How to Make an Emergency Contacts List for a New Home
You moved to a new city, a new zip code, maybe even a new state. Your mental muscle memory for "nearest ER" and "which utility company" is still pointing at the old place. If a kid swallows something at 2 AM this week, you shouldn't be Googling "poison control number" through tears. A single laminated page on the fridge with 10 specific contacts fixes this problem in 45 minutes and pays back the entire first year of homeownership.
Quick Summary
Time Required
30–45 minutes
Difficulty
Easy — research only
Cost
$0–$5 for lamination
The One-Page Emergency Contact List Template
This list must fit on a single 8.5x11 sheet with large text readable from 3 feet away. A 2-page list is a failed list because half of it gets flipped under and forgotten.
Full address at the top in large font
Street, city, state, zip, plus nearest cross street. Example: "1247 Oak Ridge Drive, Austin TX 78704, near Oltorf & South 1st." This is for 911 operators, guests, and you at 3 AM when your brain is mush.
Emergency section: 911 and Poison Control
911 (with your address next to it as a prompt) and 1-800-222-1222 for Poison Control. Put these at the top of the contact section in bold. Add ASPCA Animal Poison Control (1-888-426-4435) if you have pets.
Medical: ER, urgent care, primary care, pediatrician, vet
Include full addresses—not just phone numbers—for the nearest ER and urgent care. A passenger driving you needs the address. Primary care, pediatrician, and vet just need phone. List the poison control line for your vet as well.
Utility Emergency Numbers
Every utility has a 24/7 emergency line separate from customer service. Gas leaks, power outages, and water main breaks need this line, not the billing department.
- Natural gas emergency line: Separate from billing. Called for any gas smell (sulfur/rotten egg odor). Example: "If you smell gas, call [number] from outside the home—do not use phone indoors."
- Electric utility outage line: Often has automated outage reporting via text. Texting is faster than calling during a large outage when phone lines are jammed.
- Water utility emergency line: For main breaks, no water, or sewer backups. Most cities have a 311 or direct public works emergency line.
- Sewer/septic if applicable: If you have a septic system, list the pumping company's emergency line. Backups at 11 PM on a Sunday are real.
- 811 before you dig: Call 811 at least 48 hours before any digging project to have buried lines marked. Not an emergency line per se but save it anyway.
- Internet/ISP outage line: Less urgent but worth listing. Work-from-home adults need it within the first week of setup issues.
Neighbors and Non-Emergency Numbers
In a new neighborhood, you don't yet know who to call when something small goes wrong. Two neighbor phone numbers on the list is a lifeline.
Introduce yourself to 2 neighbors within 72 hours
Ideally the one directly next door and one across the street. Exchange phone numbers. A 5-minute conversation buys years of convenience—package handling, trash day reminders, alerts when your garage door is up at 2 AM.
Police non-emergency and animal control
Most police departments have a non-emergency line for things like noise complaints, suspicious activity that isn't urgent, or reporting past incidents. Google "[city] police non-emergency"—it's always listed.
Homeowners insurance agent and claims line
Your policy has both. The claims line is 24/7 for fire, flood, and theft. The agent is M-F for questions. Write both. A burst pipe at midnight needs the claims number, not the agent's voicemail.
Pro Tips
- •Laminate the list at a UPS Store for $3: A laminated page survives kitchen splashes and can be wiped clean. Cheaper than buying a laminator for one sheet.
- •Add the same list to each adult's phone as "ICE - Home": In-Case-of-Emergency contacts labeled ICE are searched by first responders when they find an unconscious phone owner. Label it clearly.
- •Include medical conditions and allergies for each person: Next to each adult and kid's name on the list, note any severe allergies, medications, or conditions (diabetic, epileptic, on blood thinners). Critical for EMTs who arrive before you can communicate.
- •Share a copy with babysitters and dog-sitters: Everyone responsible for the household in your absence needs this page. Text them a photo the day you finalize it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be on a home emergency contacts list?
A complete home emergency contacts list includes your full street address at the top, 911, Poison Control (1-800-222-1222), the nearest emergency room and urgent care with addresses, your primary care doctor, pediatrician, veterinarian, gas company emergency line, electric company outage line, water utility emergency line, non-emergency police line, insurance agent, and 2 neighbor phone numbers. Print it, laminate it if possible, and post on the fridge. Save the same list in each adult's phone as a contact named "ICE - Home."
Why do I need to write down my new address?
Under stress, people routinely forget their own address—especially in a home they've lived in for less than a month. 911 operators need the address verbally even when they have your location technology. Guests, babysitters, and contractors calling services on your behalf need to see the address. Writing the full street address, city, state, zip, and nearest cross street at the top of a visible emergency list prevents a critical 30-second delay when seconds matter.
Is Poison Control actually free and always open?
Yes. The US national Poison Control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 is free, confidential, available 24 hours a day 365 days a year, and staffed by pharmacists and nurses trained in toxicology. They handle questions about prescription medication errors, household chemical exposure, plant ingestion, and suspected poisoning. Calls commonly resolve without needing an ER visit—saving time, money, and unnecessary hospital exposure. Save this number in every household member's phone on day one.
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