Disaster Preparedness Trivia

Disasters don't send calendar invites. Whether it's an earthquake, hurricane, or a multi-day power outage, the households that come through easiest are usually the ones that spent an afternoon packing a bag and writing down a plan before anything happened.

This quiz covers the basics of emergency kits, communication plans, and the everyday supplies that turn a crisis into an inconvenience.

Building the Kit

Every basic emergency kit starts with the same short list: water, food, and a way to get information when the power and cell towers might be down.

• One gallon of water per person, per day, for at least three days
• Non-perishable food like canned goods
• A battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio
• Copies of important documents in a waterproof container

Making the Plan

Supplies only help if everyone knows what to do with them. A family communication plan usually designates a meeting point and an out-of-area contact, since local phone lines can jam while long-distance calls sometimes get through.

Hazard-Specific Prep

Some disasters call for their own playbook. Earthquake guidance famously boils down to 'Drop, Cover, and Hold On,' while wildfire-prone communities are encouraged to maintain defensible space, a cleared buffer around the home that gives firefighters — and the house itself — a fighting chance.