I've just been through this in the past six months with a few family and friends. The first thing you have to do is create a logical reason that demonstrates a need for an emergency preparedness plan. Sceptics should have a look a Ready.gov Fema or Homeland Security (dhs.gov) . These official government sites are giving those interested persons, not-so subtle cues to get prepared and they're doing it in a casual manner that avoids creating a panic.

My family, including my grown kids, are cognizant of the writing on the wall.... Not only from watching natural disasters, post Katrina chaos, living through two California earthquakes and a mid Illinois tornado, but also the dangerous situations our government has created by bullying certain extreme religious factions.

Do what you can to get loved ones involved.... There's nothing wrong with planning and being prepared. While it's a bit unnerving at first to read all the web disaster scenarios, becoming well prepared has given my family some piece of mind.