Family + Pet Readiness

Simple checklists for real households—evac plans, go-bags, pet carriers, and the “don’t forget” details.

This isn’t about preparing for the apocalypse. It’s about having 15 minutes of grabbing time feel organized instead of chaotic.

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The “Ready Enough” Baseline (30 minutes)

1. Choose Meeting Points + Contact List

• Near home: Where does everyone meet if you evacuate?
• Out of area: One contact outside your region (cell networks can be local-only in disasters)
• Write it down. Put it in your phone AND on paper.

2. Stage a Go-Bag Location

• Pick one spot everyone knows
• Doesn’t need to be fancy—a backpack in the closet is fine
• Keep it accessible, not buried in the garage

3. Pet Carrier Readiness

• Carriers should be accessible, not in attic storage
• Practice putting pets in carriers (reduces stress for everyone)
• Have leashes accessible for dogs

4. Link to Your Home Documentation

• Photo inventory (see Home Safety)
• Shutoff locations
• Insurance info

5. Power Outage Plan

• See Power Outages
• Know your fridge strategy, charging priorities, lighting plan

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Family Go-Bag Checklist

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Pet Evacuation Checklist

Pet Carrier Tips

• Practice beforehand — Put treats in the carrier so pets associate it with good things
• Leave carriers accessible — Not in the attic or buried in the garage
• Multiple pets — Each pet needs their own carrier
• Cats: Consider a carrier with a top opening (easier to load a stressed cat)

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Scenario Checklists

”Leave in 15 Minutes” Evacuation

When you have minimal warning:

1. ☐ Grab go-bags
2. ☐ Get pets in carriers
3. ☐ Grab phone chargers (if not in bag)
4. ☐ Grab wallet, keys, phone
5. ☐ Lock up
6. ☐ Meet at designated spot
7. ☐ Head to destination

Pre-plan destinations:

• Friend or family member’s house
• Hotel (know pet policies)
• Emergency shelter (know pet policies—some accept, some don’t)

“Overnight Elsewhere” Checklist

When you need to leave for 1-2 nights:

For people:

• ☐ Toiletries
• ☐ Change of clothes
• ☐ Medications (current doses)
• ☐ Phone chargers
• ☐ Entertainment for kids

For pets:

• ☐ Food for duration + 1 day
• ☐ Bowls
• ☐ Leash/collar
• ☐ Medications
• ☐ Comfort items
• ☐ Waste supplies

Heat Plan for Families

When AC fails or extreme heat hits:

1. ☐ Identify coolest rooms in your home (usually basement, north-facing)
2. ☐ Know location of nearest cooling center
3. ☐ Have fans staged
4. ☐ Stock hydrating foods (watermelon, cucumbers)
5. ☐ Know signs of heat exhaustion (especially for kids and elderly)
6. ☐ Have a plan for pets (they overheat faster than humans)

Heat Plan for Pets

Pets are more vulnerable to heat than humans:

1. ☐ Never leave pets in cars
2. ☐ Provide plenty of fresh water
3. ☐ Limit outdoor time during peak heat (10am-4pm)
4. ☐ Watch for panting, drooling, lethargy (heat stress signs)
5. ☐ Cool tile floors are pet-friendly cooling spots
6. ☐ Consider a cooling mat for dogs

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The Contacts + Meds List

Create a simple document (paper AND digital) with:

Emergency Contacts

• Family members (local and out-of-area)
• Neighbors
• Your doctor’s office
• Your vet’s office and emergency vet
• Insurance company
• Work contacts

Medical Information

• Allergies (medications, food, environmental)
• Current medications (name, dose, frequency)
• Pharmacy name and number
• Doctor name and number
• Health conditions that first responders should know

Note: This isn’t medical advice—it’s record-keeping. Update when anything changes.

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Make It a Routine

Quarterly:

• Check go-bag contents
• Rotate food and water
• Update medications
• Review contact list
• Check that pet carriers are accessible

Annually:

• Full go-bag inventory and refresh
• Update medical information
• Review evacuation plan with family
• Practice pet carrier loading

When Things Change:

• New prescription → Update go-bag and contacts list
• New pet → Add their supplies to the plan
• New family member → Adjust go-bag quantities
• Move to new home → Update evacuation routes and meeting spots

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Home Readiness Bin Organization

Keep everything together in one spot:

Bin Contents

• Go-bags (one per person)
• Pet go-bag
• Important documents folder
• Flashlights and batteries
• First aid kit
• Emergency radio

Bin Location Tips

• Near an exit (not buried in storage)
• Accessible to all adult family members
• Protected from moisture and extreme temps
• Clearly labeled

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What’s NOT Here

This is home-focused, advertiser-friendly readiness. We don’t cover:

• Weapons or self-defense gear
• Tactical or “survivalist” content
• Long-term off-grid scenarios
• Political framing of preparedness

Same practical outcomes, better fit for real households.

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Related

• Home Safety — Egress plans, documentation
• Power Outages — Outage plans for families
• Weather Hardening — Heat and storm plans
• Pets & Kids at Home — Day-to-day pet and kid life
• ← Back to Resilience