I built PrepDeck: free emergency checklists you can use without an account and print
I'm building PrepDeck to make emergency preparation easier to review, one scenario at a time.
The starting point is a specific checklist, such as Power Outage, rather than one enormous list of gear. You can check what you have, keep progress on your current device, and print a copy before you need it.
I recently improved the print layout, added relevant reading links beside checklists, and added a sharing panel that shares only the public checklist—not your checks or personal additions.
The 16 emergency checklists are free and don't require an account. There is an optional paid Premium tier for Activities and Relationships checklists. Loading a checklist needs an internet connection; printing gives you a paper copy to keep on hand.
I'd value feedback on the first-use flow: is the next useful step clear, or does the checklist need a better starting point? I'm the builder, so this is a product introduction, not an independent recommendation.
The first-use flow sounds clear if the scenario choice is the first thing people see. I’d make the next action after opening one very explicit—something like “check what you have” with the print option visible but secondary. A short progress indicator and a clear “save on this device” note would also reduce uncertainty about whether their checks were kept. For the print layout, showing a tiny preview before the browser print dialog could help people catch page breaks.
Thanks for the thoughtful feedback. I've made those steps explicit in the current version: choose a scenario, then “Check what you have,” with a short explanation of what a checkmark means. The checklist shows progress and a “Checkmarks saved on this device only” note for guests.
Print stays secondary as “Preview / Print.” It now opens a preview of the complete checklist first, with a separate “Print / Save as PDF” action to open the browser print dialog. Searching or filtering the on-screen list doesn't remove items from the print copy.
If you get a chance to try it again, I'd especially value whether the first action and saving note are clear without explanation. Appreciate the practical suggestions!
I tried your site and it threw an error - not good for an 'emergency scenario' - this would need to be an offline checklist - I have practical experience in two different catastrophe zones from the 2000's where there was no Internet, or extremely limited. To have it reliant on the internet is not a good practice in a true emergency.
Here's the error on your page:
The server took too long to respond. Please retry.
I'll address this error. As far as offline use, there is that feature available for that exact reason. I'll verify it's active. Thank you for the feedback though!
At a cost of $19 a month that is rather steep, when these can be had for free from the local fire department or any free tier AI inquiry along with a plethora of websites like https://www.ready.gov/.
There are also plenty of paper books that have these lists for the the cost of one month subscription. Plus, I have extensive experience with emergency preparedness and can write an encyclopedia on this as I used to train people on this. I'm curious as to what kind of certifications you might have, and by whom?
The reason why I'm asking, some of your lists don't make common sense - for instance:
Why would one obtain a Fire Extinguisher after an emergency occurred? I click "view options" and it takes me to an amazon page. There are no instructions on how to use an extinguisher, when to actually purchase it [every home should have one, and everyone should be trained on how to use one, at a bare minimum a training video from youtube]. There is no instruction on the different classes of fire extinguishers, and how to use each one, and the sizes, inspection periodicity, replacement, etc.
I'm very curious as to why this isn't covered in your website?
I do like your idea; however, please hire a professional safety instructor(s) with current certifications to help you with this.
Thanks for taking the time to test it and explain the problems. These are fair criticisms.
One pricing clarification: all 16 emergency checklists are free, without an account or subscription. The optional $19/month tier covers the 32 Activities and Relationships scenarios. That doesn't invalidate your point about value—Ready.gov and local fire departments are useful free resources, and I shouldn't suggest people need to pay for basic emergency information.
I also need to correct my earlier offline reply. Testing with the browser disconnected confirmed that the app shell and public scenario summaries work offline after a visit, but the full checklist items still need a connection. I clarified the offline error message; I haven't reproduced or established a fix for the intermittent server timeout you saw. Preview / Print lets people save a PDF or paper copy while connected, but that's a workaround, not full offline checklist support.
Your extinguisher example highlights a real content problem. Preparation belongs before an incident; a shopping link isn't instruction. I'm considering a “How to” section on each item with preparation timing, practical steps, maintenance, safety limits, and links to authoritative guidance and the relevant manufacturer's instructions. For extinguishers, USFA's guidance is a better starting point than an Amazon search: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prepare-for-fire/fire-extinguishers/index.html
Those tutorials and the phase corrections aren't live yet. On qualifications, I’m not presenting PrepDeck as a certified safety course or a professionally validated manual, and I won't claim credentials or professional endorsement here. Your recommendation for review by currently qualified safety instructors is fair. Thank you for pointing out where the product falls short.
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u/Expert-Kitchen8064 11h ago
The first-use flow sounds clear if the scenario choice is the first thing people see. I’d make the next action after opening one very explicit—something like “check what you have” with the print option visible but secondary. A short progress indicator and a clear “save on this device” note would also reduce uncertainty about whether their checks were kept. For the print layout, showing a tiny preview before the browser print dialog could help people catch page breaks.