How to Create a Simple Emergency Plan for You and Your Loved Ones

Once you understand what you’re preparing for, the next step is figuring out what you’ll actually do when something happens. That’s where planning comes in.

An emergency plan isn’t about predicting disasters or creating a complicated binder that never gets opened. It’s about making a few clear decisions ahead of time, so you’re not trying to think under stress.

This guide walks you through how to create a basic, practical plan using the same framework on our Plan Smart page, no gear lists, no panic, no overthinking.

What an Emergency Plan Really Is

An emergency plan answers a small set of essential questions:

• How will we communicate?

• Where will we go if we can’t stay home?

• What do we do first?

• Who is responsible for what?

  
  

That’s it.

You’re not trying to plan for every scenario. You’re building a default response your brain can fall back on when emotions are high and information is limited.

Step 1: Decide How You’ll Communicate

During emergencies, communication is often disrupted. Phones die. Signals drop. People aren’t always together.

Your plan should include:

• A short list of important phone numbers written down

• One local contact

• One out-of-area contact everyone knows to check in with

  
  

Why out-of-area? If local lines are overwhelmed, long-distance communication can sometimes work better.

Everyone involved should know:

• Who the contacts are

• How to reach them

• What to do if they can’t connect right away

  
  

This step alone removes a huge amount of uncertainty.

Step 2: Choose Meeting Places

In stressful situations, people tend to act on instinct and instincts don’t always line up.

Pick:

• One meeting place close to home (for sudden events)

• One meeting place outside your immediate area (in case home isn’t accessible)

  
  

These don’t need to be perfect locations. They just need to be agreed upon before they’re needed.

Write them down. Share them with everyone in your household.

Step 3: Clarify When to Stay and When to Go

A basic plan should include a simple decision-making rule.

Ask:

• When would it make more sense to stay put?

• When would leaving be the safer option?

  
  

You’re not creating a detailed evacuation manual. You’re setting a mental baseline so the decision doesn’t feel chaotic in the moment.

Clarity beats perfection.

Step 4: Account for People, Pets, and Needs

Every household is different, and plans should reflect that.

Think about:

• Children or dependents

• Pets and how they’ll be handled

• Medications or medical equipment

• Mobility or sensory needs

• Anyone who may need extra support

  
  

Your plan should acknowledge these realities rather than assume everyone can move quickly or adapt easily.

Step 5: Assign Simple Roles

Plans fall apart when everyone assumes someone else is handling things.

Assign basic responsibilities:

• Who gathers essential documents?

• Who is responsible for pets?

• Who checks on medications?

• Who makes contact with others?

  
  

Roles don’t need to be permanent. They just need to be clear.

Step 6: Write It Down and Share It

A plan that only exists in your head won’t help much under stress.

Write your plan in plain language. One page is enough.

Share it with:

• Household members

• Trusted loved ones

• Caregivers or neighbors, if appropriate

  
  

Keep a printed copy somewhere easy to access.

Review Occasionally, Not Constantly

You don’t need to revisit your plan every week.

Review it:

• About once a year

• After a move

• After a major life change

  
  

Emergency planning is maintenance, not a lifestyle overhaul.

Why Planning Matters

When something unexpected happens, your brain doesn’t rise to the occasion, it defaults to what it already knows.

A simple plan:

• Reduces panic

• Speeds up decision-making

• Helps everyone feel more steady and capable

  
  

You don’t need to be an expert.

You don’t need to do everything today.

You just need a plan that fits your life.