Start with people
Count household members, pets, medicines, and needs before buying supplies.
90-Day Household Preparedness · Start · Page 3
Your First 72 Hours
A printable field-guide page with practical household steps, planning context, and a direct link back to the full 90-day edition.
By Dan Whelan, founder of New World Survival
Researched from government agencies, university extension services, and other published sources. See our sources
Why this matters
Make the next decision clearer.
The first three days are for getting organized. Count people and pets, check medicines and devices, secure water and ready-to-eat food, and make sure everyone knows how to receive updates and leave if necessary.
Build the next layer
Secure immediate essentials, then make the two-week base usable.
Practice the plan
Review roles, contact methods, and evacuation options before a disruption.
Put it on paper
A plan you can use and review.
Use this simple table to record the decision, the household-specific detail, and the next time you will test or update it.
| Planning layer | What to record | When to review |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate | People, medicines, water, light, food, and alert sources. | Today and after any household change. |
| Two-week base | Food, sanitation, cooking, communication, temperature, and pet needs. | Monthly and before the local hazard season. |
| Longer reserve | Normal meals, consumables, storage limits, and evacuation options. | As supplies rotate and circumstances change. |
Printable reference
The original field-guide page.
Use the original layout for its complete worksheet, visual table relationships, and print-ready details. The web article explains the same planning work in a responsive format.
Download the full guideFor current advice during an actual event, check relevant public guidance and local instructions.
