Fill this in together on a calm afternoon so nobody is improvising in the dark.
| What | Who handles it | Where / details | Set | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor meeting spot + flashlight locations | One flashlight per floor, same drawer each time | Walk the kids through it twice | |||
| Out-of-area contact everyone texts | Local lines jam first; one relative relays updates | ||||
| Utility outage number + account number posted | On the fridge or bulletin board | Report by phone or app — don't assume a neighbor did | |||
| Keep fridge & freezer closed | Fridge holds ~4 hrs; a full freezer ~48 hrs | Put a cup of frozen water with a coin on top to check later | |||
| Medical devices that need power | List each device + backup plan | Ask the utility about priority restoration lists | |||
| Generator rules: outside, far from windows | Carbon monoxide kills quietly — never in a garage | ||||
| Water for flushing toilets | Bathtub or buckets, poured into the bowl | A filled bathtub covers a day of flushes | |||
| Unplug sensitive electronics | Surge can hit when power returns | Leave one lamp on so you know it's back | |||
| Heating plan if it's cold | One warm room, layered clothes, safe heater | Never use an oven or camp stove to heat a room | |||
| Cooking plan without the stove | Grill outside only, or shelf-stable meals | Assign someone to check the food bin each fall | |||
| Pets' plan — leash, food, litter | A dark house scares pets; keep them contained | ||||
| When to relocate instead of ride it out | Pick the friend or family home now | Agree on the trigger: no heat, medical need, or day 3 |
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