UpOnly Learning Presents
Family Emergency GuideNatural Disasters, Power and Internet Outages
Official guidanceThis guide summarizes official guidance. It does not replace instructions from local officials. In the United States, call 911 in an emergency. If your 911 call does not go through.
How to use this guide
- Check your state's top hazards: Natural Hazard Risk by State
- Then check your county: Your County's Risk
- Make your plan and kit:
- Read the page for each hazard that applies to you.
- After any disaster, read After a Disaster.
Hazard pages
| Page | Matching FEMA National Risk Index hazards |
|---|---|
| Hurricanes | Hurricane |
| Tornadoes | Tornado |
| Floods | Inland Flooding, Coastal Flooding |
| Wildfires and Smoke | Wildfire |
| Earthquakes | Earthquake |
| Winter Storms and Extreme Cold | Winter Weather, Cold Wave, Ice Storm |
| Extreme Heat | Heat Wave |
| Thunderstorms, Lightning, and Hail | Lightning, Hail, Strong Wind |
| Tsunamis | Tsunami |
| Landslides and Debris Flows | Landslide |
| Volcanoes | Volcanic Activity |
| Power Outages | (not an NRI hazard) |
| Internet and Phone Outages | (not an NRI hazard) |
| After a Disaster | (all hazards; not an NRI hazard) |
The NRI hazard names come from the field names in FEMA's National Risk Index states data.[1]
In an emergency
- In the United States, the FCC designates 911 as the universal emergency number.[2]
- The FCC says, "Always contact 911 by making a voice call, if you can."[3]
- See the Communication Plan for text-to-911 and other numbers, and If your 911 call does not go through.
Every page cites its sources
Each page ends with a numbered list of the official sources it restates. Numbers in brackets, like [1], point to that list.
Sources
Last checked: October 26, 2026. Each numbered source below was opened and checked on the date shown. Numbers in brackets in the text, like [1], point to this list.
- [1] FEMA National Risk Index, States Expected Annual Loss feature layer
- Published by
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Level
- U.S. federal government
- Found at
- services.arcgis.com/XG15cJAlne2vxtgt/arcgis/rest/services/National_Risk_Index_States_Expected_Annual_Loss/FeatureServer/0
- Checked
- Oct 26, 2026
- [2] FCC, news release on implementing the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999
- Published by
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Level
- U.S. federal government
- Found at
- transition.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/News_Releases/2000/nrwl0029.html
- Checked
- Oct 26, 2026
- [3] FCC, What You Need to Know About Text-to-911
- Published by
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Level
- U.S. federal government
- Found at
- www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/what-you-need-know-about-text-911
- Checked
- Oct 26, 2026
We check every line against official sources. If you ever spot an error (rare, but it happens), send us a screenshot through our form and we’ll fix it.