There are many different issues that could leave us high and dry. Some of those problems may be natural disasters and perhaps we may have even seen them coming. There are also many other events that could lead to difficult times, including economic meltdowns, terrorism and catastrophic, SHTF events. When these issues strike, it is important to be prepared to care for yourself and your family.
Having an emergency preparedness plan in effect will go a long way in helping you and your loved ones to survive in the event of such a disaster. This plan would include stockpiling food so you have a ready supply that could last for weeks or months in the event of a serious issue. Having that much food on hand is not very difficult, because you can buy bulk items, such as rice and dried beans that last for years in storage. The real difficulty that many people face is having a ready supply of water available in the event of an emergency.
The general recommendation is to have a 3 day supply of water available for every member of the family. On average, a person would likely use 1 gallon of potable water for drinking purposes, hygiene and cooking daily. This is just a general figure, however, because there are many people who may need more water on a daily basis. This would include sick people, children or if you live in a warm climate.
Storing water is a very important part of being prepared for an emergency. Food-grade plastic is your best option, because glass could be broken during certain types of disasters. Any container that previously held beverages, including water or soda bottles can be used. Larger containers are easy to manage and store.
The container should be washed thoroughly with soap and water and then rinsed with a solution of 2 teaspoons of bleach in a quart of water. Be sure to rinse the container after sanitizing it with chlorine. Fill with water to the brim, add two drops of chlorine and seal the container.
The container should be clearly marked with what is inside as well as the date that it was stored. They should be stored in a dry, cool place without being exposed to direct sunlight. Keep them away from hazardous fluids and chemicals. Water stored in such a fashion can last up to 12 months and you can then reuse the containers to store fresh water.
If an emergency strikes and you are not prepared with enough water to last until fresh water is available, there may be some nearby sources of clean water available. The first place to look is your water heater, because it could contain up to 60 gallons of usable water. You may also want to keep a portable water purification unit on hand as well as some water purification tablets. It should be enough to get you through the problem until fresh water is again available.