Scenarios You Should Prepare For

Everyone has a vague sense that something might not be right one day, but they never actually prepare for it. This isn’t about being a doomsday prepper or scared—this is just an acceptance that some events are common enough that some minimal preparation is a good idea.

Some planning ahead will prevent panic and chaos when something does happen, and statistically, you’ll have several of these happenings in your lifetime. The following are circumstances that are worth planning for in advance to avoid being surprised by them.

Sudden loss of job

Layoffs, company closures, and unexpected terminations affect workers at every salary level and career level. Having three to six months of living expenses saved gives you a little space to breathe and find the right next opportunity without freaking out and taking the first thing offered.

In addition to saving, update your resume, network professionally, and understand the current market value of your skills so you’re not starting from scratch when it happens to you.

Extended power loss in extreme weather

When storms knock out power for days, folks generally notice too late that they aren’t prepared. Keep flashlights and new batteries, a manual can opener, non-perishable food, and a few days’ supply of water.

If you live in an area with extreme temperatures, have an evacuation plan in place in case your home becomes uninhabitable without heat or air conditioning—sitting around waiting for power to be restored quickly is a gamble you might lose.

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Medical emergencies that require quick decisions

Whether a heart attack, serious injury, or acute disease, medical emergencies require immediate action and clear information. Have copies of the following information available at all times: a list of current medications, allergies, and emergency contacts—ideally stored in your phone and wallet.

Identify the nearest emergency room from home and work, and understand your insurance coverage so that you are not making healthcare decisions based on what is not covered.

Identity theft or financial fraud

Americans have a roughly one-in-four probability of experiencing identity theft, but hardly anyone has anything planned for how to deal with it. Freeze your credit with all three bureaus if you’re not in the market for credit, monitor your accounts regularly, and have a phone number to call if you notice bogus charges.

Having customer service phone numbers and account numbers written down somewhere safe just means you can react quickly instead of scrambling while thieves drain your accounts.

Serious home system failures

Your air conditioner, furnace, or water heater will eventually fail, typically at the worst possible time. Learn where your main water valve is and how to turn it off—that single tip will save you a thousand dollars in water damage.

Keep a list of reliable electricians, plumbers, and HVAC professionals handy before disaster strikes, as panicking during a flood in your basement can lead to poor decisions and overcharging.

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Car break downs at less-than-convenient locations

Breaking down on the highway or in an unfamiliar location will happen to practically everyone at some point. Keep jumper cables, a charger for your phone, a minimal tool kit, water, and a blanket in your car throughout the year.

Familiarize yourself with your roadside assistance service and keep their number saved; otherwise, learning to call a random tow truck can cost you a couple of hundred dollars unnecessarily.

Natural disasters common in your region

If you live in hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or wildfire danger zones, believing it won’t happen to you is deluding yourself. Have an evacuation plan that is familiar to all members of your household, outlining where you will gather if you get separated and what you will take with you.

Store important papers in waterproof containers or on digital backup, and have a clear understanding of what your insurance covers for your specific regional perils—most policies exclude coverage for floods or earthquakes.

Serious illness requiring extended care

Cancer, chronic illness, or injury compelling you to receive treatment for months affects millions of people annually. Short-term disability insurance, if available through your job, is inexpensive but can preserve your income if you’re unable to work.

Beyond money, consider who may help with household chores, driving to appointments, or caring for the children when you can’t be yourself for a while—waiting until you’re sick to solve this introduces unnecessary stress when you don’t have to.

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Loss of a direct family member

Grieving is stressful enough without also panicking to work out how to handle things you’ve never even thought about. Know where important papers are kept, identify average funeral costs, and have frank chats with aging parents about what they want when everyone is healthy.

If you have dependents, get your own ducks in order with up-to-date beneficiaries, a will, and clear instructions for whoever would take charge.

Protracted internet or communication disruptions

Life grinds to a halt without the internet, yet most people don’t have a backup plan. I have printed copies of essential contacts, as nobody seems to remember numbers anymore.

Discover where the closest library or community centers offer free Wi-Fi and learn how to use your phone as a hotspot in case your home internet is out. For remote work, have a plan in place for when your connection becomes unstable, specifying a backup location.

Legal matters that require immediate representation

Being arrested, being sued, or being forced to seek a restraining order can befall decent people with unexpected circumstances. Have an attorney you can call upon, or at least know how to locate one quickly through your state bar association.

Most people are unaware that they are never supposed to speak to the police without counsel present, regardless of their innocence. Keeping the phone number of an attorney saved can prevent you from accidentally incriminating yourself.

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Home invasions or security threats

Although relatively rare, intrusions and threats do happen, and fumbling around for a response at the moment is dangerous. Keep working locks on all entry points, have a contingency plan in place for when you need to go inside your home if you can hear someone approaching, and keep your phone charged and within reach at night.

Discuss with family members how to react in the event someone attempts to break in—calling the authorities immediately is generally the best course of action. Still, humans often freeze when they don’t have a plan.

Loss of critical documents

Passports, birth certificates, social security cards, and insurance policies can be lost in a fire, stolen, or simply misplaced. Keep electronic copies safely stored in the cloud and hard copies in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box.

Knowing how to obtain these documents in advance is a huge time-saver—passport renewal can take weeks, but obtaining a lost one at the last minute costs more and requires extra documentation that many people don’t keep on hand.

Family crises that require traveling

When a family member is in crisis hours or states away, you might need to abandon everything and take off at a moment’s notice. Set aside a small emergency fund, separate from your regular savings, for those unexpected travel expenses.

Maintain a go-bag with essentials that can be quickly grabbed, and make arrangements with neighbors or friends who can watch your home, pets, or children at short notice.

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The prep that pays a lifetime

Nobody wants to spend time preparing for the worst-case scenario, which is precisely why most people get caught off guard when it happens. The strange thing about preparation is that it has the effect of preventing the worst from occurring.

Having a rainy-day fund makes job loss a manageable stress, having a medical emergency plan means that one receives appropriate care in a timely manner, and having redundant infrastructure means that outages are only an inconvenience. These circumstances are not frequent enough to be ignored, yet not so common that you will be exposed to all of them.

It does not take much time and minimal cost to prepare for those most relevant to your life and circumstances, but it is worth something precious: the ability to greet whatever comes with clarity instead of fear.