Prepare my household
Household emergency plan
Put your contacts, meeting places, pet needs and utility locations on one personal fridge sheet.
- Fridge sheet
- Print / save PDF
- Offline report
A little preparation. A calmer next step.
Free home planners & printable checklists
Personal plans, practical checklists and a place to organize the details. Free tools for your home, your fridge and the moments you need a plan.
A plan for your home
What would you like to do?
Build a personal plan, a maintenance schedule or a damage record. Print it, save it and come back when things change. Free, with no account needed.
Plan home maintenance
Home maintenance calendar
Choose your home and its features for a seasonal schedule you can print or add to your calendar.
- 12-month schedule
- Print / save PDF
- Calendar reminders (.ics)
Organize damage details
Damage documentation organizer
Record what happened, follow room-by-room photo prompts and export notes and photos in one organized record.
- Room notes & photo copies
- Print / save PDF
- Offline report
Ready to print & fill in by hand
Choose a single sheet below or download all 13 together. Each PDF is one US Letter page, with writing space and an ink-friendly layout that also works in black and white. Use “Fit to page” for A4. You can also expand any tool to read it online.
Act safely
Fridge checklist
Water damage: first steps
A calm, safety-first checklist for a leak, burst pipe, flood or sewage backup.
Read the checklist online
Keep this where everyone can find it. Check off only the steps that are safe for your situation.
Immediate danger? Get out and call 911. Stay out of floodwater, sewage and rooms with electrical or structural hazards.
1 / Keep people safe
- Move people and pets away from the affected area. Follow evacuation instructions.
- Do not touch wet outlets, appliances or electrical panels. Have a qualified professional make the area safe.
2 / Get the right help
- For a plumbing leak, close the known water shutoff only if you can reach it safely from a dry area.
- Call a plumber for the source and a restoration team for the damage. Tell them if sewage or floodwater is involved.
- Wait for professional advice before using fans, equipment or opening walls when contamination is possible.
3 / Start a simple record
- From a safe area, note when the damage was discovered and which rooms are affected.
- Photograph what you can safely see. Contact your insurer and keep receipts and call notes.
Space to fill in
- Water shutoff location
- Plumber / emergency number
- Damage found: date / time
- Restoration visit / next step
Reference guidance
Fridge checklist
After fire or smoke damage
Keep track of safe access, immediate contacts and the first recovery decisions.
Read the checklist online
Use after everyone is safely away from the fire. Recovery starts with safe access.
A fire being out does not mean a building is safe. Re-enter only when fire officials say it is safe.
1 / Arrange the essentials
- Follow fire officials' access instructions and record whom to contact for updates.
- Arrange a safe place for people and pets to stay. Keep essential medication and daily needs in mind.
- Tell your insurer what happened and ask how to document temporary living expenses.
2 / Protect the recovery
- Ask the restoration team about securing openings and assessing soot, smoke and firefighting water.
- Do not turn utilities back on yourself. Ask officials or the utility who must inspect them.
- Avoid disturbing soot or using affected equipment until a qualified professional advises you.
3 / Keep a record
- Photograph damage only from safe, permitted areas; list rooms you could not access.
- Keep receipts, contact names and a written record of the next agreed action.
Space to fill in
- Fire department / incident number
- Safe access instructions
- Temporary accommodation
- Insurer / restoration contact
Reference guidance
Prepare & prevent
Fridge checklist
Storm readiness checklist
Prepare for heavy rain, wind and evacuation before conditions become dangerous.
Read the checklist online
Work through this before severe weather. Keep the completed plan with your emergency supplies.
Follow local alerts and evacuation orders. Never walk or drive through floodwater. Skip outdoor work once conditions are unsafe.
Before the weather arrives
- Check local forecasts and sign up for your city or county emergency alerts.
- Choose a meeting place, an evacuation route and a backup place to stay with pets.
- Charge phones and power banks; gather medication, water, food, flashlights and essential documents.
- From ground level, look for loose outdoor items and blocked drainage. Arrange qualified help for roof, gutter or tree work.
Before you leave
- Bring emergency supplies and pet essentials. Let your household contact know where you are going.
- Move important belongings out of low areas only while it is safe to do so.
- Keep a copy of household contacts and insurance information available offline.
Space to fill in
- Local alert source
- Meeting place / backup
- Route / alternative route
- Who checks on whom
Reference guidance
Fridge contact sheet
Our household emergency plan
A fill-in contact sheet with meeting places, utility contacts and who helps whom.
Read the checklist online
Fill this in together, share a copy and review it when contact details or household needs change.
For immediate danger, leave the area and call 911. Follow emergency officials' directions before returning.
Make the plan familiar
- Choose a local meeting place and an out-of-area contact. Practise how everyone will reconnect.
- Plan support for children, pets and anyone with mobility, communication or medical needs.
- Know where the water shutoff is. Ask your utility about safe procedures before an emergency.
Space to fill in
- Household contact / phone
- Out-of-area contact / phone
- Nearby meeting place
- Backup meeting place / address
- Children / pets / assistance plan
- Water shutoff location
- Water utility / gas utility contacts
- Electric utility / property manager
- Emergency supplies / keys location
Reference guidance
Fridge checklist
Home maintenance checklist
An easy monthly and seasonal routine for spotting leaks and reducing fire hazards.
Read the checklist online
Use one sheet per year. This is a suggested routine; follow equipment instructions and arrange qualified help as needed.
Keep inspections at a safe, accessible level. Leave roof work, electrical repairs and hidden leaks to qualified professionals.
Monthly
- Test smoke alarms. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for carbon monoxide alarms.
- Look under sinks and around toilets, appliances and accessible pipes for drips, stains or dampness.
- Check for new ceiling stains, bubbling paint or musty smells and record what changed.
Before the rainy season
- Arrange a roof and gutter check; check ground-level drainage routes.
- Review your household contacts, emergency supplies and water shutoff location.
- Photograph important belongings and back up your inventory.
Ongoing / as needed
- Clean the dryer lint filter after each use; arrange vent cleaning when needed.
- Replace damaged cords; keep combustible items away from heat sources.
- Fix leaks promptly and follow up on the source of recurring moisture.
Space to fill in
- Year / household
- Next inspection date
- Repair needed / responsible person
Reference guidance
Binder worksheet
Moisture & leak observation log
Record stains, odors, humidity readings and changes to share with an inspector.
Read the checklist online
Record what you notice without opening walls or disturbing suspect material. Make a fresh copy for each room.
This log does not diagnose mold or prove a room is dry. If you suspect mold in HVAC equipment, do not run it; seek professional advice.
Look, record, follow up
- Note the room, exact location and when you first noticed the change.
- Record any recent leak, rain event or condensation. Add a photo reference if safe.
- If using a humidity meter, record its reading and location. Arrange help for persistent or recurring moisture.
Space to fill in
- Room / exact location
- First noticed / recent leak or rain
Observation history
Columns: Date / time; What changed / reading; Photo ref.; Action / follow-up. 5 blank rows.
Reference guidance
Document & organize
Binder checklist
Damage photo checklist
A room-by-room shot list and photo log to keep your damage record organized.
Read the checklist online
Photograph only where access is safe and permitted. Keep original files and a backed-up copy.
Documentation must never delay evacuation or urgent help. Record unsafe or inaccessible areas without entering them.
Capture the story
- Start with a wide view showing the room and the location of visible damage.
- Take medium and close views of affected surfaces or belongings; keep related images together.
- Capture identifying details such as labels, model numbers or serial numbers when safely accessible.
- Write down discovery time, room and visible condition. Separate observations from guesses about cause.
Keep files useful
- Name folders by date and room. Save originals, receipts and any professional inspection records.
- Ask your insurer about damaged-item retention or disposal requirements; follow health and safety directions.
Space to fill in
- Property / loss date
- Photo backup location
Photo log
Columns: Room / item; File or photo number; What it shows. 3 blank rows.
Reference guidance
Binder worksheet
Room-by-room home inventory
A repeatable worksheet for belongings, identifying details and photo references.
Read the checklist online
Print one sheet per room. Photograph belongings and keep a secure copy away from the property.
List what you know and mark estimates clearly. This worksheet records belongings; it does not determine insurance value or coverage.
Make it easier to update
- Include brand, model, serial number, quantity and approximate purchase date where known.
- Link each item to photos or receipts; note when those records are unavailable.
Space to fill in
- Room / sheet number
- Prepared by / date
- Secure backup location
Belongings
Columns: Item / quantity; Brand / model / serial; Bought / cost*; Photo / receipt ref.. 5 blank rows.
* Record original purchase cost if known; label estimates. Print additional sheets for more items.
Reference guidance
Binder worksheet
Insurance conversation planner
Gather questions, claim contacts and next steps before you speak with your insurer.
Read the checklist online
Use this to prepare for a call about coverage, an estimate, a denial or a claim update.
Ask your insurer to explain your own policy and any deadlines in writing. This is an organizer, not legal advice or a promise of coverage.
Questions to ask
- What policy wording applies to this loss, and what documents do you still need?
- What are the next steps, contact person and applicable submission dates?
- How should I document urgent work, damaged items and temporary living expenses?
- If an amount or decision is disputed, can you explain it in writing and describe the review process?
Space to fill in
- Insurer / claim reference
- Contact / phone or email
- Call date / person spoken to
- Questions / documents still needed
- Written explanation / policy section
- Next action / owner / due date
Reference guidance
Binder worksheet
Recovery expense & receipt log
Keep temporary housing, meals, travel and other recovery receipts in one place.
Read the checklist online
Use a new sheet as needed. Keep itemized receipts and record what each purchase was for.
Recording an expense does not mean it is covered. Ask your insurer about eligibility, limits, documentation and advance approval.
Before you submit
- Ask how to distinguish additional living costs from your normal household spending.
- Give each receipt a reference number and keep a digital backup.
- Record submissions and the insurer's response separately from what you spent.
Space to fill in
- Claim reference / dates covered
- Usual cost baseline / insurer instructions
Expense record
Columns: Date; Vendor / purpose; Amount; Receipt ref.; Submitted / status. 5 blank rows.
Sheet total: ____________________ Submitted on: ____________________
Reference guidance
Plan the recovery
Binder worksheet
Restoration contractor questions
Compare scope, credentials, communication and written estimates side by side.
Read the checklist online
Use the same questions for each company. Keep estimates and written answers with this sheet.
Verify the license with CSLB and match it to the business name. A restoration contractor and an insurance adjuster have different roles.
Ask before authorizing work
- What work is included and excluded, and who will perform it?
- What license, insurance and relevant qualifications can I verify?
- How will you document damage, progress, drying or other completion criteria?
- Who is my contact, and how will price changes and additional work be approved in writing?
Space to fill in
- Project / date
Compare written answers
Columns: Question; Company A; Company B. 5 blank rows.
- Name / license checked
- Scope / exclusions
- Estimate / payment terms
- Timing / lead contact
- Questions still open
Reference guidance
Binder worksheet
Rebuild planning & decision sheet
Track scope, permits, materials, change decisions and the next milestone.
Read the checklist online
Bring this to project meetings and keep it alongside your signed contract and approved plans.
Confirm permit and inspection needs with the local building department and licensed contractor. This sheet is not a permit, contract or occupancy clearance.
Before the work moves ahead
- Confirm the written scope, exclusions, estimate and who manages each stage.
- Ask which permits, inspections and code-related work apply to your property.
- List material choices, order dates and who approves substitutions.
- Keep written change approvals and the latest agreed schedule together.
Space to fill in
- Project / meeting date
- Contractor / main contact
- Permit / inspection questions
Decisions and milestones
Columns: Decision / task; Owner; Needed by; Agreed outcome / reference. 4 blank rows.
Reference guidance
Business worksheet
Property & business recovery log
Coordinate site contacts, affected areas, records and reopening questions.
Read the checklist online
For property managers, offices, schools, restaurants and facilities. Use with your existing emergency and continuity plans.
Protect occupants first. Reopening may require building, fire, health or other authority approval; a completed checklist is not clearance.
Assign the next steps
- Account for occupants and establish a safe contact point outside restricted areas.
- Identify the site lead, property owner, insurer and restoration contact.
- Record affected rooms, inventory, equipment and records without entering unsafe areas.
- Assign who will notify staff, tenants, families, customers or vendors as relevant.
- Ask the appropriate authorities what inspections or approvals are needed before reopening.
Space to fill in
- Site / incident date
- Site lead / emergency contact
- Owner / insurer / restoration contact
Recovery actions
Columns: Area / priority; Action / owner; Due / status. 4 blank rows.
Reference guidance
For more context, browse the restoration guides. Reference sources and September 2026 revision notes are included with each tool.