Home Resilience

Running a home means being ready for the unexpected — power outages, leaks, severe weather, and those “what if” moments. This hub is your practical playbook for protecting your home and getting through disruptions calmly.

Our approach: Before / During / After. Prevent damage, take safe actions, then restore and restock.

Do These 7 Things First

If you’re just starting, these high-impact actions take about 60 minutes total and cover the essentials.

Find and label your water shutoff — Know where it is before you need it
Test smoke and CO alarms — Replace batteries if needed
Make a power outage plan — Fridge strategy, phone charging, flashlight locations
Stage flashlights and batteries — In 2-3 locations you can find in the dark
Create a document/photo inventory — 30 minutes now saves headaches later
Set up a family/pet go list — What to grab if you need to leave quickly
Identify your top local risk — Freeze? Hurricane? Wildfire smoke? Heat? Know your priority

Note: This section is home-focused and non-violent. When a task crosses a safety line, we say so.

Choose Your Scenario

Pick what you’re preparing for:

⚡ Power Outages

Backup power, fridge strategy, sump pump considerations, extension cord safety, and what to do before/during/after.

💧 Water

Shutoffs, leak response, water storage basics, filtration types, and detection systems.

🌪️ Weather Hardening

Freeze prep, storm season walkaround, wildfire smoke sealing, heat plans, and flooding basics.

🏠 Home Safety

Smoke/CO routines, fire extinguisher placement, emergency egress, and home documentation.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family + Pet Readiness

Go-bag checklists, pet evacuation, heat plans, and the “don’t forget” details for real households.

The Field Guide Approach: Before / During / After

Every resilience scenario follows the same framework:

Phase	Focus
Before	Prevent damage, prep essentials, know your shutoffs
During	Take safe actions, protect systems, stay informed
After	Restore, inspect, restock, document issues

This framework keeps you calm and focused when things go sideways.

Checklists Homeowners Actually Use

Quick-reference checklists for common scenarios:

Power outage checklist — Before/during/after actions
“Cold snap tonight” — Freeze prep quick list
Water leak first 10 minutes — Stop the damage fast
Sump pump outage plan — What to check before storms
Wildfire smoke sealing — Quick indoor air actions
Storm season walkaround — Gutters, drainage, loose items
Family go-bag checklist — Advertiser-friendly readiness
Pet evacuation checklist — Carriers, supplies, destinations

Buy Smarter: What’s Worth It

Decision guides for resilience gear that actually helps:

Generator vs power station — Which is right for your home?
Sump pump backup options — Battery, water-powered, or dual pump
Leak sensors vs auto-shutoff valves — When each makes sense
Water filtration types — Pitcher vs under-sink vs whole-house
Smoke sealing supplies — HEPA purifiers vs DIY sealing

Each guide includes tradeoffs, not just recommendations.

Upgrades That Reduce Damage (and Stress)

Home improvements that make resilience easier:

Label shutoffs + add a shutoff wrench
Water leak detection + auto shutoff systems
Weatherstripping and door sweeps
Sump pump improvements
Smoke/CO alarm upgrades
Drainage and gutter management

When Things Fail: Fix It Fast

If something breaks during an event, start here:

Sump pump not running
GFCI keeps tripping (safe checks only)
Fridge not cooling
Water leak response
Basement musty after water

Make It a Routine

Turn readiness into habits that stick:

Monthly:

Test smoke/CO alarms
Check flashlight batteries
Test leak sensors
Check sump pump float (if applicable)

Seasonal:

Freeze prep (fall)
Storm prep (spring)
Smoke season prep (summer, where applicable)
Rotate stored water and supplies

Annual:

Photo inventory refresh
Document review and update
Go-bag contents check

Families + Pets

Resilience for real households:

Family go-bag checklist (advertiser-friendly)
Pet carrier readiness + practice
Heat and cold plans for kids and pets
Med list and contact list template (record-keeping only)

See more in Pets & Kids at Home.

What’s Not Here

This hub focuses on home resilience — protecting your property and keeping your household functional during disruptions.

We don’t cover:

Weapons or self-defense gear
Tactical or “survivalist” content
Political framing of preparedness

Same practical outcomes, better fit for real households.

🛡️ Resilience