How to Get Home When Transit Shuts Down: A Commuter Emergency Plan for City Dwellers
This post may contain affiliate links, full disclosure here.
Quick answer: if trains or buses stop during an emergency, first follow the operator’s instructions and official alerts, then decide whether to shelter where you are or head home. Plan ahead with Ready.gov’s Commuter Emergency Plan: know at least two routes home, including one you could walk, pick a meeting place and an out-of-town contact, and keep transit emergency numbers with you. Carry a small kit (the American Red Cross suggests a flashlight, dust mask, gloves and a paper map), keep comfortable walking shoes and at least 24 hours of supplies at work, and text rather than call when networks are overloaded.
Millions of city residents depend on trains, subways and buses to get to work and back. That works until a power failure, a severe storm, a major incident or a system shutdown stops service while you are miles from home.
This guide uses planning guidance from Ready.gov and the American Red Cross, which developed its commuter safety information with the Federal Transit Administration and the American Public Transportation Association. It is part of our apartment emergency kit guide, which covers what to keep at home.
Sources: Ready.gov, Plan for Locations, Build a Kit and Commuter Emergency Plan (PDF); American Red Cross, Commuter Safety (developed with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration and the American Public Transportation Association); Federal Communications Commission, tips for communicating during emergencies; National Weather Service, WEA and alert guidance. General safety information; always follow instructions from transit staff and local officials. Checked October 2026.
Why Commuters Need Their Own Plan
Ready.gov points out that you cannot predict where you will be when a disaster hits, so you need plans and supplies for every place you go regularly. For city residents, that list usually includes home, work and the trains, buses or ferries that connect them.
A commuter emergency can take many forms: a citywide blackout that stops subways, a storm that suspends service, a security incident that closes stations or a heat wave that slows trains. Some last an hour. Others leave thousands of people walking home or sleeping at the office.
Step 1: Fill Out a Commuter Emergency Plan
Ready.gov publishes a free Commuter Emergency Plan you can print and fill in. The American Red Cross suggests the same kinds of information. Keep a copy in your bag and on your phone, including:
- Your transit system’s phone number and website.
- Transit police non-emergency and emergency numbers.
- Your local Red Cross chapter’s contact information.
- Family members’ phone numbers and an out-of-town contact.
- Your household’s emergency meeting place.
- Your workplace emergency contact or security desk.
The Red Cross recommends designating an out-of-town friend or relative as a contact point, because it may be easier to reach someone outside the affected area when local lines are overloaded. Our guide to making a family emergency communication plan explains how to set this up for your whole household.
Step 2: Learn More Than One Way Home
The Red Cross advises learning alternate routes now, before you need them. Map out:
- Your primary transit route.
- A second transit option, such as a different train line, a bus route or a ferry.
- A walking route. Know the distance and how long it would take. Many city commuters have never walked their commute and are surprised by the time involved.
- A midpoint stop. A friend’s place, a relative’s home or a familiar public building partway home where you could rest or stay overnight.
Keep a local paper map in your bag, as the Red Cross recommends. Phone batteries die and map apps may not load when networks are overloaded.
Step 3: Know What to Do on a Train, Bus or Platform
The Red Cross offers specific guidance for each setting:
- On a train. If the train stops, follow the operator’s instructions quickly and calmly. Only in an extreme emergency, when you must evacuate without the operator’s help, should you follow posted emergency procedures.
- On a station platform. Learn all the exits at the stations you use, in case you need a different one. Listen for announcements and follow instructions.
- On a bus. Follow the operator’s instructions. Emergency exit procedures are posted on windows, roof hatches and doors.
Walking onto tracks or into tunnels can be deadly, even when trains appear to be stopped. Wait for staff instructions unless there is an immediate danger.
Step 4: Carry a Small Everyday Kit
The Red Cross recommends carrying a small flashlight, a dust mask and a pair of protective gloves while commuting, plus a local map. Many commuters add a few more items that fit in a work bag:
- A charged power bank and charging cable.
- A refillable water bottle.
- A snack bar or two.
- Any daily medications for at least a day.
- A small amount of cash in small bills.
- Hand sanitizer and tissues.
- A whistle.
- A compact rain poncho or emergency blanket.
These items take up little space and can make a long walk home or a night at the office far more manageable. For a fuller bag, see our urban go-bag checklist.
Step 5: Stock a Workplace Kit
Ready.gov recommends that people be prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours, with a grab-and-go kit that includes food, water, medicines and comfortable walking shoes. Keep it in a desk drawer or locker:
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Comfortable walking shoes and socks | Walking miles in dress shoes causes blisters and injuries |
| Water and nonperishable food for 24 hours | Stores and vending machines may be closed or empty |
| Medications and a copy of prescriptions | You may not get home for a day or more |
| Flashlight and spare batteries | Offices and stairwells can go dark |
| Phone charger and power bank | Keeps you connected and able to use maps |
| A change of clothes or a warm layer | Office temperatures change fast without power |
| Basic first aid supplies | For blisters, cuts and minor injuries |
Ask your employer whether the workplace has an emergency plan, as the Red Cross suggests, and fold it into your personal plan.
Step 6: Decide Whether to Stay or Go
When transit stops, your first decision is whether to stay where you are or head home. Ready.gov advises determining whether you should stay put, shelter in place or get away, and to listen for and follow instructions.
Stay where you are when:
- Officials tell people to shelter in place.
- Weather is dangerous, such as a blizzard, extreme heat or a severe thunderstorm.
- The route home crosses hazards like flooded streets, downed power lines or closed bridges.
- It is late at night and your route is long or unfamiliar.
Head home when:
- Officials say it is safe to travel.
- Your route is reasonable to walk or an alternate transit option is running.
- You need to reach children, dependents or pets, and the route is safe.
Step 7: Stay Connected Without Jamming the Network
Phone networks can become congested during emergencies. The Federal Communications Commission recommends keeping calls brief and using text messages when possible, since texts may get through when calls cannot. Other tips:
- Update your status on social media or messaging apps once, rather than making many calls.
- Conserve battery by dimming your screen and closing apps.
- Keep emergency alerts enabled on your phone to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts.
- Listen to local radio if networks are down. Our guide to NOAA weather radios and hand-crank radios covers compact options.
Step 8: Make a Plan for Children and Dependents
Ready.gov recommends making backup plans for children in case you cannot get home. Before an emergency:
- Know your children’s school or daycare emergency and pickup policies.
- Authorize a nearby friend or neighbor to pick up your children.
- Arrange for someone to check on elderly relatives or pets.
- Share your commuter plan with the people who would step in.
Common Commuter Emergency Scenarios
Each type of disruption calls for slightly different choices. This table summarizes general approaches based on the guidance above:
| Scenario | What usually happens | Commuter priorities |
|---|---|---|
| Citywide power outage | Subways and signals stop, elevators fail, traffic lights go dark | Follow staff instructions to exit, use stairs, decide whether walking home is practical in daylight |
| Severe thunderstorm or blizzard | Service suspended or slowed, outdoor travel dangerous | Shelter indoors until the storm passes, monitor alerts, avoid walking in lightning or whiteout conditions |
| Flash flooding | Stations and underpasses flood, roads close | Never walk or drive through floodwater, move to higher floors or ground, wait for official all-clear |
| Extreme heat | Trains slow, platforms overheat, crowds build | Drink water, avoid long walks in peak heat, use cooling centers |
| Security incident or major emergency | Stations close, areas cordoned off | Follow police and transit instructions, move away from the area, check official channels |
Floodwater is especially dangerous for pedestrians. The National Weather Service warns that just six inches of moving water can knock an adult off their feet. Our guide to flood safety explains why to turn around rather than cross. In summer, our guide to extreme heat safety covers the warning signs of heat illness, which matters if you end up walking a long distance.
If You Drive Part of the Way
Many commuters drive to a park-and-ride lot or combine driving with transit. Ready.gov recommends having a plan for traveling between work, home and other places you go regularly. If an emergency affects the roads, its guidance is to pull over and set the parking brake if you cannot control the vehicle, avoid overpasses, bridges and power lines, and stay inside the car if a power line falls on it until a trained person removes the wire. Keep a small kit in the car, and listen to the radio for instructions.
Walking Home Safely
If you do walk home, a few habits help:
- Walk with coworkers or others heading the same direction when possible.
- Stay on main streets and away from damaged buildings, downed wires and flooded areas.
- Ready.gov advises avoiding power lines, overpasses, bridges and signs when an emergency may affect the stability of roads. Stay well away from any downed line.
- Pace yourself, drink water and take breaks.
- Check in with your out-of-town contact or family at your midpoint.
In extreme heat, walking long distances can be dangerous. Look for official cooling centers and rest in shade.
Practice Your Plan
The Red Cross recommends reviewing, updating and practicing your plans from time to time. Try walking part of your route home on a nice weekend day. Time it, note landmarks, rest stops and restrooms, and see whether your shoes would hold up. Update your plan whenever you change jobs, move or your transit route changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my train stops during an emergency? Follow the operator's instructions quickly and calmly. Only use posted emergency procedures to evacuate on your own in an extreme emergency.
What should I keep at work for emergencies? Ready.gov recommends being prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours, with food, water, medications and comfortable walking shoes in a grab-and-go kit.
What should commuters carry every day? The American Red Cross suggests a small flashlight, dust mask, protective gloves and a local map. A power bank, water, snacks and medications are useful additions.
Should I text or call during an emergency? The FCC recommends texting when possible and keeping calls short, because networks may be overloaded and texts may get through when calls cannot.
Should I walk home or stay at work? It depends on official instructions, weather, hazards on your route and distance. When in doubt, follow official guidance and consider sheltering at work.
What is an out-of-town contact? A friend or relative outside your area whom everyone in your household checks in with. Long-distance contacts may be easier to reach when local lines are overloaded.
The Bottom Line
A commuter emergency plan turns a stranded afternoon into a manageable inconvenience. Fill out Ready.gov’s Commuter Emergency Plan, learn at least one walking route home, keep a small kit in your bag and a 24-hour kit at work, and agree on how your household will check in. When the trains stop, you will already know your next move.
