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Family and household
Preparedness for everyone at home
SurviveBetter · As of 2026-10-12 · 23 entries
Emergency planning that includes children, older relatives, people with disabilities and pets.
01 · People at home · Expert review pending
Preparing with children and pets
Children and pets depend on others in emergencies. Children should know, in an age-appropriate way, what happens in an emergency, how to call the emergency number and where to meet. For pets, preparedness includes food, water, a carrier, a leash, identification and vaccination records – and the question of where they can stay during an evacuation.
Never leave children or pets alone in a parked vehicle – especially in warm weather it can quickly become dangerously hot inside.
Teach children early how to call the emergency number (112 in the EU) and give their address.
Do not return into danger areas to fetch animals. Take pets early when an evacuation is foreseeable, and tell rescue services about animals left behind.
Materials
Pet emergency supplies
Non-perishable food – Including baby food and familiar snacks
Hygiene supplies – Nappies, wet wipes
Steps
1
Talk in an age-appropriate way
Explain calmly what an emergency is and that the family has a plan. Involve children in packing their own bag.
2
Contact card for children
Give children a card with their name, address, the parents' and contact person's phone numbers and the meeting point.
3
School and childcare
Find out how the school and childcare proceed in an emergency and who may pick up the children. Register additional authorised people there.
4
Pack familiar things
A cuddly toy, book or game and familiar snacks help children in an emergency shelter. For infants: food, bottles and nappies for several days.
5
Emergency kit for pets
Food and water for several days, bowls, a leash or carrier, medication, vaccination records and a current photo of the animal.
6
Identify animals
A collar with contact details and, where common, a microchip with current registration help reunite lost animals.
7
Arrange somewhere for pets to stay
Not all emergency shelters accept animals. Find out beforehand whether relatives, friends, pet-friendly accommodation or boarding facilities outside the region are an option.
Common mistakes
×Not letting children in on the plan
×Not knowing the school's pick-up arrangements
×Forgetting pets in the planning
×Animals without identification
×Only looking for somewhere for pets to stay during the evacuation
Limits and risks
–No paediatric or veterinary advice
–Rules on animals in emergency shelters vary by region
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Make A Plan
[2]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Pets and animals – disaster preparedness guidance
[3]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
Babies and toddlers cannot do anything themselves and are sensitive to cold, heat, lack of fluids and unclean food. Their own emergency kit with food, nappies, hygiene items, clothing, medication and familiar things, plus a plan for feeding without power and running water, makes the difference.
Never dilute infant formula and do not replace it with other milk or homemade mixtures. Prepare powdered formula only with safe water prepared as directed on the pack. Ready-to-feed liquid formula needs no water.
Babies lose heat quickly and overheat quickly. With fever, poor drinking, listlessness, clearly fewer wet nappies or breathing problems, get medical help at once or call the local emergency number (112 in the EU).
Never use a grill, gas heater or generator indoors to keep warm or warm bottles – carbon monoxide is especially dangerous for children.
Ensure safe sleep for babies even in emergency shelters: on the back, on a firm surface, without loose pillows and blankets over the head.
Materials
Baby emergency supplies
Hygiene supplies
Medication supply – As prescribed, including child-appropriate fever medication after consulting a doctor or pharmacist
Comfort and activity items for children
Wool blanket / duvet – Warm clothing and a blanket
Document folder (waterproof) – Copies of ID, vaccination record, health information
Steps
1
Record daily needs
Go through a normal day: meals, bottles, nappies, care, medication, sleep. That shows what needs to be in stock for a few days.
2
Plan food without cooking
For bottle-fed babies keep ready-to-feed formula in single portions; for older children jars, pouches and food the child knows. Breastfeeding remains possible in crises – breastfeeding parents themselves need enough to drink and eat.
3
Hygiene without running water
Nappies, wet wipes, nappy cream, bin bags, hand sanitiser. Clean bottles and teats only with safe water; disposable bottles are an emergency option.
4
Warmth and clothing
Spare clothing in the right size, hat, baby sleeping bag, blanket. In the cold, carry the child close to the body and stay together in one warm room.
5
Transport without a pram
Put a baby wrap or carrier in the go bag: stairs, debris and crowds are often impassable with a pram.
6
Pack familiar things
Cuddly toy, dummy, a book or a small game. Fixed rituals such as a lullaby or reading aloud give stability.
7
Adjust regularly
Check sizes, food and expiry dates every few months. Children grow faster than emergency kits go out of date.
Common mistakes
×Storing nappies in a size that no longer fits
×Only powdered formula without safe water
×Diluting formula to make it last
×No baby carrier for evacuation
×Emergency kit only with the parents, not with grandparents or carers
Limits and risks
–No nutrition or medication recommendations – ask the paediatrician and pharmacy
–No quantities
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Build A Kit
[2]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
https://www.bbk.bund.de
[3]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – Prevention guidance
Including older relatives and people in need of care
Older people are particularly at risk in heat, cold, power outages and evacuation – often because of medication, limited mobility or because they live alone. A joint plan with them, their care service and neighbours sets out who checks on them, which aids must come along and where to go in an emergency.
Older people often feel heat and thirst less and cool down faster in the cold. With confusion, weakness, dizziness or impaired consciousness, call the local emergency number (112 in the EU).
Do not stop or change medication on your own. Agree on stock and storage (e.g. refrigeration) with the doctor or pharmacy.
In the dark and in a rush, the risk of falls rises. Lights within reach at the bedside, keep paths clear.
Battery lantern / LED light – Reduce the risk of falls in the dark
Steps
1
Discuss together
Ask calmly: what worries you about an emergency? What do you need every day? Whom would you like to be informed? Write down the answers.
2
List medication and aids
Current medication plan, glasses, hearing aid with batteries, walking aid, continence products, dentures. A copy of the plan in the document folder and in the go bag.
3
Build a support network
At least two people nearby – family, neighbours, friends – agree to drop by during outages, heat or cold. A spare key with a trusted person can help.
4
Coordinate with the care service or facility
Ask what emergency plan the care service or care home has, how relatives are informed and where people would be evacuated to.
5
Make the home safer
Battery lights by the bed and the door, a radio, emergency supplies at a reachable height, phone numbers in large print on paper next to the phone.
6
Think through evacuation
How does the person get out of the building if the lift fails? Who drives them? Leave early when authorities warn – people with limited mobility need more time.
Common mistakes
×Making the plan without the person concerned
×Medication plan only in someone's head or at the surgery
×No spare batteries for hearing aids
×Relying on the phone as the only way to make contact
×Waiting too long when an evacuation warning comes
Limits and risks
–No nursing or medical instructions
–No legal advice on powers of attorney or advance directives
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Older Adults
[2]
World Health Organization: Heat and health (fact sheet)
[3]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
People with disabilities are the experts on their own needs. An emergency plan is therefore made together with them: how do warnings reach the person, which aids and assistance do they need, how do they get out of the building, and who belongs to their personal support network?
Leave early when evacuation warnings come – anyone needing support to leave the building needs more time. In danger, call the local emergency number (112 in the EU) and state the support needed.
Lifts cannot be used in a fire or power outage. Clarify escape routes and help on stairs in advance, not during the emergency.
Warnings do not reach everyone in the same way: not everyone can hear sirens, not everyone can read text warnings. Plan several channels and a contact person.
Materials
Document folder (waterproof) – Communication and health information
Medication supply(optional)
Spare batteries – For aids, where the manufacturer provides for this
Signal whistle(optional) – To attract attention
Steps
1
Describe needs
Record together: what do I need daily (aids, medication, assistance, diet)? What stops working in a power outage? How do I communicate best?
2
Personal support network
At least three people in different places (home, work, neighbourhood) who know the plan, arrange access to the home and check in an emergency.
3
Adapt warning channels
Warning apps with vibration or light signals, smoke alarms with strobe or vibrating pad, an agreement that someone will let you know. Ask the municipality which accessible warning channels exist.
4
Information card
A short card for rescuers: how to communicate with me, which aids are essential, important contacts and medication. In the wallet and in the emergency bag.
5
Practise the escape and evacuation route
Try the way out of the home with aids, also without the lift and in the dark. Involve building management, employer or school where needed.
6
Backup for aids
Spare glasses, chargers, if possible a manual backup for electric aids. For assistance animals plan food, water and documents.
Common mistakes
×Planning for rather than with the person
×Having only one support person
×Assuming the lift or assistance will be available in an emergency
×Warnings via one channel only
×Not including aids in the go bag
Limits and risks
–No medical or legal information
–Services and registers differ by region – ask the municipality
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): People with Disabilities
[2]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
If you leave, take your animals with you – animals left behind are at risk, and owners often take dangerous risks returning for them. To make this quick: get animals used to the carrier, keep identification up to date, clarify pet-friendly accommodation beforehand and leave early.
Never return to a closed area against the authorities' instructions to fetch animals. Instead inform the authorities, animal welfare organisations or responders.
Stressed animals can bite, scratch or run away. Keep them on a lead or in the carrier in unfamiliar surroundings.
If there is truly no other way, never leave animals tied up or locked in – they cannot save themselves in a flood or fire. Leave early so this situation never arises.
Materials
Pet carrier
Pet emergency supplies – Food, water, bowls, lead, medication
Document folder (waterproof) – Vaccination record, microchip number, current photo
Steps
1
Carrier and lead training
Leave the carrier open in the home with a blanket and treats. That way it becomes a familiar place and the animal can be loaded quickly in an emergency.
2
Keep identification up to date
Check the microchip registration has a current phone number, collar with contact details, a current photo of the animal with its owner (proof of ownership).
3
Pet emergency kit
Food and water for a few days, bowls, medication, vaccination record, lead, poo bags or cat litter with tray, blanket, the vet's contact details.
4
Clarify accommodation beforehand
A list of friends, relatives, boarding kennels and hotels outside the danger area that accept animals. Public emergency shelters do not always accept animals – ask the municipality.
5
Leave early
When a warning is issued, bring animals indoors and get the carrier ready. Leaving early gives you time for a restless animal.
6
When nobody is at home
Agree with neighbours that they can take the animals in an emergency: key, where the carrier is, contact. A sticker at the entrance can alert responders to animals – keep it up to date.
Common mistakes
×Trying to get the cat into the carrier only during the evacuation
×Out-of-date phone number in the microchip registration
×No accommodation with animals arranged
×Leaving animals behind assuming you will be back soon
×No lead in unfamiliar surroundings
Limits and risks
–No veterinary instructions
–No statements on entry or animal-disease regulations – these differ by region
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Pets and animals – disaster preparedness guidance
[2]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Make A Plan
Teenagers in a crisis: independence with clear agreements
Teenagers are often out on their own when something happens – at school, on the bus, at friends'. Instead of just setting rules you plan with them: they know the family plan, have their own tasks, know when they may decide for themselves and when not, and have a way to check in even when their phone is dead.
Teenagers should know: instructions from the school, emergency services and authorities come first – even before the wish to get home. Do not walk through floodwater, smoke or cordons.
Rumours circulate on social media during crises. Agree which official sources count and not to post locations publicly.
Materials
Power bank(optional)
Emergency card (contacts and health details) – Key numbers on paper
Steps
1
Involve them in planning
Go through the family plan together, set meeting points and an out-of-area contact, and take questions seriously.
2
Decision rules
Agree: when do you stay where you are? When do you go home? Where do you go if you cannot reach anyone?
3
Checking in without a network
A short text to the contact person rather than a call. Key numbers also on paper in the wallet.
4
Their own tasks
Hand over suitable tasks: pack their own go bag, check torches, look after younger siblings, follow the news on the radio.
5
Build skills
First-aid course, making an emergency call, being able to shut off water and power, knowing the way home on foot.
Common mistakes
×Plan known only to the parents
×Putting too much on teenagers
×No rule for "nobody reachable"
×All numbers only in the phone
Limits and risks
–No legal statements on duty of supervision
–No substitute for first-aid training
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Make A Plan
[2]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Ready Kids
Noise, unfamiliar places and rush are especially distressing for people with dementia; during evacuations they may become confused or wander off. Preparedness means: information about the person at hand, medication and familiar items in the go bag, identification on the body, a plan for who accompanies them – and in the situation itself calm, simple sentences and closeness.
If a person with dementia has gone missing, call the local emergency number (112 in the EU) at once and have a recent photo ready. Do not search alone for long before getting help.
Clarify early with the care service, family doctor and, where available, local authorities whether support is offered during evacuations – local services differ.
Pregnancy and emergencies: documents, routes, contacts
During pregnancy a lot in an emergency depends on medical records being at hand, the route to care being known even when there is disruption, and help being called quickly. This entry is planning only – medical questions are for the midwife or doctor.
With warning signs the midwife or doctor has named, with bleeding, severe pain or if the pregnant person suddenly feels very unwell: call the local emergency number (112 in the EU) at once. Do not wait to see whether it improves.
When evacuation is advised, leave early. Pregnant people should tell evacuation points and emergency services about the pregnancy.
Materials
Document folder (waterproof) – Pregnancy records and copies
Medication supply – Prescribed medication
Mobile phone
Power bank
Steps
1
Records at hand
Pregnancy records (e.g. maternity record book where one is issued), medication list, health insurance and the hospital's contact details in a waterproof sleeve; copy in the emergency folder.
2
Contacts
Numbers of midwife, practice, hospital and emergency services in the phone and on paper. Ask how to get advice outside office hours.
3
Plan routes
Know the main and an alternative route to the hospital, note a second reachable facility and agree who drives if the partner is not there.
4
Add to the bag
Add records, medication and important personal items to the go bag; in the last weeks have the hospital bag ready.
5
Ask professionals
Ask the midwife or practice what to bear in mind in an emergency or evacuation – individual advice takes precedence.
Common mistakes
×Records only in a cupboard at home
×Knowing only one route to the hospital
×Waiting with warning signs because networks are busy
×Not mentioning the pregnancy at the shelter
Limits and risks
–No medical advice
–No instructions for assisting at a birth
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Make A Plan
[2]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
Talking to children about preparedness – without causing fear
Children notice when adults stock up or talk about emergencies. A calm, age-appropriate conversation explains that preparedness is like a bike helmet: you hope you never need it, and are still glad to have it. The focus is on what the family can do – not on frightening scenarios.
If a child shows great fear for weeks, sleeps badly or withdraws, talk to the paediatrician or a counselling service.
Materials
Comfort and activity items for children(optional)
Steps
1
Choose a calm moment
Not right after worrying news or just before bedtime, but while playing, cooking or out walking.
2
Ask first
"What do you already know about power cuts/fires/storms?" – pick up on misunderstandings rather than giving a lecture.
3
Simple and honest
Briefly explain what can happen and that adults, the fire service and other helpers take care of it. No frightening details.
4
Let them do something
Pack the children's go bag together, check torches, practise the emergency call, look at the meeting point.
5
Repeat
Short and often is better than once and long. Welcome questions at any time and ask how the child feels about it.
Common mistakes
×"Motivating" with frightening scenarios
×Brushing off questions
×Passing on your own fear unfiltered
×Letting children watch news footage unaccompanied
Limits and risks
–No psychotherapeutic advice
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Ready Kids
[2]
National Child Traumatic Stress Network and National Center for PTSD (USA) (2006): Psychological First Aid: Field Operations Guide, 2nd Edition
An emergency plan sets out how the family is warned, where to meet, whom to contact and who picks up whom. Two meeting points – one near home, one outside the neighbourhood –, a contact person outside the region and a contact card for everyone are its core.
In acute danger, get yourself to safety first and call the local emergency number (112 in the EU). Do not return into danger areas to reach meeting points.
Official instructions take precedence over the family plan – for example if meeting points are in the danger zone or roads are closed.
Materials
Document folder (waterproof)(optional) – Keep the plan and contact list in it
Steps
1
Identify risks
Consider which emergencies are likely in your region (flood, storm, heat, power outage, earthquake) and how the authorities issue warnings.
2
Two meeting points
Set one meeting point right by your home (e.g. for a fire) and one outside the neighbourhood in case you cannot get home.
3
Out-of-area contact
Choose a person in another region with whom everyone checks in. Long-distance calls and messages often get through more easily than connections within the affected area.
4
Contact card
Every person – including children – carries a card with the most important numbers, the address and the meeting points.
5
Assign tasks
Who picks up the children? Who looks after relatives in need of care, neighbours or pets? Who takes the go bag? Also agree a stand-in.
6
Know the house
All adults should know where the main water and gas valves and the fuse box are. Shut them off only if necessary and safe to do so, or when authorities ask you to.
7
Practise and refresh
Go through the plan once a year, update numbers and practise the route to the meeting points.
Common mistakes
×The plan only exists in one person's head
×Only one meeting point, which may be in the danger zone
×Contact person in the same town
×Not involving the children
×Never updating the plan
Limits and risks
–Regional warning systems and facilities' emergency arrangements must be found out yourself
–No substitute for official instructions
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Make A Plan
[2]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
After a flood, fire or evacuation you need ID, insurance and bank papers, medical information and proof of ownership. A waterproof document folder with copies that is ready to grab in an emergency, plus a securely encrypted digital copy, makes starting over much easier.
Copies of ID and bank papers are valuable to fraudsters. Store the folder securely, and keep digital copies only encrypted and with a strong password.
In a fire or immediate danger, do not look for documents – get out immediately. Documents can be replaced, people cannot.
Each country decides whether and for what copies are accepted. Originals usually remain necessary; ask the authorities if in doubt.
Materials
Document folder (waterproof)
Steps
1
Make a list
Gather: ID cards and passports, birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies, bank and account information, tenancy or ownership documents, certificates, vehicle papers, vaccination records, medication plans, powers of attorney and advance directives.
2
Make copies
Copy the documents and put them in a waterproof folder. Originals that are rarely needed can also go in it or be kept in a safe place.
3
Contacts and medical information
Add a list of important phone numbers, doctors, insurance numbers, allergies and medication.
4
Document household contents
Photograph or film rooms and valuable items; this helps with insurance claims.
5
Digital backup
Scan the documents and store them encrypted, for example on an encrypted USB stick or in secured cloud storage.
6
Keep it within reach
Keep the folder where it can be taken quickly in an evacuation – not in the basement if flooding is a risk.
7
Update
Once a year check whether documents have expired or new ones have been added.
Common mistakes
×Storing the folder in the basement
×Storing digital copies unencrypted
×Forgetting medical information
×Never updating the folder
Limits and risks
–No legal advice on the acceptance of copies
–No recommendation of specific storage services
Sources
[1]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
https://www.bbk.bund.de
[2]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Build A Kit
Reunification: a plan for school, childcare and work
Emergencies often happen when the family is scattered. If you know the emergency rules of school, childcare and employer, have registered authorised pick-up people and agreed fixed meeting points, you get back together faster – and avoid dangerous journeys into chaos.
If the school or authorities order everyone to stay indoors (e.g. after a hazardous-substance release), do not pick up children – the building is then the safer place, and you put yourself at risk on the way.
Do not drive through flooded roads or closed areas to reach the family. Better wait and exchange messages via the contact person.
Materials
Document folder (waterproof) – Copy of the agreements
Mobile phone
Steps
1
Ask about emergency rules
Ask the school and childcare: how are parents informed? Where do they evacuate to? When do children stay in the building? Who may pick them up?
2
Register authorised pick-up people
Name at least two other trusted people in writing as authorised to pick up, and tell the child who might come.
3
Include the workplace
Know the employer's emergency rules. Clarify which of the parents is likely to reach the children faster – including on foot.
4
Set meeting points
One meeting point near home and one outside the neighbourhood, on paper for everyone. For teenagers: where do I go if I cannot reach anyone?
5
Out-of-area contact
Everyone checks in with a contact person outside the region. A short text message rather than a call: where, how are you, what is the plan.
6
Card for children
Children carry a card with the parents' names, phone numbers, contact person and meeting point – without the home address visible from outside.
Common mistakes
×Driving straight to the school although the school has ordered shelter in the building
×Only one parent is authorised to pick up
×Meeting points agreed only verbally
×Calling again and again and overloading the network further
×Not knowing the institutions' emergency rules
Limits and risks
–No legal rules on pick-up authorisation – the institutions set these
–Does not replace official instructions
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Make A Plan
[2]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
A plan nobody has practised rarely works under stress. Short, regular drills at home – escaping a fire, grabbing the go bag, sheltering in an earthquake or hazardous-substance warning, an evening without power – make procedures familiar, reveal gaps and take away children's fear.
In a real fire: get out at once, close doors behind you, do not go back, call the local emergency number (112 in the EU) from outside. Never go back into a burning building, not even for animals or valuables.
Run drills without real danger: no ladders out of windows, no jumping, no smoke. Only discuss escape routes from upper floors and clarify them with the fire service.
Keep drills calm and playful. The goal is confidence, not fear.
Materials
Headlamp / flashlight – For drills in the dark
Signal whistle(optional)
Steps
1
Draw an escape plan
Floor plan of the home with all rooms, if possible two ways out of each room, a meeting point outside the house. Draw it together with the children.
2
Fire escape drill
Test the smoke alarm, then walk to the meeting point: check doors with the back of the hand before opening, stay low, close doors. Also practise once at night or in the dark.
3
Go-bag drill
Stopwatch: everyone takes the go bag, documents, medication, pets and goes to the door. What is missing, what takes too long?
4
Indoor shelter drill
Depending on regional risk: Drop, Cover, Hold On for earthquakes, or close windows, switch off ventilation, turn on the radio for a hazardous-substance warning.
5
An evening without power
Spend one evening handling light, cooking and communication without grid power – for example with the main switch off only if that is safely possible, otherwise simply without electrical devices. Then collect experiences.
6
Review and adjust
After each drill talk briefly: what went well, what do we change? Adjust the plan, list and equipment.
Common mistakes
×Practising once and never again
×Overwhelming children with realistic horror scenarios
×Escape routes with blocked or locked doors
×No meeting point outside
×Treating the drill as a chore rather than a shared experience
Limits and risks
–No structural fire-safety rules
–No rescue techniques from windows or via ladders
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Home Fires
[2]
Earthquake Country Alliance – Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills: Drop, Cover, and Hold On
[3]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Make A Plan
Paper copies can burn or get wet. An encrypted digital copy of important documents, stored in at least two places, makes a fresh start possible after a total loss. What matters is strong encryption, a safely kept password and regular tests.
Unencrypted copies of ID, bank details and health data are a risk of identity misuse if lost or stolen. Always encrypt.
Without the password the backup is worthless. Keep the password separate from the storage device, e.g. sealed with a trusted person.
Fraud attempts increase after disasters. Never give out login details via unsolicited calls, messages or links.
Materials
Encrypted storage device
Document folder (waterproof) – Paper copies remain the first layer
Steps
1
Select documents
ID documents, birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies, property or rental contract, bank and pension documents, vaccination records, medication plans, photos of household contents, important contacts.
2
Scan and name
Scan or photograph legibly, name consistently (e.g. person_document_year) and sort into folders.
3
Encrypt
Protect the collection with a recognised encryption method – such as an encrypted archive or an encrypted storage device – and a long, unique passphrase.
4
Store in at least two places
One copy at home in the go bag, one in another place – with relatives outside the region or with an online storage service of your choice, and then also only encrypted.
5
Secure the password
Keep the passphrase so that at least one other trusted person has access in an emergency, but not together with the storage device.
6
Test the restore
Once a year open the backup on another device, check the files, add new ones, securely delete outdated copies.
Common mistakes
×Unencrypted copies on a stick on the key ring
×Password written on the storage device
×Only one copy in the same house
×Backup never tested
×Files named so that nobody can find them again
Limits and risks
–No software or provider recommendations
–No legal information on the validity of digital copies
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Financial Preparedness
[2]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
In a crisis the child may be picked up not by a familiar parent but by a neighbour or colleague. An agreed code word known only to the family and named trusted people helps the child recognise that the person was sent. It supplements – but does not replace – written pick-up authorisation at school and childcare.
Do not write the code word where others can read it and do not share it on social media or group chats. Agree a new one after it has been used by an outsider.
Children should know: if someone does not know the word, they do not go with them – they stay with the teacher or go to a safe person.
Materials
Emergency card (contacts and health details)(optional) – Without the code word on it
Steps
1
Choose a word
An unusual but easy-to-remember word or pair of words – not a pet's name or street, nothing that can be found online.
2
Share selectively
Only parents, children and the people named in writing for pick-up learn the word, in person.
3
Combine with pick-up authorisation
Register the trusted people in writing as authorised to pick up at school and childcare. The code word is the additional confirmation for the child.
4
Practise playfully
Practise in role play: someone says "your mum sent me" – what do you ask? What do you do if the word is wrong?
5
Renew
Set a new word after it has been used by third parties or if it may have become known.
Common mistakes
×A word that is easy to guess
×Writing the word on the emergency card
×Child feels obliged to go with adults
×Never practised
Limits and risks
–No legal rules on pick-up
–No protection against every form of fraud
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Make A Plan
[2]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
Emergency sheet for babysitters, guests and caregivers
Whoever is minding the children, caring for a relative or staying as a guest does not know the family's emergency plan. A one-page sheet in a fixed place – address, emergency number, contacts, allergies and medication, escape route, meeting point, shut-offs – makes them able to act within minutes.
At the very top: in a life-threatening situation call the local emergency number (112 in the EU) first, then the parents. The full address directly below so it can be read out under stress.
The sheet contains personal data. Do not post it where it is visible from outside, and do not pass it on after the visit.
Materials
Document folder (waterproof) – Or a clear sleeve in a fixed place
Headlamp / flashlight – Torch in a known place
Steps
1
Header
Emergency number, full address with floor and doorbell, nearest cross street or landmark.
2
People
Name and age of each child or person cared for, allergies, medication and where it is kept, family doctor or paediatrician, phone numbers of both parents and a backup person.
3
House
Escape route and meeting point outside, location of extinguisher, torch, first-aid kit, fuse box and water shut-off.
4
House rules
Who may pick up, which pets there are, what to do in a power outage (no candles, use the torch).
5
Quick walk-through
On the first visit show exits, extinguisher and torch together.
6
Keep it current
Change immediately for new medication, numbers or a move; write the date on the sheet.
Common mistakes
×Address missing – guests often do not know it
×Only digital on the parents' phones
×Allergies only mentioned verbally
×Outdated phone numbers
Limits and risks
–No medical instructions
–Does not replace training for emergency medication
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Make A Plan
[2]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
When there is only one adult in the household, the second person is missing in an emergency – for example if the parent is injured, ill or stuck somewhere. The core of the plan: a backup person who can take over the children, written agreements and children who know what to do if the parent suddenly cannot act.
Children should learn as early as possible: if mum or dad does not respond, call the local emergency number (112 in the EU), give the address and open the door for the helpers.
Powers of attorney and custody questions are regulated differently from country to country – check local rules or seek advice.
Materials
Document folder (waterproof)
Emergency card (contacts and health details) – For the children
Steps
1
Find a backup
Name a main person and ideally a second one who can look after the children at short notice – ideally one nearby and one outside the region.
2
Put it in writing
Register pick-up authorisations at school and childcare. Prepare a written consent letter and copies of the children's important documents for the backup.
3
Prepare the children
Practise age-appropriately: dialling the emergency number, saying the address, knowing the backup's number and where the emergency card is.
4
Share information
Give the backup an emergency sheet with allergies, medication, doctors and routines; agree on key access.
5
Think of yourself
A note in the wallet: "I am a single parent – please inform: …" so that helpers do not overlook the children if you have an accident.
Common mistakes
×Only one backup who is also caught up in the emergency
×Agreements only verbal
×Children do not know how to call for help
×No note about the children carried on you
Limits and risks
–No legal advice on custody or powers of attorney
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Make A Plan
[2]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Ready Kids
An emergency stock of drinking water, non-perishable food, medication and hygiene supplies helps you bridge several days without shopping, power or water supply. National agencies say how much makes sense – for example the BBK in Germany or FEMA/Ready.gov in the USA. What matters is a stock that suits your own household and is renewed regularly.
Agree any stock of prescription medication with your doctor or pharmacist. Medication that must be refrigerated needs its own solution during a power outage.
Store water only in clean, food-grade containers; renew self-filled water regularly.
Never use emergency stoves, grills and fuels indoors (carbon monoxide, fire). Prefer supplies that can be eaten without cooking.
Materials
Food-grade water container(optional) – Food-grade water container
PET bottle (clear, max. 2 litres)(optional) – Bought bottled water
Non-perishable food
Medication supply
First-aid kit (household)
Hygiene supplies
Headlamp / flashlight
Battery or crank radio
Steps
1
Look up your agency's recommendation
Look up what your national agency recommends. Germany's BBK recommends a stock for ten days and around two litres of fluid per person per day. Ready.gov (USA) gives one gallon (about 3.8 litres) of water per person per day for several days, including sanitation.
2
Map your household
Note who needs to be supplied: infants, children, older people, people with allergies, special diets or chronic illnesses, pets.
3
Water
Store drinking water in bought bottles or clean, food-grade containers, cool and dark. Plan extra water for hygiene.
4
Food
Choose non-perishable food that can be eaten without cooking or refrigeration and that the household likes: tins, ready meals, nuts, crispbread, dried fruit. Do not forget a can opener.
5
Medication and first aid
Keep regular medication, a first-aid kit and aids such as glasses or hearing-aid batteries ready.
6
Hygiene
Toilet paper, soap, hand sanitiser, rubbish bags, nappies and menstrual products. Rubbish bags also help if the toilet cannot be flushed.
7
Use and renew
Use older stock first and replace it. Check expiry dates at fixed intervals.
Common mistakes
×Storing food that can only be eaten cooked without a safe way to cook
×Building a stock and forgetting it for years
×Forgetting medication and hygiene supplies
×Not planning for pets
×Buying everything only once the crisis begins
Limits and risks
–Quantities only as quoted agency recommendations – check national guidance
–No nutritional advice for special diets
–No advice on stocking prescription medication without a doctor
Sources
[1]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
https://www.bbk.bund.de
[2]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Build A Kit
If you have to leave home at short notice – because of a flood, fire, gas leak or official evacuation – you often have only minutes. A prepared go bag per person contains the essentials for a few days: documents, medication, water, food, light, clothing and a charger. It must stay portable.
In a fire or immediate danger, do not gather things – leave the building immediately and call the local emergency number (112 in the EU). The bag is for foreseeable or orderly evacuations.
The bag must remain carryable, even over longer distances. Pack correspondingly lighter for children and older people.
Copies of documents contain sensitive data. Keep the bag out of plain sight but quickly reachable.
Materials
Backpack – One backpack per person that they can carry themselves
Document folder (waterproof)
Medication supply – Supply for a few days plus a medication list
PET bottle (clear, max. 2 litres) – Drinking water
Non-perishable food
Headlamp / flashlight
Power bank
Battery or crank radio(optional)
First-aid kit (household)(optional)
Dry spare clothing
Hygiene supplies
Cash reserve
Steps
1
One bag per person
Each person gets a bag they can carry themselves. For infants and pets, the necessities go into an adult's bag.
2
Documents and money
Copies of documents in waterproof packaging, a contact list on paper, some cash.
3
Health
Medication for a few days, a medication list with doses, spare glasses, a small first-aid kit, hygiene supplies.
4
Water, food, light
Drinking water, non-perishable snacks, a torch or headlamp, a power bank with cable and, if possible, a small radio.
5
Clothing
Weatherproof jacket, warm layer, change of underwear, sturdy shoes, and if needed a blanket or emergency blanket.
6
Last-moment list
Put a list on top of the bag: phone and charger, keys, wallet, refrigerated medication, pets.
7
Check regularly
Once or twice a year check water, food, medication, batteries and children's clothing sizes.
Common mistakes
×Packing the bag so heavy that it cannot be carried
×Packing original documents unprotected
×Forgetting medication or letting it expire
×Storing the bag in the basement, which floods first
×Not thinking of the children
Limits and risks
–No universal packing list – needs depend on household, climate and region
–No substitute for official evacuation instructions
Sources
[1]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
https://www.bbk.bund.de
[2]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Build A Kit
Preparedness stays alive when it is tied to fixed dates. Four short checklists – spring, summer, autumn, winter – combine maintenance (smoke alarms, batteries, supplies) with the risks of each season: heat, thunderstorms, storms, cold and snow.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms according to the manufacturer and replace batteries or devices in good time.
Have heating systems, stoves and chimneys checked by professionals before the heating season where this is required or recommended – carbon monoxide danger.
Materials
Labels and waterproof marker(optional) – For expiry dates
Spare batteries
First-aid kit (household)
Steps
1
Every time
Expiry of supplies and medication, water stock, charge batteries and power banks, test smoke alarms, update contact list and go bag, check children's clothing in the bag for size.
2
Spring
Check gutters and drains, review flood risk and insurance, take winter gear out of the car and clean it, an escape-route drill after the winter break.
3
Summer
Heat plan: coolest room, shading, drinking supply, include neighbours and older relatives. Thunderstorm rules for trips, observe wildfire danger and barbecue bans.
4
Autumn
Storm preparation: secure loose objects on the balcony and in the garden. Have the heating checked, test carbon monoxide alarms, put blankets and warm clothing ready, top up winter supplies.
5
Winter
Winter gear in the car, grit and snow shovel, a plan for heating failure (one warm room), protect water pipes in unheated areas from frost.
6
Tick off and note
Note the date of the check and put the next date in the calendar.
Common mistakes
×Setting up preparedness once and then forgetting it
×Not knowing the seasonal risks of your own region
×Never testing smoke alarms
×Looking for winter gear only at the first snow
Limits and risks
–No complete list of all risks
–No legal maintenance obligations – these differ by region
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Build A Kit
[2]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
Preparedness does not have to be expensive. If you start with what is already at home, buy one or two extra items you eat anyway on each shopping trip and cover the most important areas first – water, medication, light, information – you build a solid stock over months. A small financial emergency fund belongs to it too.
For prescription medication, clarify with the doctor or pharmacy whether and how a small reserve is possible – do not hoard or ration on your own.
Be wary of expensive "crisis packages" and offers that sell through fear. Good preparedness consists mostly of everyday products.
Materials
Non-perishable food
Cash reserve
Labels and permanent marker(optional)
Steps
1
Take stock
What is already there? Torches, blankets, tins, alternatives to candles, first-aid supplies, a camping stove for outdoor use. Much does not need to be bought.
2
Set priorities
Order by urgency: drinking water, necessary medication, light and radio, food that needs no cooking, hygiene, then warmth and equipment.
3
A little more on every shopping trip
Buy one or two extra long-life products the family likes on each shopping trip. Use special offers, but only for things that will actually be used.
4
Store water cheaply
Bottled water is the simplest. Renew tap water you have filled yourself in clean, food-grade containers regularly.
5
A small emergency fund
Regularly put aside a small fixed amount, plus some cash in small notes at home. Check insurance once: what is covered for flood, storm or fire?
6
Use and replace
Use the oldest products first and replace them on the next shopping trip. That way nothing spoils, and the stock costs no extra money.
Common mistakes
×Wanting to buy everything at once and then giving up
×Storing food nobody eats
×Buying expensive gadgets before water and light
×Never using the stock until everything has expired
×Panic buying in a crisis
Limits and risks
–No financial or insurance advice
–No quantities – your own authority's recommendations apply
Sources
[1]
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
https://www.bbk.bund.de
[2]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Build A Kit
[3]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Financial Preparedness
Child safety in a power outage: light, heat, generators
A power outage creates new hazards in the home – especially for children: candles, camping stoves, makeshift heating, a generator, dark stairs and a tangle of power-bank cables. The basic rules: battery light instead of flames, all fuel-burning devices out of reach and never indoors, and every child has their own torch.
Never run generators, barbecues or camping stoves in the home, basement, garage or on enclosed balconies – carbon monoxide is invisible and odourless. Children are especially at risk. With headache, nausea or dizziness get into fresh air at once and call the local emergency number (112 in the EU).
Candles and oil lamps cause fires and burns. Avoid them altogether if possible; if used, never unattended and out of reach of children and pets.
Store fuels, gas canisters and lighters locked away from children.
Materials
Headlamp / flashlight – One per child
Battery lantern / LED light
Carbon monoxide alarm
Smoke alarm
Steps
1
Their own lamp
Give each child a torch or headlamp they can operate themselves, kept in a fixed place such as by the bed.
2
No flames
Battery lanterns for rooms instead of candles. Lock away matches and lighters.
3
Danger zones
Generator outdoors only, far from windows and doors; children keep away. Stove cooking only under supervision and at a distance.
4
Keep warm
One room for everyone, layers, blankets, sleeping bags. No improvised heaters.
5
Secure paths
Light stairs and corridors with battery light, clear cables and objects out of the way, close stair gates.
6
Explain
Explain briefly and calmly what has happened and which rules apply; turn it into a torchlight games night.
Common mistakes
×Candles in the children's room
×Generator in the garage with the door open
×Bringing a barbecue indoors for heat
×Only one torch for the whole family
Limits and risks
–No instructions for running a generator
–No medical advice on CO poisoning
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Power Outages
[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – Prevention guidance
A small backpack a child can carry themselves supplements the family go bag: a change of clothes, snack and water, torch, whistle, contact card and something familiar. Children who help pack it know what is inside – and feel less helpless during an evacuation.
The child's medication, emergency medication and important documents belong in the adults' bags, not in the child's backpack.
Keep the contact card inside, not visible from outside; no home address readable from outside.
Materials
Backpack – Child-sized, light
Headlamp / flashlight
Signal whistle
Emergency card (contacts and health details) – Contact card
Comfort and activity items for children
Steps
1
Choose the bag
Small, light, with padded straps; fully packed, the child should be able to carry it comfortably.
2
Basics
Change of clothes, rain cover, water bottle, long-lasting snack, torch, whistle, tissues.
3
Contact card
The child's name, the parents' names and numbers, out-of-area contact, meeting point – inside the bag.
4
Something familiar
Small soft toy, book, card game, crayons – chosen by the child.
5
Practise
During a drill let the child fetch and put on the backpack; explain the whistle: emergencies only.
6
Check regularly
About every six months check clothing size, snack dates and batteries.
Common mistakes
×Backpack too heavy
×Clothes long outgrown
×Medication in the child's bag
×Child does not know where the bag is
Limits and risks
–No fixed weight or age limits
–No product recommendations
Sources
[1]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Build A Kit
[2]
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Ready Kids