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.
A go bag checklist for city and apartment living: water, documents, medications, light, communication and extras, plus how to pack, store and update your bag.
A practical apartment fire safety guide: the leading causes of home fires, smoke alarms and extinguishers, lithium-ion battery risks, how to make an escape plan for an apartment or high-rise, what to do if fire is in your unit or elsewhere in the building, and renter’s rights and responsibilities.
How to keep electricity-dependent medical devices running during a power outage: making a plan with your provider, calculating watts and watt-hours, choosing batteries, power stations or generators, utility medical registries, keeping refrigerated medicine safe and when to go to a shelter or hospital.
How to light your home safely in a power outage: why safety agencies recommend battery lights over candles, flashlights versus lanterns versus headlamps, how to read lumens, runtime and water ratings, battery choices, how many lights you need and where to keep them.
A practical guide to NOAA Weather Radios and hand-crank emergency radios: how NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards works, SAME county coding, Public Alert features, what hand-crank radios can and cannot do, reception tips for apartments and a setup checklist.
How to choose a power bank for a power outage: mAh vs watt-hours, how many charges to expect, sizing for a household, safe storage and an outage plan.
Prepare your apartment or high-rise for a 72-hour to 2-week power outage with our FEMA-aligned water storage math, no-cook vs. freeze-dried pantry layers, and safe indoor lighting.
Portable generator safety for power outages: carbon monoxide risks and alarms, the 20-foot placement rule, wet weather, extension cords and transfer switches, refueling and safe fuel storage, based on CPSC, CDC, Ready.gov, OSHA and Red Cross guidance.
How long food stays safe in the fridge and freezer when the power goes out, according to USDA: the 4-hour and 48-hour rules, the 40-degree threshold, what to keep and what to toss, refreezing, dry ice and coolers, and how to prepare before an outage.