How to Talk to Your Family About Preparedness

A practical guide to having supportive, fear-free conversations with your household.

Preparedness works best when everyone’s on the same page — and it doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming.

Bringing up emergency preparedness with your family can feel awkward. You don’t want to scare people, and you don’t want to sound like you’re prepping for doomsday. But the truth is — talking about preparedness is just talking about safety, and most people appreciate having a plan once they start thinking about it.

Start light. Ask a simple question like, “What would we do if the power went out for three days?” or “Do you know where we’d meet if there was a fire?” Ground it in real-life situations they’ve likely experienced — a winter storm, a power outage, or that scary moment when your phone died during a road trip.

Make it collaborative. Let kids help pack their own comfort kits — they’ll be more likely to use them if they chose what goes in. With teens, put them in charge of part of the plan (like keeping the flashlight or pet supplies stocked). Turn it into a challenge: “Let’s see if we can build an emergency kit for under $25!”

When talking to your partner or roommates, frame it as something that reduces stress. Emergencies are already overwhelming — having a plan means fewer decisions to make when the pressure’s on. Start small: “Let’s just update our emergency contacts and pick a meetup spot. We can add more later.”

And most importantly — avoid overwhelm. You don’t have to plan everything in one night. Start with one thing a week: store some water this weekend, organize first aid next weekend. Use the guides and downloads on the ReadyPack site to support the conversation.

Talking about emergencies doesn’t have to be heavy — it can be empowering, and even bring your household closer together.