Basement and below-grade apartments can flood in minutes during heavy rain. How to know your risk, sign up for alerts, plan two ways out, protect belongings and get flood coverage.

How to prepare for an ice storm in the city: what freezing rain warnings mean, how to stay warm and safe through outages, avoid downed lines and falling ice, and walk and drive on ice.

Lightning safety for city residents: why thunder means go indoors, which shelters actually protect you, what to avoid inside an apartment and the 30-minute rule from the National Weather Service.

A severe weather preparedness guide for city and suburban homes: alerts, watch vs warning, a core kit, and what to do for storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, heat and cold.

How to organize neighbors for emergencies in an apartment building: contact lists, floor captains, a skills and needs inventory, shared supplies and CERT training.

A commuter emergency plan for city life: what to do when trains or buses stop, walking-home routes, an office kit, communication plans and when to shelter.

A pet emergency plan for city apartments: what goes in a pet kit, carrier training, buddy systems, rescue alert stickers and where pets can go in an evacuation.

What renters insurance covers in a fire, storm or theft, why flood and earthquake need separate coverage, and how to build a home inventory before disaster.

How to plan an apartment or high-rise evacuation with a disability or limited mobility: stairs, elevators, areas of refuge, support networks and a kit checklist.

How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke when you live in an apartment: reading the Air Quality Index, sealing windows and doors, choosing and sizing a HEPA air cleaner, DIY box fan filters, N95 masks, HVAC settings and when to leave for a cleaner-air space.