One key element you’ll want to have in your emergency kit is water. Homeland Security is recommending one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation purposes. They urge a minimum of a three-day supply per person.
Extra water is suggested for children, nursing mothers, and those who are ill. And if you live in a warm area, more water is advised as well.
Homeland Security’s counsel is to store water in clean plastic containers – soft drink bottles, for example. I have been filling 2-litre soft drink bottles as well as individual water and soft drink bottles for sanitation purposes. I also have new individual water bottles stored for drinking.
If you are wanting to make your emergency kit portable, you will not be able to store all your water in it, obviously. If you think you might need to transport your emergency kit, fill your crate, box, or whatever you're using for your emergency kit with the other items we’ll talk about, and bring the water separately.
Household chlorine bleach and a medicine dropper are also recommended for your emergency kit. Chlorine bleach (unscented – not color safe or with added cleaners) treats water when 16 drops of bleach is added to a gallon of water.
If you mix one part of bleach to nine parts of water, the mixture can be used as a disinfectant.
We'll talk about more items to include in our emergency kits for the next couple of days.
What container are you using for your emergency kit?Resource: National Preparedness Month
Related Posts: National Preparedness Month - Making a Plan, National Preparedness Month - Determining Potential Emergencies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #1: NOAA Radio, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #2: Landline Phone
Posts
1 comment:
I have several gallons stored. I purchase the gallon containers of water at Sam's Club. I also store the water in empty soda bottles also for washing hands, etc in an emergency. I feel that it's important to have more then the 3 gallons per person. What if it takes longer for water to be turned on or what if it takes a while for workers to come.
I also have a few bottles of water purification tablets just in case. You really can not be too prepared for emergencies!
Post a Comment