Emergency Alerts & Preparedness
The 5-Minute Preparedness Check
A 5-minute preparedness check is a short routine for scanning public signals before the day, a trip, or changing weather.
It is not a substitute for a full emergency plan; it is a lightweight habit that helps you know what official source to check next.
What it means
A 5-minute preparedness check is a short routine for scanning public signals before the day, a trip, or changing weather.
It is not a substitute for a full emergency plan; it is a lightweight habit that helps you know what official source to check next.
Why it matters
Short routines are easier to repeat than complex checklists and can catch obvious changes in alerts, power, smoke, transportation, or communications.
They are most useful before disruption, not after decisions become urgent.
What to watch
- Official alerts first, then weather, smoke/AQI, outages, travel, fuel, communications, and water stress.
- Any signal that affects today's route, caregiving, outdoor plans, or backup-power assumptions.
- Links to official agencies for anything urgent or location-specific.
How HazardNow uses this signal
HazardNow organizes these categories in one dashboard so users can run a quick scan without opening many unrelated pages first.
The checklist page and Learn articles explain what each category means.
Limitations
HazardNow is informational only. For urgent decisions, protective actions, warnings, evacuations, closures, medical guidance, utility restoration, or travel instructions, follow official agencies and local authorities.
- Five minutes cannot capture every local hazard.
- A routine does not replace alerts, emergency plans, or official instructions.
- Some important information may be unavailable in public feeds.
Related HazardNow pages
Official/public sources
These links are starting points for source verification. Local instructions, official alert text, and agency updates take priority.
FAQ
When should I use the check?
Use it before commutes, travel, outdoor plans, severe-weather days, or whenever conditions appear to be changing.
Is this an emergency action checklist?
No. It is an awareness routine. Follow official guidance during emergencies.