Collapse preparedness checklist
▶ PLAY FINTON FREEThis checklist follows the same order of needs the game Finton is built on. It is general information, not a substitute for official guidance. For complete recommendations, see Ready.gov's emergency kit list and the CDC boil water guidance.
Rule of threes: a person can survive about 3 hours without shelter in harsh weather, about 3 days without water and about 3 weeks without food. Plan in that order.
1. Shelter and warmth
- Warm clothing, hats, gloves and a rain layer for every person.
- Blankets or sleeping bags rated for your winter lows.
- A safe backup heat source and fuel, with ventilation and a carbon monoxide alarm.
- Plywood or covers for windows.
2. Water
- Store at least one gallon per person per day, for several days at minimum. Pets need water too.
- When city water is still running but trouble is coming, fill clean containers and the bathtub.
- A way to make water safe: a rolling boil for one minute (three minutes at high elevation), a quality filter, or purification tablets.
- Rain barrels for longer outages.
3. Food
- Non-perishable food your family will actually eat, plus a manual can opener.
- A way to cook without power, used outdoors when it burns fuel.
- Seeds and basic garden tools for a longer emergency.
- Rotate what you store so it doesn't expire.
4. Power and light
- Flashlights or lanterns and spare batteries.
- A battery or hand-crank radio for news and alerts.
- A way to charge phones: battery packs, a solar charger, or solar panels with a charge controller and batteries.
- Generators must run outdoors, away from windows and doors.
5. Health and security
- A first aid kit and any prescription medicines your family needs.
- Copies of important documents and some cash in small bills. Card readers and ATMs need power.
- A family communication plan and a meeting place.
- Neighbors you know and trust. In a long emergency, community is one of the strongest defenses.
Practice it in Finton
Finton turns this list into a game. You have a day or two to stock up before the collapse, then 20 days to keep your family alive with what you gathered, grew, traded and built. It's a fun way to find the gaps in a real plan.
How much water should I store for an emergency?
Ready.gov recommends at least one gallon of water per person per day, for several days. Many families keep a two-week supply at home.
What should I prepare first?
Follow the hierarchy of needs: shelter and warmth first, then water, then food, then power and security.