What to do in a nuclear emergency or a long power outage
Step-by-step guidance for US households, drawn from FEMA, CDC, FDA, and Ready.gov, with a link to the source behind every claim. Free tools show how far you are from likely targets and compare highway routes around illustrative planning areas.
If it is happening now
- Nuclear explosion Get inside, stay inside, stay tuned. Where to shelter and for how long. What to do in a nuclear attack: the first 72 hours
- The power is out What to do in the first hours, then days 1 to 3 and days 4 to 7. What to do when the power goes out
Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency. Instructions from local officials come first.
Tools
Family kit builder
Plan for your group, children’s ages and days, with an optional budget. Amazon product options, supplies from home and gaps to fill separately.
Evacuation route planner
Compare a highway route between two ZIP codes that steers around illustrative planning areas with the shortest route. Turn-by-turn steps and a printable PDF.
Plan a routePrintable prep sheets
8 one-page sheets for the fridge and the kit, and every guide as a PDF. Print them before you need them.
See printablesUse it offline
Save the whole site to your phone or computer, maps and tools included, so it works with no signal.
Save offlineNuclear emergency
When it happens
- What to do in a nuclear attack: the first 72 hours
- How to shelter in place from nuclear fallout
- Should you evacuate or shelter after a nuclear blast?
Get ready
- Nuclear targets near me
- Evacuation route planning for a nuclear emergency
- Potassium iodide (KI): what it does and FDA dosage
- Emergency radio and alerts without power or cell service
- How to make a family emergency communication plan
Background
- How far does nuclear fallout travel?
- Geiger counters and radiation detectors for home use
- What is an EMP? Electromagnetic pulse effects and prep
Gear kits
Power outage
When it happens
- What to do when the power goes out
- Generator safety: carbon monoxide, placement, and fuel
- How to stay warm without power
- How to stay cool without power in a heat wave
- Emergency toilet and sanitation without running water
Get ready
- Emergency water: how much to store and how to treat it
- How big a portable power station do you need?
- Emergency food supply and 72-hour kit food
- Medical equipment and medicine in a power outage
Gear kits
Survival skills
Basic skills for either emergency, with the steps for each. See the master list.
Immediate survival
- Knots every household should know Square knot, Sheet bend, Bowline, Clove hitch, Round turn and two half hitches, Figure-eight stopper knot, Tightening a line
- How to build and put out a fire safely Choosing a safe fire site, Gathering tinder, kindling, and fuel, Building a tepee fire, Building a log cabin fire, Lighting a fire without matches, Putting a fire out completely, Cooking fire safety, Using a fire extinguisher
- Map and compass navigation without GPS Reading a topographic map, Measuring distance on a map, Reading a compass, Correcting for declination, Orienting a map, Taking and following a bearing, Finding north without a compass, Planning a route on a paper map
- Improvised shelter and staying dry Choosing a shelter site, Tarp or poncho lean-to, Tarp or poncho tent, Debris hut, Insulating from the ground, Dressing in layers and staying dry, Sheltering in a car in winter
- How to shut off water, gas, and electricity Shut off the main water valve, Shut off the gas, Shut off the electricity, Use a fire extinguisher, Test smoke alarms, Test carbon monoxide alarms
- Emergency home repairs after a storm Decide if it is safe to go in, Document the damage, Cover a damaged roof, Seal a room with plastic and tape, Dry out a wet house, Clean up mold safely
- First aid basics from CDC and Stop the Bleed Controlling severe bleeding, Cleaning and covering a wound, Helping after an electric shock, Treating heat exhaustion and heat stroke, Warming someone with hypothermia, Caring for frostbite, Spotting carbon monoxide poisoning, Responding to cardiac arrest, Stocking a first aid kit
- Signaling for help and staying in touch Whistle signals, Flashlight and mirror signals, Ground-to-air signals, Texting instead of calling, Keeping a printed contact list, GMRS and FRS radios, Getting an amateur radio license
- Finding and collecting water in an emergency Protecting the water in your home, Draining water from your pipes, Draining the water heater, Collecting rainwater, Choosing an outdoor water source, Knowing which water to avoid
- Coping with stress in a disaster Recognizing signs of stress, Keeping a daily routine, Limiting news and social media, Helping children cope, Checking on others, Calling the Disaster Distress Helpline
Long-term survival
- Basic sewing and mending by hand Thread a needle and tie a knot, Running stitch, Backstitch, Whipstitch, Repair a split seam, Sew on a button, Patch a hole or tear
- Preserving and cooking food without power Keep food cold in an outage, Cook without power safely, Cook food to a safe temperature, Choose a safe canning method, Test jar seals and store canned food, Spot spoiled canned food, Sun-dry fruit
- Growing food at home: a beginner's vegetable garden Choosing a sunny site, Setting up containers, Preparing a garden bed, Choosing what to plant, Planting seeds, Watering the garden, Saving seeds, Washing garden produce