General Emergency Prepareness Guide

To weather the storm through any situation, it's always good to be prepared. here's a general prep list. Also, Check out our Digital Artist Work Backup Guide for good practice in backing up your work!

📂Important Documents to keep updated or have on you (Physical + Digital Copies)

• Photo ID (passport, driver’s license)- in good standing

• Social Security card

• Health insurance and prescriptions

• Tax ID, EIN, or LLC/501(c)(3) registration docs

• Property lease/mortgage & utility bills (proof of residence)

• Emergency contacts and local embassy/consulate info (if applicable)

• Artist resume, past grant/award letters

• Flash drive or secure cloud backup of key documents and portfolio

• Encrypted copy on USB + printed in a waterproof folder

💵 3. Financial Resilience

• Carry some emergency cash in small denominations

• Know your bank’s outage protocols (e.g., ATM network options)

• Consider keeping a backup debit card in a different bag

• Put emergency cash in different locations and denomination

  
  

🧠 5. Creative Mindset + Organization Tips

• Set a monthly or quarterly check-in to test your backups

• Keep a “calm list” or creative ritual you can do during disruption

• Print out a few creative exercises or prompts

• Make a list of emergency contacts, or community resources

  
  

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Stocking at Home

Tips for staying safe and creatively sane if you need to hunker down:

• Water: Store at least 1 gallon per person/day (aim for 7 days). Use stackable BPA-free containers.

• Food: Stock shelf-stable, no-cook essentials (rice crackers, tuna packets, protein bars, trail mix, ramen, peanut butter).

• Lighting: Have LED lanterns, headlamps, and solar/crank flashlights.

• Temperature Control: Emergency foil blankets, warm layers, battery-powered fans.

• Offline Entertainment: Print zine templates, art prompts, how-to books, deck of cards, or coloring books.

• Charging: Keep a power bank charged and consider a small solar panel for phones

  
  

  Stocking List

  • Medicine and Prescription

  • Shelf-stable comfort foods (rice, instant noodles, tea, snacks, honey, oil)

  • Reusable items (water bottles, menstrual products, batteries)

  • Spices and sauces for culturally nourishing meals (gochujang, curry pastes, chili crisp)

  • Barterable goods (coffee, small soaps, candles)

  • Batteries

  • Ziplock, paper, bidet

  
  

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If you need to go, know your travel route: Know at least 2 exits from your city and a contact outside your state.

Know Your Rights: Keep digital or printed copies of state-based legal aid numbers.

Go Bag (for each person):

1. Copies of IDs (printed and USB)

2. 3-day supply of food, water, meds

3. Water bottle

4. Basic first aid kit

5. Spare charger + backup phone battery

6. Change of clothes, hygiene items, small towel

7. Cash in small bills

8. Art supply mini-kit (sketch pad, pen, watercolor set)

9. Flash drive of portfolio and resume

10. Mylar blanket/ poncho

11. Mask/ bandana/ small towel (multi-use: dust mask, shade, towel)

12. Bug Repellent