Flashlights, drinking water, charged phones, and an emergency bag are a useful start. But there is another part of home preparedness that is easy to overlook: can someone find your home’s important information when you are away?
A recent Real Simple storm-preparation shopping guide is a timely reminder to prepare before trouble starts. Alongside the supplies, make a simple plan for where your household can find shutoff locations, emergency contacts, and trusted service providers.
Could someone answer these questions?
Where is the main water shutoff? Where is the electrical panel? Who is the water utility, and how can someone report an emergency? Which plumber should a house sitter call? If you are the only person who knows, your plan depends on you being available.
Start with a calm walkthrough
Find and document your main water shutoff with qualified help if you are unsure. Use a clear location description and a photo when useful. Note the electrical panel location and utility emergency contacts. Do not guess at valve functions, force a stuck valve, or operate unfamiliar equipment to test your plan. Ask the utility or a qualified professional to verify uncertain information.
Make the information easy to find
Choose one familiar indoor location for the information. Show adult household members and trusted house sitters where to look. Keep access paths clear, and review contacts after a move, repair, or change in service provider. A phone is useful, but a visible physical reference gives people another place to start.
Know when to leave it to professionals
A location guide is not permission to approach an unsafe area. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, leave the area and call the gas utility or emergency services from a safe location. Do not operate switches or try to investigate. Do not touch electrical equipment in or near standing water. Follow evacuation orders and utility instructions; never delay leaving to find a shutoff.
Turn the checklist into a household habit
ShutSafe Home Kit helps organize your home’s shutoff locations and emergency contacts in one easy-to-find place. The indoor kit includes an aluminum guide, permanent marker, indoor valve tags, mounting supplies, and the first year of digital access. It is an information tool, not an automatic shutoff device or a substitute for emergency services.
Before the next storm—or the next failed supply line—give your household a quick walkthrough. Find it. Write it down. Share it.
Get the ShutSafe Home Kit: https://www.shutsafehomekit.com/store/p/shutsafe-home-kit
Read setup questions and safety information: https://www.shutsafehomekit.com/faq
For realtors and insurance agents: a practical client gift can start this conversation before an emergency. Ask about custom branding and volume pricing: https://www.shutsafehomekit.com/contact
Further reading: Real Simple, “18 Items You Should Have in Your Home at All Times If Your Area Gets Hit by Storms,” October 19, 2026.
