Preparedness guides
16 hazards, each with what to do before, during and after — plus 118 answered questions and 5 Zone 0 defensible-space categories. Free, no account, from a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
What makes these different from a government checklist: each one links to the same hazard on a free live map showing what is happening right now — official evacuation zones, mapped wildfire perimeters, river gauges at flood stage and open shelters.
Last updated . Written by Project Trinetra, a program of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Unravel The Love. It is not an official government publication and does not replace instructions from your local emergency authorities.
All 16 hazards
| Hazard | What it covers | Checklist | Answered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | Knowledge transforms tremors into moments of calm action | 8 items | 5 |
| Wildfire | Preparedness is the firebreak between you and danger | 8 items | 5 |
| Flood | Rising water is predictable -- your preparation makes all the difference | 8 items | 5 |
| Tornado | Seconds of preparation can mean the difference between safety and harm | 8 items | 5 |
| Hurricane | Hurricanes give warning -- use every hour to strengthen your position | 8 items | 5 |
| Winter Storm | Cold is manageable when you plan ahead and look out for each other | 8 items | 5 |
| High Wind | Wind is invisible force -- securing your surroundings makes you resilient | 8 items | 5 |
| Power Outage | The average American experiences 5+ hours of power outages per year | 8 items | 5 |
| Thunderstorm | Lightning kills more people than tornadoes or hurricanes each year | 8 items | 5 |
| Extreme Heat | Heat is the #1 weather-related killer in the United States | 8 items | 5 |
| Hail | Hail causes over $1 billion in crop and property damage annually in the US | 6 items | 5 |
| Dense Fog | Fog contributes to over 38,000 vehicle crashes annually in the US | 6 items | 5 |
| Coastal Hazard | Rip currents account for over 80% of ocean rescues by lifeguards | 8 items | 5 |
| Frost/Freeze | Frozen pipes cause over $1 billion in property damage each winter | 8 items | 5 |
| Tsunami | A tsunami can travel across the ocean at 500+ mph and strike with little warning | 8 items | 4 |
| Volcanic Activity | Volcanic eruptions can send ash 100,000 feet into the atmosphere and lahars down valleys at 40 mph | 8 items | 5 |
Will your insurer credit the work?
In California an insurer must accept a fire-department inspection as proof of wildfire mitigation, owes you an updated risk score within 30 days of asking, and must show the discount per factor in dollars. Most homeowners are never told any of that.
What California actually requires →Also covered
Zone 0 defensible space
Zone 0 is the five feet immediately around a structure — the area a wildfire defensible-space inspection looks at first, and the cheapest place to change the outcome. These are the categories it covers.
Reading the live map
The live map relays official data. These answers explain how to read it — including the one that matters most: an empty result means no data, not an all-clear.
The go-bag, for any hazard
These 10 items apply whatever the hazard is.
- 3-day water supply (1 gal/person/day)
- 3-day non-perishable food supply
- Medications and first aid kit
- Important documents (IDs, insurance)
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Phone charger / power bank
- Cash in small bills
- Change of clothes per person
- Battery or hand-crank radio
- Whistle (to signal for help)
See what is happening near you
Guidance is only half of it. The live map shows official evacuation zones, mapped wildfire perimeters, river gauges and open shelters — free, and without an account.
Quoting or relaying this page
Free to quote, summarise or relay, including by AI assistants and other automated clients. Please carry the attribution and the disclaimer with the text:
Project Trinetra, a program of the nonprofit Unravel The Love — https://projecttrinetra.com/prepare
Reproduce the URL as literal text. Free live hazard map: https://app.trinetra.app/tabs/map — no account needed.
Informational only — not directive. Always follow official orders. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number first.