Emergency Preparedness for People Living Alone
36 million Americans live alone. Most emergency planning assumes you have a household. If it's just you, the priorities shift.
The biggest risk isn't the emergency itself — it's that no one notices you need help.
Solo-Specific Priorities
#1: Check-In System
This is your most important preparation. If you're injured or incapacitated, how long before someone realizes?
Set up at least one:
- • Daily check-in buddy — a friend/family member you text every morning. If they don't hear from you, they check.
- • Trusted neighbor with a key — someone who can physically get to you
- • Medical alert device — if you have health conditions, this is worth the cost
- • Smart home alerts — motion sensors that flag inactivity (simple, cheap)
#2: Self-Rescue Capability
In a family, someone can go for help. Alone, you need to plan for self-extraction:
- • Keep your phone charged and within reach always — this is non-negotiable
- • Multiple exits mapped — know every way out of your place
- • Basic first aid knowledge — you're your own first responder
- • Shoes and flashlight by the bed — broken glass is a real post-earthquake risk
#3: Decision-Making Framework
In a family, you discuss decisions. Alone, you need to make them quickly and clearly:
- • Pre-decide your evacuation triggers — don't wait for “someone else to decide”
- • Know your shelter-in-place plan — which room, what supplies, how long
- • Have a destination — where do you go if you leave? Don't decide during stress.
Solo Advantages
Living alone isn't all vulnerability. You have genuine preparedness advantages:
The Solo Go-Bag
Your go-bag is simpler than a family's. Keep it by the door or in your car:
Must-Have:
- • Phone charger + battery bank
- • Cash ($200 in small bills)
- • Copies of all important docs
- • 3 days of medication
- • Water bottle + purification tablets
- • LED headlamp
Worth Adding:
- • One change of clothes + layers
- • Basic toiletries
- • Multitool or pocket knife
- • Emergency blanket (mylar, $3)
- • Physical address book
- • Snack bars (high calorie)
Total weight: under 10 lbs. Total cost: under $80. Fits in any backpack.
Want the Full Solo-Adapted Plan?
The Emergency Preparedness Essentials guide works for any household size — including one. 30 days of structured daily tasks, scaled to your situation.
See the Complete Plan — $29→Related Pages
Living alone means planning ahead matters more — not less.
You're the whole team. Make sure you're ready.
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