20 authority guides
Preparedness Authority Library
Twenty guides on household preparedness — go-bags, regional disaster readiness, document systems, and the annual preparedness audit.
Tool
Preparedness Center
Tool
Disaster Preparedness Library
Tool
Preparedness Library
Library
Guide
What Is Household Preparedness?
Household preparedness is the readiness layer beneath insurance — the documents, supplies, plans, and decisions that keep the household functional during and immediately after disruption.
Guide
The 72-Hour Go-Bag for Modern Households
Every household member should have a 72-hour go-bag accessible without warning — water, food, cash, ID copies, meds, and a charged battery.
Guide
The Financial Go-Bag
Beyond physical supplies, the financial go-bag holds the documents and access needed to manage money during disruption.
Guide
Family Emergency Communication Plan
When disruption hits, mobile networks often fail. A pre-arranged communication plan with out-of-state contact prevents extended uncertainty.
Guide
Home Disaster Readiness Beyond Insurance
Insurance pays after a disaster; readiness keeps the home livable during one. Defensible space, generators, and shutoff knowledge matter as much as the policy.
Guide
Hurricane Preparedness for Coastal Households
Hurricane preparedness combines insurance, supplies, and evacuation planning. The cost of preparedness is dwarfed by the cost of being unprepared.
Guide
Wildfire Preparedness for Western Households
Wildfire preparedness is more about defensible space and evacuation readiness than insurance — coverage often follows readiness.
Guide
Flood Preparedness Beyond the FEMA Zone
20% of flood claims come from outside high-risk zones. Preparedness assumes flood is possible, not unlikely.
Guide
Earthquake Preparedness for At-Risk Regions
Earthquake preparedness is dominated by structural mitigation (bolting, bracing) and insurance — both are usually optional and both should be active.
Guide
Tornado Preparedness for Midwest and Southern Households
Tornado preparedness combines structural shelter, warning systems, and documentation. Insurance is usually adequate; the challenge is surviving the event and proving the loss.
Guide
Winter Storm and Cold Snap Preparedness
Winter storms cause more household claims than any other peril in the U.S. — primarily frozen pipes. Preparedness is mostly preventive.
Guide
Medical Emergency Readiness
Medical emergencies test preparedness within minutes. Documents, contacts, and meds must be accessible without searching.
Guide
Digital Document Preparedness
Critical documents must be both protected and accessible. Resilient households maintain digital copies in encrypted storage with redundancy.
Guide
Household Preparedness by U.S. Region
Preparedness priorities vary dramatically by region. The same checklist that's complete in Iowa is dangerous in coastal Florida or wildfire California.
Guide
Disaster Preparedness With Pets
Pets are often the reason families fail to evacuate. Pre-positioning pet supplies and pet-friendly lodging removes the barrier.
Guide
Preparedness for Senior Households
Senior households face unique preparedness challenges — medication continuity, mobility, and slower evacuation. Plans must account for these constraints.
Guide
Preparedness for Households That Run Businesses
Households with home-based or family businesses must prepare on both axes — household supplies and business continuity.
Guide
The Annual Preparedness Audit
Once-and-done preparedness fails. Every household should run a structured annual audit covering supplies, documents, and plans.
Guide
Scoring Household Preparedness
Preparedness can be measured. The IQT Preparedness Score evaluates supplies, documents, plans, and practice across 8 dimensions.
Guide
Preparedness Rankings by State
State-level preparedness varies by mandates, infrastructure, and household behavior. The IQT rankings highlight where households are most and least ready.