Get ready for what California can bring.

Three practical conversations to have before an emergency: make a plan, build useful supplies, and prepare for an outage. No account, no form, and nothing to fill out before you can use the guide.

Chapter 01 of 03Make a plan

Start with a conversation

Decide now, so nobody has to guess later.

A useful emergency plan is not a form. It is a short conversation with the people who may need to act together when phones, roads, schools, or routines are disrupted. The goal is shared understanding: everyone knows where to go, who to contact, and what needs extra attention.

How will we reconnect?

Choose one meeting place near home and another outside your neighborhood. Make sure children and caregivers know both.

Who is our outside contact?

Pick one person outside the area who can receive calls or texts if local networks are busy.

Where would we go?

Know your likely evacuation destination, two ways to get there, and how anyone without a car would leave.

Who needs extra support?

Plan for medicines, powered medical devices, mobility, communication, children, older adults, pets, and service animals.

DO THIS NOW

Talk through the four decisions with everyone in your household.
Put the meeting places and outside contact in every phone and on one paper card.
Practice leaving by a second route and update the plan when circumstances change.

For every household

Make the guide fit the people you love.

Access and functional needs guideCal OES guidance for disability, mobility, communication, medical, transportation, and support needs.↗California planning and preparednessState guidance, emergency-alert information, animal preparedness, and additional resources.↗

California Signal disaster prep guide · 01

Make the important decisions together.

How will we reconnect?Choose one meeting place near home and another outside your neighborhood. Make sure children and caregivers know both.
Who is our outside contact?Pick one person outside the area who can receive calls or texts if local networks are busy.
Where would we go?Know your likely evacuation destination, two ways to get there, and how anyone without a car would leave.
Who needs extra support?Plan for medicines, powered medical devices, mobility, communication, children, older adults, pets, and service animals.

Do this now

Talk through the four decisions with everyone in your household.
Put the meeting places and outside contact in every phone and on one paper card.
Practice leaving by a second route and update the plan when circumstances change.

California Signal disaster prep guide · 02

Build a kit that fits your household.

A generic checklist is only a starting point. Your useful kit is portable, easy to find, and built around the people and animals who will actually use it. Keep a smaller grab-and-go supply for evacuation and a deeper home supply for staying put. Review both regularly as medicines, food, sizes, and household needs change.

Water and foodStart with one gallon of water per person per day. Aim for at least three days for evacuation and more for home when space and budget allow. Add food people will actually eat and a manual can opener.
Light and informationPack flashlights, extra batteries, a battery or hand-crank radio, phone cables, power banks, local maps, and written contact information.
Health and hygieneInclude first aid, at least seven days of essential medicine when possible, masks, sanitation items, glasses, hearing-aid batteries, and other access supplies.
Documents and daily lifeCarry copies of identification, insurance and prescriptions, some cash, sturdy shoes, clothing, blankets, keys, and supplies for babies, children, pets, or service animals.

Do this now

Use a backpack, rolling bag, or container each person can safely carry.
Store it near an exit where everyone knows to find it.
Check dates, batteries, clothing, medicines, and changing household needs at least twice a year.

California Signal disaster prep guide · 03

Prepare before the lights go out.

An outage becomes more serious when power supports medicine, medical equipment, cooling, mobility, communication, or transportation. The most important preparation is identifying those dependencies before an outage and agreeing on a backup. That may mean batteries, a safe location with power, help from another person, or instructions from a medical provider.

What must stay powered?List phones, medical equipment, refrigeration for medicine, mobility devices, internet equipment, garage access, and anything else critical.
What is the backup?Charge power banks, keep flashlights ready, and know where you could safely go if heat, cold, smoke, or medical needs make staying home unsafe.
Who should we call?Save your utility outage number, medical provider, equipment supplier, nearby support person, and local emergency contacts on paper as well as in your phone.
How will we protect food and move safely?Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed, use generators only outdoors and away from openings, and know how to leave if traffic signals, gates, or garage doors are not working.

Do this now

Talk with a medical provider about any medicine or equipment that relies on electricity.
Sign up for local alerts and your utility’s outage notifications.
Charge devices before severe weather and test backup equipment according to its instructions.