September is National Preparedness Month, which makes it a good time to ask a simple question: If an emergency happened tonight, would your family know what to do?

Most of us know we should have an emergency plan. We have an idea of where we’ll go, how we’ll reach one another and what we’ll take with us. But knowing what to do and actually doing it are two different things.

The good news? You don’t need to devote an entire weekend to getting prepared. Set aside 30 minutes and you can create the foundation of a family emergency plan. The important thing is to start now because when an emergency happens, there may not be time to figure it out.

Minutes 1–5: Sign Up for Emergency Alerts

Identify the emergencies most likely to happen where you live — severe storms, flooding, wildfires, power outages, etc. Then sign up for local alerts and check that emergency notifications are enabled on your smartphone.

• iPhone: Go to Settings and click Notifications. Scroll to Government Alerts. Make sure Emergency Alerts and Public Safety Alerts are turned on.
• Android: Go to Settings and click Safety & Emergency. Turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts.
• Visit your local city or county government website to find their specific opt-in notification.

Minutes 6–10: Decide Where You’ll Go

If you need to leave home quickly — or your family becomes separated — you don’t want to figure out where to go in the moment. Grab a notepad or a laptop and take five minutes now to decide. Make sure to write down the addresses of the locations you identify so you’ll have them for the future.

• Choose a nearby meeting place, such as a neighbor’s house, landmark or other easy-to-find spot outside your home.
• Identify two or three evacuation destinations in different directions in case roads are closed or one area is affected.
• Include your pets in the plan. Identify pet-friendly hotels, shelters or family members who can accommodate them.

Minutes 11–15: Make a Communication Plan

If your family is separated during an emergency, knowing how to reconnect can make all the difference. Decide who to contact and make sure everyone has the information they need.

• Choose an out-of-area contact everyone can call or text. Long-distance communications may work when local networks are overwhelmed.
• Create an ICE (In Case of Emergency) card for each family member with names, phone numbers and other essential contact information. Writing down important phone numbers helps if cell phones or networks are not available.
• Plan to keep ICE cards where they’re easy to find — in adult wallets, children’s backpacks and emergency kits.

Minutes 16–25: Decide What Goes With You

If you had to leave home quickly, what would you take? You don’t need to pack a bag right now. Use these 10 minutes to decide what you would grab, make a list of what belongs in your emergency kit and choose one accessible place to keep it. You don’t need to buy or assemble everything today. Keep it to a list for now.

• Make a “grab” list of things you use every day and would need to take with you — medications, identification, important documents, phones and chargers, medical equipment, eyeglasses and pet necessities.
• Make a go-kit list with basics you can assemble ahead of time, such as flashlights, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, water, nonperishable food and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
• Don’t forget your pets. Include food, water, medications, leashes, carriers and vaccination records.
• Choose a convenient location for your go kit where you can get to it quickly on your way out.

Minutes 26–30: Schedule the Follow-Through

You’ve made the important decisions. Now make sure your plan doesn’t end up on the “I’ll get to it later” list. Before your 30 minutes are up, put time on the calendar for important follow-up steps.

• Set a deadline to gather your go-kit supplies and put them in one accessible place. Delegate tasks as appropriate to family members.
• Schedule a family practice run so everyone knows where to go, what to take and whom to contact.
• Set a reminder to review your plan periodically and update phone numbers, medications, supplies and other information as needed.

Practice Tips

Walk through different scenarios with your family. What would you do if there were a fire? Where would you meet if you couldn’t return home? Who would the kids call if they couldn’t reach you? Make sure children know what to do regardless of which parent or caregiver is with them.

Thirty minutes today can eliminate a lot of uncertainty when every minute counts. Make the plan. Complete it. Share it. Practice it. Because the best time to decide what you’ll do in an emergency is long before the emergency begins.