Detailed actions for your biannual safety audit.
Watch: The Schultz Weather Daylight Saving Checklist
Designate an Out-of-Area Contact: Choose one relative or friend who lives at least 100 miles away. In local disasters, long-distance lines are often less congested than local ones.
Program "ICE" Contacts: Ensure "In Case of Emergency" contacts are set up on everyone's mobile lock screens so first responders can access them without a passcode.
The "9V Rule": Even if your smoke detectors are hardwired, replace the 9V backup batteries. Dust the sensors with canned air to prevent false alarms or failure during smoke heavy events.
Expiration Checks: Look at the manufacturing date on the back of CO detectors. Most expire after 5-7 years. If it's older, it's a paperweight.
WEA Check: Go to Settings > Notifications on your smartphone. Scroll to the bottom and ensure Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are enabled for Imminent Threats and Public Safety.
Offline Maps: Download a 50-mile radius of your local area on Google Maps for offline use. If towers go down, your GPS will still work with these pre-downloaded files.