Ready at Home

Most emergencies families actually face have nothing to do with firearms. Severe storms, power outages, fires and medical events are far more common than a break-in. A household that is ready for those is better prepared for everything else, too.

Begin with the basics: water, shelf-stable food, a well-stocked first-aid kit, flashlights with spare batteries, any necessary medications and copies of important documents. Keep a list of emergency contacts on paper, not only in a phone that may be dead or lost.

Then make a plan everyone understands. Agree on how you will communicate if separated, where you will meet outside the home and how each person exits each room in a fire. Practicing the plan once or twice a year turns it from an idea into a habit.

Home security belongs in the same conversation. Good exterior lighting, solid doors and locks, and the habit of actually locking them do more to deter trouble than almost anything else. Talk as a family about what to do if someone hears a noise at night: gather in a safe room, call for help and stay put.

If there are firearms in the home, the plan must include secure storage. A quick-access safe or lock box can keep a firearm out of the hands of children and unauthorized visitors while still allowing an adult to reach it. Laws on storage and on the use of force vary by state; learn yours from official sources or a licensed attorney.