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Whether it is hurricane warnings, power outages, or a sewer line leak, all these emergencies may take us by surprise, leaving us wondering what to do next. We have tasks we need to do after they happen, but we may forget them if we haven't done them in a while. This post will share how to make an emergency what-if scenario list to help you get to the tasks right away and out of shock mode. Follow along and make yours today.
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My personal experience
Emergencies always make me feel lost and worried about what to do next. So, to help with my anxiety about this, in recent years, I decided to create a what-if scenario list to help gather all the information about my home, the warranties that we have, and what other things are purchased just for emergencies and where they are located. All these things are stored throughout the home and could easily be forgotten. So, to remind my family and me what to do and where these items are, I created this what-if scenario list digitally to feel more in control.
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What is an emergency what-if scenario list?
An emergency what-if scenario list involves creating the scenarios on a digital file and steps that spell out what you need to do next. Listing each task step by step reminds you what needs to be completed.
Why do I need to make an emergency what-if scenarios list?
There are many benefits to doing the emergency what-if scenarios list. Below are just some reasons.
- Reduce Stress - having a list of tasks will reduce the stress you may be experiencing.
- Delegate the to-do tasks - If you have adult children who live with you, you can pass on the step-by-step tasks for emergencies so they can easily read the instructions and take action when you are not home.
- Peace of mind - you will appreciate knowing what systems you have in place to protect your home's items.
- You will be able to see pitfalls and areas that need revisiting more easily. When you start to write down the steps, you may find some scenarios you may need to modify because you missed a step.
The What-if Scenarios list will give you a big picture of emergencies you may have experienced. However, keeping them written down and known to everyone allows for quick pivoting if needed when something happens.
What emergency scenarios should you have predetermined steps established?
These emergency scenarios should be customizable to your home and even business. I will give you some scenarios you can use, but you may have experienced others as well.
- Flooding in the basement or water through the walls in the basement
- Power outage - battery backup systems in place
- Siding falling off from a storm
- Water leak under a sink
- Sewer line backups into the house
- Roof leaking
- Hurricane emergency
- Nuclear Power Plant meltdown
- A Tree falls down
- A death of a loved one
- Toilet leak
- Flat tire
- The main water line leak
- In case of a fire
Where should I store the emergency scenarios what-if list?
Having this list digitally and shared by all adults works nicely. But it can also be printed and placed in a safe (Affiliate Link) where other important documents are located.
Additional tips when making your list:
Below are some additional tips to remember.
- Review this what-if list after emergencies happen. Modifying your steps is essential since we do not know if they will work until we implement them.
- You may also have questions to add to your what-if list. We may not think of all the scenarios that may happen. Revisiting this list once a year and reviewing each scenario will remind you of the steps you need to take and if any need to be modified.
I hope this post inspires you to create your own emergency what-if scenario list for peace of mind. Please leave a comment or question below if you have one or are thinking of making one.
Visit my other emergency preparedness posts to learn more!
Julie Stobbe says
I love this idea because when an emergency happens sometimes your mind goes blank and you don't know what to do. Some people are great under pressure and can take over in a crisis. You might know how to handle these emergencies, but having all the information locked in your head is not helpful to your family or business associates when you're not there. When you need to write down all the steps to follow it helps you to see what you might have left out of the plan and make it better. Learning from others who have gone through an emergency and adding their wisdom to your plan is a good resource.
Janet Schiesl says
I have a What If document for my business but not my life. A little backward I guess. But I know that my husband would have to close the business and won't know where to start. Actually, he probably won't know where to start for a personal situation either, so I should get on this!
Julie Bestry says
This really resonates with me. So often, we work with clients to help them develop emergency kits and emergency contacts, but having a thought-out plan for what to do "If X happens" definitely has the calming benefits you describe.
The big one on this list for me is having a water main break. I live in an apartment complex that was built in the 70s with terrible underground piping considering how nice the complex generally is. We have water main breaks (where the water can be shut off anywhere from a few hours to half a day) at least twice, and sometimes three times an hour. I don't have to worry about fixing the problem; the complex sees to that. But not being able to shower, do my hair, use the "facilities," etc. can be overwhelming. It's fine for an in-office day, but I definitely need a backup plan for client or public speaking days or if I'm set to take a flight!
Last week, I arrived for a session with a lovely elderly client with some cognitive decline, and found that her central air conditioning had been out for days; she was having trouble intuiting how to get it fixed. We scrapped our plans for the day, and after I made she got rehydrated, I quickly researched an HVAC company, got everything serviced within a few hours, and then wrote out a step-by-step plan for her for what to do if she ever encounters HVAC trouble. We all need to be thinking through and developing these lists. Thanks for the excellent reminder!
Sabrina Quairoli says
That is wonderful, Julie! I bet your client was so grateful for your support and helping her through this issue. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. =)
Linda Samuels says
No one likes to have the types of emergencies you mentioned. They can be so stressful, life-threatening, and dangerous.
Your idea to make a "What If" list makes so much sense. Because when there is an emergency, it can be challenging to access that logical, cognitive part of the brain. Instead, the amygdala can take over and flood you with emotions.
While it's not exactly what you're talking about, years ago, I made a different type of "What If" list that proved helpful many times over. When my mom was still living, aging, and had dementia, I was her healthcare proxy. That meant every time she had a doctor's appointment or ended up in the emergency room of the hospital, I was there.
The first time it happened, I felt unprepared. But after that emergency, I collected all of her important health and other information on one sheet. It included her list of medications, what they were for, and the prescribing doctor. I also had a high-level list of her medical history, insurance numbers/policies, and other important contact information and records.
That way, when a doctor asked me questions, I could pull out the list and have all the answers. I felt like a much better-prepared advocate for my mom.
Sabrina Quairoli says
It is wonderful that you gathered all the information for your mother. It is super helpful to do this, especially if you are a caregiver. I did this as well for my dad when he was living with us before his death. While I loved to create this for others, I found that I did not do it for myself or my family. Taking the time to think about the different emergency scenarios helped me when the emergency happened. This document and the time I spent on it was great practice of self-care.
Seana Turner says
I've never thought of putting together an emergency list like this for various scenarios. I do remember making a fire emergency plan with my family when the children were little, but we haven't thought about that in a long time.
It is helpful to know how to shut off your water. That emergency seems to happen to everyone at one point or another.
Great idea for getting your thoughts in order, and also helping to keep anxiety under control!
Diane N Quintana says
This is a really good idea. You never know when something will happen so thinking through worst case scenarios helps to relive the anxiety and stress such situations create.