Homeowners · Prepare
Plan for your family before disaster hits
Written by Andy Kruger
BuildSOS CEO
Every household is different. Kids, elderly parents, someone with a medical condition, a pet who hates the car: a real plan accounts for the specific people in your home, not a generic checklist. This guide covers the five things that matter most: knowing what each household member needs, setting up a way to reach each other, planning for pets, knowing which emergency apps and local resources to rely on, and putting it all together into one plan you can act on fast.
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What's in this guide
Your family communication circle
Set up one simple way to reach everyone fast, even if phone lines are down.
Know your household’s needs
Identify mobility, medical, and other needs so nobody gets left out of the plan.
Your evacuation plan
Routes, assembly points, and what to grab on the way out.
Pet emergency planning
Food, meds, ID, and a place that’ll actually take you both in.
Emergency apps & local resources
A handful of free apps can put shelter locations, weather alerts, and first aid guidance in your pocket before you need them.
Free app · iOS & Android
Real-time guidance when a disaster is happening.
Tell it what is going on. It gives you the next three things to do, in order, for your situation.
About the author
Andy Kruger
Andy Kruger is CEO of BuildSOS, author of When the Storm Comes, and sits on multiple boards and advisory groups shaping disaster resilience policy and research.
About Andy