Skip to content
YOUR HOUSEHOLD FIELD GUIDE
Loading your saved checklist…
SMALL STEPS. A MORE PREPARED HOUSEHOLD.

Prepare your home.
Pack your bag.
Have a plan.

Simple steps to help your household prepare for El Niño-related weather risks.

Free to use · No account needed · Saved on your device
A go-bag with water, a flashlight, radio, and first aid supplies
Start with what you have.
Build from there.
01

Prepare your home

Simple actions you can take today.

02

Gather your essentials

Check what you own before you buy.

03

Make a plan together

Know where to go and who to call.

Official conditions, alerts & El Niño guidance

El Niño can influence seasonal weather patterns. Impacts vary by location and season; flooding is not expected everywhere. “Super El Niño” is an informal term, not an official local warning category or a forecast from GetReady.

Seasonal outlooks describe chances over months. Local weather warnings tell you about specific hazards and when to act. GetReady does not display live forecasts or alerts.

U.S. local forecasts & warnings ↗Find emergency alerts ↗NOAA seasonal ENSO outlook ↗Understand El Niño ↗

Links to official services, not live data. Outside the U.S., use your national weather service and local emergency authority. General climate and new preparation guidance checked October 5, 2026 against NOAA, NWS, and CDC. Ready.gov links are additional references. Follow current local instructions.

Household settings, kits & backups

Your kits

Keep home, car, office, and personal kits separate. Quantities and purchases belong to the selected kit; the same supplies are not automatically shared between kits.

Manage kits, backup & restore

Backups include every kit, contact, location, and budget in plain text. Store them privately. Up to 20 kits and 100 custom items per kit. Restore previews your choices before changing saved kits.

Sources & preparation guidance

Guidance and sources

Content reviewed . GetReady’s quantities and shopping priorities are planning estimates; local guidance and individual needs take precedence.

Water and household planning were checked against CDC and National Institute on Aging guidance. Ready.gov links are included for reference; direct automated access was restricted during this review. This is a dated content review, not live monitoring or product certification.

Practical preparation. One step at a time.

Independent tool · Follow local emergency guidance.Support GetReady ↗

My kit — Household preparation

GetReady · Home preparation, carry essentials, and home reserves

Household: 1 · Duration: 3 days · Water: 3 gallons minimum

One gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation. Store full reserves separately where needed.

Completed supplies

    None.

    Supplies still to pack / store

    • ☐ Emergency water supply — 3 gallons · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 3 · Home reserves
    • ☐ Non-perishable emergency food — 3 person-days · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 3 · Home reserves
    • ☐ Emergency backpack or go-bag — 1 bag · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials
    • ☐ Hand-crank emergency radio — 1 radio · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials
    • ☐ NOAA Weather Radio — 1 radio · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials
    • ☐ Flashlight — 1 flashlight · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials
    • ☐ First aid kit — 1 kit · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials
    • ☐ Extra batteries — 1 assorted pack · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials
    • ☐ Portable phone power bank — 1 power bank · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials
    • ☐ Emergency whistle — 1 whistle · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials
    • ☐ Dust masks — 1 5-mask pack · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials
    • ☐ Plastic sheeting — 1 roll · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Home reserves
    • ☐ Scissors — 1 pair · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Home reserves
    • ☐ Duct tape — 1 roll · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Home reserves
    • ☐ Moist towelettes — 1 pack · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials
    • ☐ Garbage bags — 6 bags · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 6 · Home reserves
    • ☐ Plastic ties — 1 pack · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Home reserves
    • ☐ Wrench or pliers — 1 tool · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Home reserves
    • ☐ Manual can opener — 1 opener · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Home reserves
    • ☐ Local maps — 1 map set · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials
    • ☐ Cell phone charging cables — 1 cable set · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials
    • ☐ Wall charger — 1 charger · Owned: 0 · Packed/stored: 0 · Still needed: 1 · Carry essentials

    Prepare your home

    General location: Not set · Selected concerns: General preparation

    Personal essentials — review what applies

    Household emergency plan

    Evacuation destination and backup: Not filled in

    Where to find important documents: Not filled in

    Official alerts: agency, website, or radio station: Not filled in

    Nearby meeting place: Not filled in

    Meeting place outside your neighborhood: Not filled in

    Emergency contact and phone: Not filled in

    Out-of-area contact and phone: Not filled in

    Evacuation routes / where to find your printed map: Not filled in

    Transportation, pets, and assistance arrangements: Not filled in

    Personalized reminders

    No optional household needs selected.

    Supply review dates

    No review dates recorded.

    Planning notes

    Pet water: plan each animal’s normal daily needs in addition to the household total. A single emergency radio with NOAA tone alerts may cover both radio entries.

    For utility tools, follow local utility and emergency guidance. Obtain local evacuation maps from your city or county. Keep food suitable for dietary needs and arrange prescription supplies with your pharmacy or clinician.

    This checklist can help you prepare basic emergency supplies. It does not guarantee safety. Follow guidance from local emergency officials. Ready.gov: ready.gov/kit · ready.gov/water · ready.gov/food · ready.gov/shelter · ready.gov/safety-skills