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North Carolina · Checklists

What to do. In what order.

Category 1 of 5

Home readiness.

The universal foundation — these apply regardless of where in NC you live or what hazards are most likely near you.

72-Hour Kit Basics

Water — 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days minimumFamily of 4 = 12 gallons. Store in food-grade containers away from sunlight.

72-hour food supply — shelf-stable, no cooking requiredCanned goods, bars, jerky. Rotate every 6–12 months.

Flashlights + extra batteries (not candles)One per household member. Test monthly.

Battery or hand-crank NOAA weather radioCritical in NC — cell service and power fail together during major storms.

First aid kit — stocked and unexpiredConsider Red Cross certification →

7-day supply of prescription medicationsRequest early refill before a named storm. Pharmacies run out during evacuations.

Cash in small billsCard readers fail during extended outages. $100–$200 in small denominations.

Phone chargers + portable battery packKeep the battery pack at 80%+ charge continuously.

Power Outage Readiness

Know your utility's outage reporting numberDuke Energy, Progress, Dominion, or your co-op →

Bookmark your utility's outage mapDo this before the outage — you won't be able to find it easily in the dark.

Know how to manually open your garage doorMost people don't until they're blocked in.

Generator setup and fuel plan (if applicable)Never run indoors or in the garage. Keep 5+ gallons of treated fuel stored.

Know how to shut off your main water valveNC ice storms cause burst pipes. Know the location before winter.

Freeze water jugs as a backup food preservation methodFill gallon bags and freeze them — buys 24–48 extra hours for a full freezer.

Alternate heat source plan (if electric heat)NC Piedmont winter outages regularly last 3–5 days after ice storms.

Document Go-Bag

Copies of IDs (driver's license, passport, birth certificates)

Insurance policies — homeowner's, auto, health, floodNC homeowner's policies don't cover flood. Know what you have before you file a claim.

Photo inventory of home contentsWalk every room with your phone. Store in cloud and on a USB drive.

Social Security cards

Bank account numbers + emergency contact listPrinted, not just in your phone.

Prescription information (medications, dosages, prescribing doctor)

Wills, medical directives, power of attorneyKnow where they are and who else knows where they are.

NC-Specific Home Actions

Check your flood zone (if in a floodplain)FEMA flood zone lookup →

Review your homeowner's insurance for flood and earthquake gapsStandard NC policies don't cover either. Florence caught thousands without it.

Know your coastal evacuation zone (if coastal county)Know Your Zone at ReadyNC →

Identify the nearest Level 1 trauma center to your homeRural NC counties can be 45+ minutes from trauma care.

Category 2 of 5

NC hazard checklists.

The five hazards that regularly affect NC households — with preparation actions specific to this state. Check what applies to your region.

Hurricane Readiness

Coastal NC · Piedmont (flooding) · Mountains (flooding)

Know your evacuation zone if in a coastal countyDon't wait for an order to look it up — find it now at readync.gov/know-your-zone

Fill your gas tank when a storm is 72+ hours outStations run out of fuel. NC Colonial Pipeline disruption (2021) was a preview.

Have 7-day medication supply before hurricane seasonPharmacies close during evacuations. Request early fills in May.

Identify your inland flooding risk — not just storm surgeFlorence flooded Piedmont counties 200 miles from landfall. Check river gauges.

Clear gutters and trim trees before peak season (Aug–Oct)Debris in gutters causes roof damage during heavy rain even without direct impact.

Identify the meeting point and contact plan for your household

Winter Ice Storm Readiness

Statewide — worst in the Piedmont

Stock 5 days of food and water before winter (not just the storm)NC ice storms cause multi-day outages. Don't wait for the forecast to shop.

Know how to shut off your main water valveBurst pipes from frozen lines are the #1 winter claim in NC homeowner's policies.

Locate dripping faucet plan for overnight below-freezing tempsCold drip on exterior-wall pipes prevents freezing. Know which faucets to use.

Alternate heat source + fuel supply ready before OctoberPropane heaters, wood stove, or kerosene. Never use generators or grills indoors.

Identify neighbors who need checking on during extended outages

Ice-melt supply and shovel accessible (not buried in garage)

Vehicle winterization — good tires, antifreeze, window scraper, blanket

Flood Readiness

Statewide — coastal surge, flash flood, river flood

Look up your flood zone at FEMA flood mapmsc.fema.gov →

Review or purchase flood insurance — before storm seasonNFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period. You cannot buy them when a storm is coming.

Know the nearest river gauges for waterways near your homeUSGS WaterWatch NC →

Document home contents with photos stored in the cloud

Identify two evacuation routes from your neighborhoodOne primary, one alternate — flooding blocks roads unpredictably.

Move important documents and valuables above flood level

Never drive into flooded roads — turn around, don't drown6 inches of moving water can knock a person down. 12 inches floats most vehicles.

Tornado Readiness

Piedmont · Coastal Plain — avg 25/year in NC

Identify your shelter location in your homeInterior room on lowest floor — bathroom, closet, or hallway. Away from windows.

Sign up for Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on your phoneSettings → Notifications → Emergency Alerts. No signup required — just enable.

Have a weather radio for overnight storm warningsTornadoes commonly hit NC at night. WEA works but a radio doesn't require you to be awake.

Know the difference between a Watch and a WarningWatch = conditions favorable, stay aware. Warning = tornado confirmed or indicated, shelter now.

If in a mobile home, identify the nearest substantial buildingMobile homes provide zero protection from tornadoes. Know where to go in advance.

Keep shoes near your bed during severe weather seasonGlass and debris underfoot is a major injury source after a tornado, especially at night.

Wildfire Readiness

Western mountains · Rural coastal plain · Sandhills

Check your wildfire risk score at wildfirerisk.orgwildfirerisk.org →

Create 30-foot defensible space around structuresClear combustible vegetation, leaf litter, and dead wood in the immediate zone.

Keep gutters clear of pine needles and leaf debrisEmbers land in gutters. Metal gutter guards or regular cleaning reduces ignition risk.

Identify evacuation route before fire season (spring and fall dry periods)

Ready-to-go bag packed (documents, medications, 72-hour supplies)

Category 3 of 5

Community readiness.

The actions that connect your household to the people around it — before an emergency, not during one.

Know Your Neighbors

Introduce yourself to the four households nearest yoursName + which house you're in + a phone number. That's enough to start.

Identify neighbors who may need checking onElderly neighbors alone, households with young children, anyone on medical equipment.

Take a mental inventory of neighbor resourcesGenerator, chainsaw, medical training, truck with trailer. Informal mutual aid.

Agree on a neighborhood meeting point for major eventsA driveway, a yard, a landmark. Takes 30 seconds to agree on before you need it.

Engage & Train

Find your county's CERT program and consider enrollingNC CERT training →

Get CPR/first aid certified through the Red CrossFind a class near you →

Identify one volunteer role in your communityVolunteer fire, food bank, Habitat, Red Cross. One connection is enough to start.

Attend one community event this seasonFind local events →

Category 4 of 5

Gardening by season.

Timed to NC's regional frost dates. The mountains are 6–8 weeks behind the coast — check the timing notes for your region.

Spring Garden Prep

Piedmont: Feb–Mar · Mountains: Apr–May · Coast: Feb

Pick up free soil test boxes from your county Extension officeFree April through Thanksgiving. Results in 10 business days.

Apply lime per soil test results (if needed)Dolomitic lime takes 2–3 months to adjust pH — apply before planting season.

Work 2–4 inches of compost into bedsThe single most effective improvement for both NC clay and sandy soils.

Start warm-season seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frostTomatoes, peppers: start indoors Feb (coast/Piedmont) or Mar (mountains).

Verify your USDA hardiness zone by ZIP (2023 map may differ from 2012)USDA zone map →

Frost Protection Plan

Through May (mountains) · Mid-Apr (Piedmont) · Mid-Mar (coast)

Know your last frost date range for your specific countyNC Extension office publishes county-specific dates. Elevation matters within counties.

Have row cover fabric (or old sheets) ready in the garden shedA late frost in NC can arrive with 12 hours' notice. Have it before you need it.

Set NWS frost alerts for your locationweather.gov lets you sign up for frost/freeze alerts by county.

Wait until soil temp is 60°F+ before planting warm-season cropsSoil temp matters more than air temp for peppers, squash, and sweet potato slips.

Fall Garden Prep

August planting targets the fall NC season

Plant collards, kale, and brassicas in late July–AugustNC's fall/winter greens thrive after the first frost improves their flavor.

Plant strawberries October–November for spring harvest

Plant cover crops (winter rye, crimson clover) after summer crops finishFixes nitrogen, suppresses weeds, and adds organic matter when turned under.

Submit fall soil test (last free window is Thanksgiving)

Order spring seed and garlic in August for best selectionNC seed suppliers sell out of heirloom varieties quickly. Order before the rush.

Compost Setup

Choose a compost location — partial shade, close enough to useNC heat accelerates decomposition. A shaded spot prevents drying out in summer.

Establish a brown:green ratio (2:1 by volume)Browns = dried leaves, cardboard. Greens = kitchen scraps, fresh clippings.

Start collecting fall oak and pine leavesNC's most abundant free brown material — bag them for year-round use.

Connect with your county Extension office for composting resourcesces.ncsu.edu — find your county →

Category 5 of 5

Safety net checklists.

Financial preparedness is preparedness. These actions are most effective before you need them, not after.

Job Loss — First 72 Hours

File for NC unemployment at des.nc.gov — same dayThe 1-week waiting period starts when you file. Every day of delay costs benefits.

Calculate your runway (savings ÷ monthly essentials)

Cancel or pause non-essential subscriptions immediately

Check COBRA vs. NC Medicaid vs. ACA MarketplaceNC Medicaid expanded Dec 2023 — you may now qualify at no cost.

Apply for SNAP food assistance at epass.nc.govProcessing takes up to 30 days — apply before you're in crisis.

Call 211 for local food banks, rent assistance, and utility helpnc211.org →

Utility Shutoff Prevention

Apply for NC LIEAP in December (don't wait for January)Priority applications open Dec 10 for households with someone 60+ or disabled. All others Jan 2. Funds run out.

Contact your utility directly about hardship programsDuke Energy, Dominion, and most NC co-ops have low-income assistance and payment plans.

Apply at epass.nc.gov — SNAP, Medicaid, and LIEAP in one form

Contact 211 for local church and nonprofit emergency utility fundsMany NC counties have local funds not listed in state directories. 211 knows about them.

Annual Insurance Audit

Review homeowner's policy for flood and earthquake exclusionsStandard NC policies cover neither. This surprises people after the claim, not before.

Check your flood insurance status if in or near a floodplainNFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period — you cannot buy them when a storm is forecast.

Verify your contents coverage reflects current replacement values

Confirm health insurance information is current and accessible

Update your home photo inventory (walk through with your phone once a year)

Health Coverage Transition

Check NC Medicaid eligibility at epass.nc.gov firstNC expanded Dec 2023 — income up to 138% FPL qualifies for full Medicaid.

If ineligible for Medicaid, compare COBRA vs. ACA MarketplaceJob loss = qualifying life event. You have 60 days. Don't let the window close.

List current prescriptions and ask doctor about 90-day suppliesLarger fills reduce cost and reduce the risk of a gap in medications.

Identify your nearest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)FQHCs provide care on a sliding-scale fee regardless of insurance status.

All seven tabs — complete

The NC guide is yours.

Print this page, bookmark the tabs you need most, or start over at the NC state homepage. Local self-reliance starts with knowing your place.

NC State Homepage

Return to the full NC guide overview and all seven tabs.

First 72 Hours

The universal foundation before any local personalization.

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North Carolina

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Risk Readiness

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Community

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Emergency

Contacts & alerts

Gardening

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Safety Net

Food, jobs & help

Transportation

Transit & rides

Checklists

Step-by-step prep