Preparedness Isn't Just a Kit. Its a Conversation (Most Families Never Have)

Most families believe they’re prepared. They have flashlights somewhere. Maybe a first aid kit tucked away in a cupboard. Maybe even a bin labeled Emergency Supplies stored underneath the hockey gear in the closet or garage.

And yet - when I ask families a few simple questions about how prepared they really are, the response is often hesitation or a blank look.

Preparedness isn’t about what you have. It’s about what you’ve talked about.

Because here’s the truth most people don’t want to hear:

If only one person knows the plan, you don’t have a plan.

Supplies Don’t Talk to Your Kids

You can buy all the right gear. You can follow every disaster preparedness checklist. You can even feel proud that you’ve “handled preparedness.”

But supplies don’t explain anything to your kids at 2 a.m. They don’t calm fear. They don’t answer questions when stress is high.

In an emergency, children don’t look for bins and bags. They look for people - someone they trust to help them.

They want to know:

• Where are we going?

• Are we staying together?

• What am I supposed to do?

• Why is this happening?

If those answers haven’t been talked through beforehand, panic fills the gap.

Plans Fail When People Don’t Know Them

I’ve worked in emergencies for decades. I’ve arrived on scene at house and apartment fires where family members are standing outside, scattered, unsure if everyone even made it out safely.

When a fire is happening, you may not have time to run to your child’s bedroom. Smoke moves fast. Conditions change quickly. Sometimes the only safe option is to get out the nearest door. People flee through different exits as conditions change, and the result is chaos and fear.

The sheer panic of not knowing whether your loved ones are safe is something you never forget.

And the heartbreaking part?  This isn’t about poor decision-making.  It’s about not having talked things through ahead of time.

This isn’t a difficult problem to solve.

It’s a simple conversation about what your kids should do if you can’t get to them - and where you would all meet once you’re outside.

What causes breakdowns isn’t a lack of supplies - it’s a lack of shared understanding.

One parent thinks the meeting place is the school.  The other assumes it’s across the street by the mailbox.  Kids think they should wait.  Parents think they should run.  Everyone is trying to do the “right thing” - just not the same thing.

That’s not a planning failure.  That’s a communication failure. 

Preparedness doesn’t fail when disasters happen.  It fails when assumptions replace conversations.

Real Preparedness Shows Up in Communication

The most prepared families I’ve seen aren’t the ones with the biggest kits.  They’re the ones who’ve had simple, honest conversations:

• “If something happens and I’m not with you, here’s what you do.”

• “If we can’t get home, here’s where we go.”

• “If phones don’t work, here’s our backup plan.”

They’ve talked about pets.  They’ve talked about kids being at school.  They’ve talked about fear - without making it scary.

Preparedness isn’t a single moment.  It’s an ongoing conversation.  And most families never start it.

Why These Conversations Matter More Than You Think

Stress shuts down decision-making.  Fear narrows focus.  When faced with a disaster, people revert to instinct - not plans they’ve never discussed.

When families talk things through in advance, they:

• make fewer impulsive decisions

• reduce panic

• move faster with less conflict

• protect kids emotionally, not just physically

Preparedness is as much about emotional safety as it is about physical safety.

Where PrepBuddy Fits In

Here’s where most families get stuck:  They don’t know what to talk about - or where to start with disaster preparedness.

That’s why PrepBuddy exists.  PrepBuddy uses AI to help you turn information into shared understanding. It guides families through the questions they rarely ask - but absolutely need answers to.  Not overwhelm  - not fear - just clarity.

Because preparedness shouldn’t live in one person’s head.

Final Thought

You don’t need to be perfect when it comes to disaster preparedness.  You don’t need everything figured out.  You just need to start the conversation. 

Because being prepared isn’t about having more stuff - it’s about making sure the people you love know what to do when it matters most.

About Jackie

Jackie Kloosterboer is a disaster preparedness specialist with over 30 years of experience helping families, communities, and organizations get ready for the unexpected. As a sought-after speaker, trainer, and course creator, she is passionate about giving families the tools they need to protect their loved ones - without overwhelm. Jackie is the creator of Mom’s Ultimate Disaster Plan and PrepBuddy, her AI-powered assistant designed to make preparedness simple, practical, and doable.