Emergency Preparedness Guide for Homeowners
Be ready for any emergency with this complete guide. Know your shutoffs, build an emergency kit, and create a plan to protect your family.
When a pipe bursts at 2 AM or the power goes out during a storm, you don't want to be searching for information. This guide helps you prepare for emergencies before they happen.
🚨 The 60-Second Test
Could you find and turn off your water main in under 60 seconds? What about gas? If not, your first emergency task is to locate and label these shutoffs today.
Know Your Shutoffs
The most important emergency knowledge is knowing how to turn things off:
Water Main
- Location: Usually in basement, crawl space, garage, or near water heater
- How to operate: Turn clockwise to close (righty-tighty)
- When to use: Burst pipes, major leaks, before extended vacations
- Pro tip: Test it now—some valves stick if not operated regularly
Gas Shutoff
- Location: At the gas meter (outside) and on individual appliances
- How to operate: Use a wrench; turn perpendicular to pipe
- When to use: Only if you smell gas; evacuate first, then shut off
- Important: Only the gas company should turn gas back on
Electrical Panel
- Location: Garage, basement, utility room, or exterior
- How to operate: Flip individual breakers or main breaker
- When to use: Electrical emergencies, before working on wiring
- Pro tip: Label all circuits clearly
HVAC Shutoff
- Location: Near the furnace/air handler
- How to operate: Switch or breaker
- When to use: Strange smells, unusual sounds, before maintenance
Document Everything
Knowing where things are doesn't help if you're the only one who knows. Document shutoff locations so anyone in your household can find them.
Dib includes dedicated emergency preparedness features where you can store shutoff locations, emergency contacts, and important instructions. In an emergency, open the app and everything you need is right there.
Store your emergency info in Dib
The AI-powered home management app we built. It remembers everything so you don't have to.
- AI-powered inventory scanning
- Automatic maintenance reminders
- Document storage & extraction
- Vehicle tracking
- Emergency preparedness
Build an Emergency Kit
Every home should have supplies for at least 72 hours:
Water & Food
- 1 gallon of water per person per day (3-day minimum)
- Non-perishable food (canned goods, energy bars, dried food)
- Manual can opener
- Pet food if applicable
Light & Power
- Flashlights (multiple)
- Extra batteries
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Portable phone chargers (charged)
- Matches/lighter in waterproof container
Safety & Health
- First aid kit
- Prescription medications (7-day supply)
- Basic over-the-counter medications
- Face masks
- Work gloves
Documents & Communication
- Copies of important documents (or digital backups)
- Cash in small bills
- Emergency contact list
- Local emergency numbers
- Insurance policy information
Comfort & Shelter
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Change of clothes
- Rain gear
- Basic tools (wrench, pliers, screwdriver)
Essential Emergency Contacts
Keep these numbers easily accessible:
- Emergency: 911
- Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
- Local utility companies (electric, gas, water)
- Insurance company (24-hour claims line)
- Trusted neighbor
- Out-of-area contact (for coordination if local lines are busy)
- Plumber, electrician, HVAC (for non-emergency situations)
Create an Evacuation Plan
- Identify exits — Know all ways out of each room
- Choose meeting points — One near home, one outside neighborhood
- Plan routes — Know multiple ways out of your area
- Practice — Walk through the plan with your family
- Consider pets — Know which shelters accept animals
- Prepare go-bags — Pre-packed bags you can grab quickly
Seasonal Preparedness
Winter
- Know how to prevent and thaw frozen pipes
- Have emergency heating options
- Stock extra food (storms can prevent shopping)
- Keep vehicles fueled
Summer
- Prepare for power outages (especially with AC)
- Know severe weather shelter locations
- Maintain smoke and CO detectors
Hurricane/Flood Zones
- Know your evacuation zone
- Have supplies for extended outages
- Document home contents for insurance
- Know how to protect windows
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is my water shutoff valve?
Most homes have the main water shutoff near where the water line enters the house—often in the basement, crawl space, garage, or near the water heater. Some homes also have a shutoff at the street. Document the location in your home management app so everyone in your household can find it.
Where is my gas shutoff?
The main gas shutoff is typically located on the gas meter outside your home. You'll need a wrench to turn it off. There may also be individual shutoffs on gas appliances. Only shut off gas if you smell a leak—and call the gas company immediately.
Where is my electrical panel?
Electrical panels are usually in the garage, basement, utility room, or sometimes outside. Know which breakers control which circuits. Label them clearly if they aren't already.
What should be in a home emergency kit?
Essential items include: water (1 gallon per person per day for 3 days), non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, first aid kit, medications, important documents, cash, phone chargers, and supplies for any specific needs (baby supplies, pet food, etc.).
How often should I check my emergency preparedness?
Review your emergency kit and plans at least twice a year—many people do this when changing clocks for daylight saving time. Replace expired food and medications, update contact lists, and review evacuation routes.
Your Action Items
- Today: Locate and label all shutoff valves
- This week: Build or update your emergency kit
- This month: Create an evacuation plan with your household
- Ongoing: Review and update preparations twice yearly
Store all this information in Dib so it's accessible to everyone in your family, even in an emergency when you might not be home.
Try Dib
The AI-powered home management app we built. It remembers everything so you don't have to.
- AI-powered inventory scanning
- Automatic maintenance reminders
- Document storage & extraction
- Vehicle tracking
- Emergency preparedness
Stay Updated
Get notified when we update this guide or publish new home management content.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.