What to do when the power goes out, the water stops or the storm hits.
The complete American household handbook: 22 chapters on what to do before, during and after the emergencies US homes actually face, with every fact sourced to the agency that said it.
- Instant PDF download
- 350 pages
- Print it for your household
- 22 chapters in one PDF
- Power outages, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfire, heat, winter storms and earthquakes
- Water, food, kits, documents, insurance and FEMA help
- A checklist in every chapter
Secure card payment by Stripe, in US dollars. You can download it as soon as you pay. By buying you agree to our terms of sale, including that digital downloads can't be returned.
- Instant PDF download
- 350 pages
- Print it for your household
The good advice exists. It's just scattered across dozens of websites.
What to do in a flood is on the National Weather Service's site. How to treat water is on the CDC's. Flood insurance is on FloodSmart, generators on the CPSC's, the family plan on Ready.gov, and FEMA help on FEMA's. All of it is good, and almost none of it is in one place.
That's fine on a quiet afternoon with fast internet. It's a lot harder at 2 a.m. with the power out and one bar of signal.
The Prepared Home gathers it into one book, written for American households, organized by what's happening to you. Read it once, keep it on your phone, print the chapters that matter where you live.
Organized by what's happening to you
What's inside, section by section
22 chapters across 350 pages, in eight sections. Read the plan chapters once, then go straight to the one you need.
Plan: your risks, your plan, water, food, kit, money and alerts
- How to look up your county on FEMA's National Risk Index
- Your family communication plan, out-of-town contact and meeting places
- The CDC's way to make water safe: a rolling boil for 1 minute, 3 above 6,500 feet
- What to copy for FEMA, and how to set up Wireless Emergency Alerts and NOAA Weather Radio
Power outages
- A plan you can finish in an evening, and the first hour of an outage
- Food: the fridge's 4 hours and the full freezer's 48
- Medical devices, utility medical programs, and generators run more than 20 feet from the house
Weather: hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfire, heat, winter storms, earthquakes
- Watch vs. warning, and what each means for you
- Flood insurance and the 30-day wait: why it has to be bought before the season
- "Turn Around Don't Drown": 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars (NWS)
- Defensible space, heat stroke signs, winter car kits, and Drop, Cover, and Hold On
Water outages and drought
- What a boil-water notice means for your day
- Private wells before, during and after a flood
Flu, pandemics and illness at home
- Caring for someone sick at home
- When to call a doctor, and when to call 911
Safety: phones down, fire, CO and gas, evacuation, public safety
- Text, don't call, when networks are busy
- Smoke alarms, the escape plan, and carbon monoxide
- Public shelters and pets: what the PETS Act covers
- Run, Hide, Fight, and sheltering in place
People who need extra help
- A support network, medical information ready to hand
- Medical equipment that needs power, and service animals
After a disaster: insurance, FEMA help and recovery
- Document everything before you clean up
- Homeowners and renters claims, FEMA help and SBA disaster loans
- How to avoid contractor scams
Look inside
Real pages from the book. Swipe for more, tapClick any page to see it full size.
Secure card payment by Stripe, in US dollars. You can download it as soon as you pay. By buying you agree to our terms of sale, including that digital downloads can't be returned.
Who it's for
It's for you if
- You want one trusted place to turn to, instead of a dozen browser tabs
- You've just moved somewhere with hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfire or winter storms you've never dealt with
- You look after kids, older parents or someone with medical needs
- You'd rather read it once, calmly, than look things up in the middle of a storm
Honestly, you can skip it if
- You want survivalist skills, weapons or off-grid living. This is a household handbook
- You want a short starter plan: The 90-Day Home Plan is 64 pages, and the official Ready.gov site is free
- You want product reviews. For gear, our free comparison pages do that job
Built on official sources, not opinions
- Every fact names the agency that said it, and each chapter ends with its numbered sources and links, so you can check them yourself.
- Where rules vary by state or county, such as evacuation levels, the book says so and tells you who to ask locally.
- Every chapter was fact-checked against its official sources in October 2026.
From the team behind PreparedStates's free live trackers for power outages, NWS alerts, hurricanes and wildfires, built on the same public data and the same rule: every figure names its source. PreparedStates is independent and not affiliated with the US government.
The bundle: $39.99 for both
The plan tells you what to have; the handbook tells you what to do when it happens. Bought separately they come to $44.98 (The Prepared Home $29.99 + The 90-Day Home Plan $14.99). Together, $39.99, as one download.
Secure card payment by Stripe, in US dollars. You can download it as soon as you pay. By buying you agree to our terms of sale, including that digital downloads can't be returned.
Questions
Is it a forecast or a warning?+
No. It's a reference for the emergencies American homes most often face, built on official guidance. It doesn't predict anything.
350 pages is a lot. Do I have to read it all?+
No. Read the plan chapters once, then the hazards that apply where you live. FEMA's National Risk Index, which Chapter 1 shows you how to use, tells you which those are.
What format is it?+
A PDF, on Letter-size pages. It opens in the PDF viewer that's already on your phone, tablet or computer: iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows or Chromebook. No app, no account, nothing to install.
How does the download work?+
As soon as Stripe confirms your payment, the page you land on gives you your downloads and a personal link to them that works for at least a year. If you lose it, email us from the address you paid with and we'll send it again.
Can I print it?+
Yes, and we'd encourage it: paper still works when the power and the phone are out. Your license lets you print as many copies as your household needs, and give a printed copy to family who'd be helping you in an emergency.
Can I get a refund?+
Because the files are digital downloads you can keep as soon as you've paid, all sales are final and we don't give refunds for a change of mind. If a file won't download or open, or something in it is wrong, email us within 30 days of buying: we'll fix it, send a working copy, or refund you in full. If you were charged twice by mistake, we'll refund the extra charge.
Is it a subscription?+
No. You pay once, and the file is yours to keep. There's nothing to cancel.
Is it medical or safety advice for my situation?+
No. It's general information built on official US guidance. It doesn't replace your doctor, your pharmacist, or instructions from emergency services and your state or local emergency management office. In an emergency, call 911.
Have the answers on your shelf, and on your phone.
The Prepared Home. Instant PDF download, paid once, yours to keep.
Secure card payment by Stripe, in US dollars. You can download it as soon as you pay. By buying you agree to our terms of sale, including that digital downloads can't be returned.
The Prepared Home is general information to help your household prepare. It is not legal, financial or medical advice. Written by Tom Calder for PreparedStates, sold by TMR Digital. PreparedStates is independent and not affiliated with the US government. Terms of sale.