No single site covers everything. These are the ones worth your time, grouped by what you're trying to learn, with a line on what each does best and where to be careful.
Checked October 2026. None of these are affiliate links, and nobody paid to be listed.
Broad, trustworthy places to learn the basics and build a plan.
Best for: Making a family emergency plan and learning the basics for each kind of disaster.
The federal government's public preparedness site. Short, clear pages on kits, plans, and what to do before, during and after dozens of hazards.
Keep in mind: Deliberately basic. Great for a plan, light on gear advice.
Visit ready.govBest for: Plain-language checklists by disaster type, including for kids, older adults and people with disabilities.
Practical checklists you can print, plus free apps for emergency alerts and first aid.
Visit redcross.orgBest for: Tested gear picks when you want a second opinion before you buy.
Wirecutter's team buys and tests radios, lights, water containers and more, and explains why each pick won. Related guides cover go-bags, hurricanes and wildfire.
Keep in mind: Some articles need a New York Times subscription.
Visit nytimes.comBest for: Deep, research-heavy explainers and a prioritized go-bag list.
Long, careful guides on skills, scenarios and gear, written for rational preparedness rather than doomsday.
Keep in mind: Some reviews are a few years old, so check the date and current prices.
Visit theprepared.comBest for: Real-world questions, budget tips and what actually worked for people in outages and storms.
A large, active forum. Search before posting; most beginner questions have been answered many times.
Keep in mind: Quality varies. Check safety advice against official sources.
Visit reddit.comThe fastest way to know something is happening. Set these up before you need them.
Best for: Finding your local station and setting up a weather radio for alerts that work without cell service.
Coverage maps, station frequencies and county codes so a weather radio wakes you only for alerts in your area.
Visit weather.govBest for: Hurricane forecasts, storm surge maps and the official word on where a storm is heading.
The source every TV forecast draws from, with surge warnings that matter more than the wind category.
Visit nhc.noaa.govBest for: Earthquake early warning on your phone in California, Oregon and Washington.
Free app that can give seconds of warning before shaking arrives: enough to drop, cover and hold on.
Keep in mind: West Coast only.
Visit myshake.berkeley.eduBest for: Real-time wildfire maps, evacuation orders and fire updates.
Staff and volunteers monitor fire radio and official sources and push updates, often faster than anything else. Widely used during the 2025 Los Angeles fires.
Keep in mind: Not every region is covered. Always follow official evacuation orders.
Visit watchduty.orgDeeper guides for the two disasters that give the least warning.
Best for: The Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety and the annual ShakeOut drill.
Clear guidance on securing your space, making a plan and what to do when shaking starts, from the group that runs ShakeOut.
Visit earthquakecountry.orgBest for: Defensible space, hardening your home against embers, and the Ready, Set, Go evacuation plan.
California's wildfire preparedness site, useful in any fire-prone state.
Visit readyforwildfire.orgTraining beats gear. These are the best places to learn in person.
Best for: Learning to stop severe bleeding with pressure, packing and a tourniquet.
A short, often free class taught near you. Skills you keep for life.
Visit stopthebleed.orgBest for: CPR, AED and first aid certification.
In-person and blended classes across the country.
Keep in mind: Most classes cost money; some employers and community groups cover it.
Visit redcross.orgBest for: Disaster first aid, fire safety and light search and rescue, taught by local responders.
Community Emergency Response Team courses are usually free and connect you with neighbors who prepare too.
Visit fema.govBest for: Getting a ham radio license to talk across town when phones are down.
The national ham radio organization's guide to the entry-level license, study materials and finding an exam.
Visit arrl.orgBest for: Free practice exams and flashcards for the ham radio license.
The study tool most new hams use. It shows which questions you keep missing.
Visit hamstudy.orgResearch-based sources for storing and preserving food and water safely.
Best for: Making water safe to drink by boiling, disinfecting or filtering, and how to store it.
Exact bleach ratios and what each treatment method does and doesn't remove.
Visit cdc.govBest for: Long-term food storage: shelf life, rotation and how much to store.
University extension research from a state known for food storage, with free fact sheets.
Visit extension.usu.eduBest for: A simple, widely copied plan: a three-month supply of everyday food, then long-term staples.
Short and practical, and the source of much of the advice you'll see on prepper sites.
Keep in mind: Written for church members, but useful to anyone.
Visit churchofjesuschrist.orgBest for: Tested, safe recipes for canning, freezing and drying food.
The reference for home canning times and methods. Use it instead of untested recipes online.
Visit nchfp.uga.eduBest for: What to keep and what to throw out after a power outage.
Clear rules on fridge and freezer food, with a chart by food type.
Visit fsis.usda.govStaying safe when you're running on backup power and heat.
Best for: Running a generator without poisoning your household.
Where to place a generator, why garages are never safe, and what CO alarms to have.
Visit cpsc.govBest for: Food, medicine, heat and carbon monoxide safety in an outage.
A short checklist that covers the mistakes that hurt people most often.
Visit cdc.govThe parts of preparedness people forget until they need them.
Best for: Planning for pets: supplies, rescue stickers and pet-friendly places to evacuate to.
Many shelters don't take pets, so this is worth doing before an evacuation.
Visit aspca.orgBest for: Gathering the documents, account details and cash you'll need to recover after a disaster.
Fill-in checklists for IDs, insurance, medical and financial records.
Visit ready.govBest for: Talking to someone after a disaster. Call or text 1-800-985-5990, any time.
Free, confidential crisis counseling for anyone affected by a disaster, including responders.
Visit samhsa.govCheck off what you have. Get a score, your top gaps and a card to share. About 3 minutes, no sign-up.