacuation route, what is my family or household communication plan, and do I need to update my emergency kit? Second, assess your household's needs, from the ages of household members to medical needs, dietary needs, languages spoken, pets or service animals and school-aged children. Third, write the plan down using Ready.gov's fillable Family Emergency Plan form, which includes names and contacts of family members, meeting places and medical information. Fourth, practice it.

Ready.gov says to "Establish a family meeting place that's familiar and easy to find." Download the FEMA app too: Ready.gov says it gives preparedness strategies and real-time weather and emergency alerts, and it can send National Weather Service alerts for up to five locations.

Day 2: water

Ready.gov says to store at least one gallon of water per person per day, for several days, for drinking and sanitation. Start with three days, which is our starting point and not an official rule: that is 12 gallons for a family of four. Keep commercially bottled water in its sealed original container in a cool, dark place, and replace water that has not been commercially bottled every six months. Ready.gov also notes that children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more water, and that in very hot temperatures water needs can double, so add a margin if that is your household. Our emergency water guide goes further.

If your tap water may not be safe, the CDC's boiling step is a rolling boil for 1 minute, or 3 minutes at elevations above 6,500 feet. Follow your health department. General information, not medical advice.

Day 3: food

Ready.gov says to store at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food, to remember any special dietary needs, and to include a manual can opener and eating utensils. Its examples are ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables, protein or fruit bars, peanut butter, dried fruit and non-perishable pasteurized milk. Stock what your household will eat. Keep canned food in a cool, dry place. The long-term food storage guide covers going beyond a few days.

Day 4: light and power

Ready.gov says to have flashlights for every household member and extra batteries, a battery-powered or hand crank radio, and a portable charger or power bank. It says to install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup on every level of your home, and to use generators only outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages. The full list and the safety rules are in the power outage preparedness guide.

One more thing belongs on day 4: the fridge. Ready.gov says to keep the refrigerator and freezer closed, that an unopened refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours and a full freezer for about 48 hours, and that you should throw out food that has been at 40°F (about 4°C) or higher for two hours or more. Put a thermometer in the fridge now.

Day 5: first aid and medicines

Ready.gov's kit list includes a first aid kit and prescription medications, and notes that about half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day. It lists non-prescription medicines such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids and laxatives, and prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution. For refrigerated medicines and electricity-dependent medical devices, Ready.gov says to talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what is right for you. General information, not medical advice.

Day 6: documents and cash

Ready.gov lists copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records, saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container, and cash or traveler's checks. Its hurricane page also says to keep copies in a password-protected digital space. Take photos of your documents tonight and you have started the job.

Day 7: a go bag

Ready.gov's evacuation page says to prepare a go bag you can carry on foot or on public transportation, to wear sturdy shoes and protective clothing when you leave, and to keep a half tank of gas in the car at all times. It also says to leave early enough to avoid being trapped by severe weather, to follow recommended evacuation routes and not take shortcuts because they may be blocked, to know alternate routes, and to know your destination. Ready.gov suggests choosing destinations in different directions so you have options, and says to plan on one car per family to reduce congestion. If you have pets, take them with you, but understand that only service animals may be allowed in public shelters. The bug out bag list and the family version walk through it.

A kit is not a substitute for official instructions

A go bag and a pantry do not replace instructions from the people running the response. Ready.gov says to follow local authorities' guidance, which reflects the threat to your community, and to evacuate immediately if authorities tell you to do so. Sign up for local alerts and keep the radio handy. The kit buys you time and choices. It does not make the decision for you.

A budget ladder, with no prices

Ready.gov's wildfire page says to build your supplies gradually, and it acknowledges that not everyone can afford to stock up. So climb in steps:

Free: the plan, the alerts, and photos of your documents.
Water: the first supply on the list.
Light and power: flashlights, a radio, a power bank, a first aid kit.
A 72-hour kit: build it from the 72-hour kit list, or buy a 72-hour pack and fill the gaps.
A power outage kit, when you are ready for the next step.
Two weeks of supplies, which is our stretch goal. Ready.gov sets no number beyond several days. At one gallon per person per day, two weeks of water is 14 gallons per person.

We print no prices here. Our prepping on a budget guide goes through the order to buy things in.

The mistakes beginners make

Buying gear before making a plan. The plan decides what you need. Start with day 1.
Supplies without alerts. FEMA's survey found the share who assembled or updated supplies rose from 33 percent in 2022 to 48 percent in 2023, while the share who signed up for alerts and warnings fell from 46 percent to 36 percent. Do both.
Stocking food nobody eats. Ready.gov says to remember any special dietary needs. Buy what you will actually eat.
Forgetting rotation. Replace water you filled yourself every six months, and Ready.gov says to replace expired items and re-think your needs every year.
Never practicing. Only 15 percent of adults practiced emergency drills or habits. Ready.gov's last step is to practice.

Know your hazard

Ready.gov says to know what disasters and hazards could affect your area and how to get emergency alerts. Pick the ones that apply to you and read the page:

Hurricanes. The Atlantic season runs June 1 to November 30, and the Eastern Pacific season runs May 15 to November 30, according to Ready.gov.
Winter weather, with our winter storm preparedness kit.
Wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods.
Power outages, which can follow any of the above.

After week one

Two weeks of supplies, as above, if you have the space.
Backup power, starting with the power outage preparedness guide.
Skills. Ready.gov's kit list includes a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, and the CDC says to keep a fire extinguisher handy and make sure your family knows how to use it. Learn both.
Community. Ready.gov's page for older adults suggests building a support network of family, friends and others. Know who on your street would need a knock on the door.
A check-up. Take the readiness quiz.

FAQ

How much should I store? Ready.gov says one gallon of water per person per day and at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food. It does not set an exact number of days. We suggest starting at three.

Is it expensive? It depends on the order you buy things in and what you already own. See the budget ladder above. Ready.gov's wildfire page says to build supplies gradually, and it notes that not everyone can afford to stock up.

What about apartments? Ready.gov says to pack a kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers, and those can sit in a closet. Our emergency kit for an apartment guide covers the rest.

Next step

Take the 72-hour kit checklist and the readiness quiz, then pick your first pack from the 72-hour packs.

Sources and last checked

All pages opened on November 1, 2026. Page dates are as shown on each page.

FEMA: 2023 National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness, Key Findings, a FEMA document hosted by the Town of Slaughter Beach, Delaware. We could not open FEMA's own copy.
Texas DSHS: February 2021 Winter Storm-Related Deaths, December 31, 2021.
Texas Comptroller: Winter Storm Impact, Fiscal Notes, October 2021.
Ready.gov: Make A Plan, updated September 1, 2026.
Ready.gov: Build a Kit, updated July 1, 2026.
Ready.gov: Water, updated February 22, 2021.
Ready.gov: Food, updated March 12, 2026.
Ready.gov: Power Outages, updated June 4, 2026.
Ready.gov: Evacuation, updated March 20, 2026.
Ready.gov: Hurricanes, updated October 16, 2026.
Ready.gov: Wildfires, updated August 11, 2026.
Ready.gov: Disasters and Emergencies, updated July 21, 2026. The tornado, earthquake and flood links come from this page's navigation; we did not use those pages' content.
Ready.gov: Older Adults, updated March 26, 2026.
CDC: How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency, dated September 19, 2024.
CDC: Power Outage Safety, last reviewed August 26, 2026.

The American Red Cross preparedness pages refused our request, and FEMA's own survey page could not be found, so we used the FEMA key findings document above. If you find an error, tell us through the contact page and we will check it against the source.