Prepping in Washington, DC
DC's biggest disruptions come from weather and from the city shutting down around big events. Plan for an apartment without power and a commute without Metro.
- Severe storms
- Heat waves
- Flash flooding
Sign up today
The official Washington, DC alert and lookup tools. Each takes a few minutes and works even if you do nothing else on this page.
- AlertDCSign up for AlertDC
The District's official alerts for emergencies, weather, traffic and major events. Choose the neighborhoods and topics you want.
Links checked October 2026. Wireless Emergency Alerts reach most phones automatically; these add local detail.
What can go wrong in Washington, DC
- Derechos and severe storms
- In June 2012, a derecho knocked out power to more than a million customers in the region during a heat wave.
- Heat waves
- Humid summer heat is dangerous for older residents in apartments without AC.
- Flash flooding
- Intense rain can flood low streets, underpasses and basements quickly.
- Winter storms
- Snow and ice shut down roads and transit.
- Earthquakes
- Rare but real: a 2011 Virginia quake damaged the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral.
What that means for your plan
Plan for getting home without Metro. Keep comfortable shoes, water, a charger and a snack at work, and agree on a meeting point with your household in case phones are jammed.
In an apartment, store water in stackable containers, keep an emergency toilet kit and headlamps, and pack a go-bag you can carry down stairs.
Summer outages are the dangerous ones. A power station that runs a fan, plus a plan to get to a cooling center, covers most of the risk.
Do these first, in this order
- AlertDC
Weather, emergencies and road closures in one place.
Radios and communication guide - Work-to-home kit
Shoes, water, charger and snack at your desk.
Go-bags and evacuation guide - Water in stackable containers
Two weeks per person.
Water storage and filters guide - Power station and fan
For summer blackouts.
Power stations and generators guide - Headlamps
Dark stairwells and hallways.
Lighting and staying warm guide - Emergency toilet kit
When water pressure fails.
Sanitation and hygiene guide
Questions
How do I get emergency alerts in Washington, DC?
Sign up for AlertDC at alert.dc.gov. You can choose topics and neighborhoods, including weather, traffic and major events.
What should I keep at work in case I can't get home?
Comfortable shoes, a bottle of water, a snack, a phone charger or power bank, any daily medications and a printed list of key phone numbers.
How ready is your Washington, DC home?
The quiz weights every item for city apartment risks and shows your top gaps. About 3 minutes, no sign-up.