Home & property
- Critical controls: Could another capable person locate the main electrical disconnects, water shutoffs, heating controls, generator controls and other critical points without calling you?
- Backup power: Do you know exactly what your generator or backup system powers, how long available fuel is likely to last, and what must be operated manually?
- Water: If normal water service or a private well stopped working, does the household know what would be affected and what practical backup options exist?
- Property access: Could a family member, responder or trusted contractor clearly understand gates, private drives, outbuildings, fuel storage, water sources and other important property features?
- Service relationships: Is there one current place to find the right contractor, neighbor, caregiver or other trusted local resource for each critical need, including an alternate if the first choice is unavailable?
People & handoff
- Someone else steps in: If the person who normally handles the household were unavailable for a week, what would become difficult first?
- Children, caregivers & pets: Are responsibilities, emergency contacts, reunification plans and practical needs clear enough for someone else to follow?
Emergency resilience
- Multi-day outage: If utility power were unavailable for three days, which household functions would continue, and which would fail first?
- Heat & cold weather: If the primary heating system failed during a cold New England week, is there a workable backup plan for the household and property?
- Communications: If cellular service or internet connectivity were unavailable, how would family members communicate and receive important information?
- Essential supplies: Does the household have a practical rotating pantry, water, medications, refrigeration plan, charging capability and other normal essentials for a disruption longer than an ordinary outage?
- Outside help is delayed: If roads, weather, demand or a regional event delayed normal vendors, pharmacies, deliveries or public services, what can the household safely handle or source locally?
Information & access
- Account recovery: Could the family recover important accounts if the primary phone, device or account holder were unavailable?
- Important records: Do family members know where current insurance, property, service, medical and other critical records are located, and how to access them appropriately?
- Connected systems: Is it clear which home systems depend on internet, cloud services, apps, batteries, subscriptions or remote accounts to function?