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Of all our topics this month is my personal favorite because it is simple to do and it’s so important! We all need water to survive. I have always said if you don’t do any of our other months at Do1Thing please just store some water for your family to drink. Water is something that can be purchased, bottled ahead of time, and learns ways to sanitize your supply. Now the basic rule is 3 gallons per person per day. We suggest at least 3 days’ worth for each family member. This is a basic step that you can take to make sure that your family is ready in case of any times when you may not have access to water.
The Goal: Have 72 hours (3 days) worth of water stored for your household. Whether you get water from a municipal water system or your home has a private well, your water supply depends on having power to operate the system. During a power outage—or any disaster that can cause a power outage, such as high winds, ice storm, or flood—you may find yourself without drinkable water.
Purchase and store a 72-hour supply of commercially bottled water (or more - up to two weeks). A three-day supply for one person is 3 gallons (12 liters) of water – one gallon (4 liters) per person per day. Also include an extra one gallon (4 liters) for a medium size pet. That one gallon should last three days, but plan for more or less if your pet is very large or very small. 1 day, 1 person = 1 gallon (or 128 ounces) = 7 - 20 ounce bottles = 4 liters 3 days, 1 person = 3 gallons (or 384 ounces) = 21 - 20 ounce bottles = 12 liters During an emergency, you should drink at least two quarts (one half gallon/two liters) of water a day. Drink 3-4 quarts (3-4 liters) a day if you are in a hot climate, pregnant, sick, or a child. Some of the water in your emergency water supply will be used for cooking or washing. If you buy commercially bottled water, it should be replaced once a year. Store your water in a cool, dark place to keep it tasting fresher longer.
Bottle a 72-hour supply of water at home. If you get your water from a private well, disinfect your tap water before bottling. Place six drops of bleach for each gallon of water, shake well, then let sit for 30 minutes. If you get your water from a municipal water system, there is no need to disinfect tap water before bottling. Replace your water supply every six months if you bottle your own water. Always sanitize bottles before refilling them. Store your water in a cool, dark place. Sanitize bottles before filling: (1) Wash containers with dish washing soap and rinse with water (2) Sanitize by washing a solution of 1 teaspoon of liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water on all interior surfaces of the container. (3) Let air dry for at least one minute Use clear plastic bottles with tight sealing caps. Milk jugs don’t make good water storage containers, they don’t seal well, and water stored in them can sometimes develop a plastic taste. Only use bottles that originally had beverages in them (large plastic soft drink bottles work well). Use the 3 gallons per person per day to find out how much water you should have for your family in an emergency.
Learn how to provide a safe supply of drinking water for your household in a disaster.Water Heater - DO NOT use if the tank or fixtures have been submerged in floodwater! (1) Turn off the gas or electricity to water heater (turn off electricity at the fuse or breaker box, turn off gas by locating the valve supplying the hot water heater and turning the valve handle so that it crosses – is not lined up with – the gas line) (2) Turn off the water intake valve (should be located near the water heater) (3) Open the drain at the bottom of the tank (4) Turn on a hot water faucet (water will drain from the tank, not the faucet) Discard the first few gallons if they contain rust of sediment. Do not turn the gas or electricity back on until the tank is refilled. Pipes (1) Turn off main water valve where the water comes into the house (usually near the water meter if you have city water). (2) Let air into the pipes by turning on the highest faucet in your house. (3) Get water from the lowest faucet in your house (never get water from faucets that have been submerged in floodwater). Ice If you have freezer space, consider freezing part of your water supply. This has the added advantage of keeping food in the freezer cold longer during a power outage.
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Erika Mahoney, MSA, PEM is the Executive Director of the non-profit Do 1 Thing (www.do1thing.com) which is program that empowers people with the message that emergency preparedness can be easy and affordable, and that even small steps toward preparedness can make a difference. Erika holds two Bachelor of Arts Degrees from Michigan State University in Psychology and Sociology. Erika also has her Masters of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University. In 2014 she was named a White House Champion of Change for her work in emergency preparedness. Erika has been featured on other national blogs. To learn more about her visit: http://do1thing.com/members/erika-mahoney
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Of all our topics this month is my personal favorite because it is simple to do and it’s so important! We all need water to survive. I have always said if you don’t do any of our other months at Do1Thing please just store some water for your family to drink. Water is something that can be purchased, bottled ahead of time, and learns ways to sanitize your supply. Now the basic rule is 3 gallons per person per day. We suggest at least 3 days’ worth for each family member. This is a basic step that you can take to make sure that your family is ready in case of any times when you may not have access to water.
The Goal: Have 72 hours (3 days) worth of water stored for your household. Whether you get water from a municipal water system or your home has a private well, your water supply depends on having power to operate the system. During a power outage—or any disaster that can cause a power outage, such as high winds, ice storm, or flood—you may find yourself without drinkable water.
Purchase and store a 72-hour supply of commercially bottled water (or more - up to two weeks). A three-day supply for one person is 3 gallons (12 liters) of water – one gallon (4 liters) per person per day. Also include an extra one gallon (4 liters) for a medium size pet. That one gallon should last three days, but plan for more or less if your pet is very large or very small. 1 day, 1 person = 1 gallon (or 128 ounces) = 7 - 20 ounce bottles = 4 liters 3 days, 1 person = 3 gallons (or 384 ounces) = 21 - 20 ounce bottles = 12 liters During an emergency, you should drink at least two quarts (one half gallon/two liters) of water a day. Drink 3-4 quarts (3-4 liters) a day if you are in a hot climate, pregnant, sick, or a child. Some of the water in your emergency water supply will be used for cooking or washing. If you buy commercially bottled water, it should be replaced once a year. Store your water in a cool, dark place to keep it tasting fresher longer.
Bottle a 72-hour supply of water at home. If you get your water from a private well, disinfect your tap water before bottling. Place six drops of bleach for each gallon of water, shake well, then let sit for 30 minutes. If you get your water from a municipal water system, there is no need to disinfect tap water before bottling. Replace your water supply every six months if you bottle your own water. Always sanitize bottles before refilling them. Store your water in a cool, dark place. Sanitize bottles before filling: (1) Wash containers with dish washing soap and rinse with water (2) Sanitize by washing a solution of 1 teaspoon of liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water on all interior surfaces of the container. (3) Let air dry for at least one minute Use clear plastic bottles with tight sealing caps. Milk jugs don’t make good water storage containers, they don’t seal well, and water stored in them can sometimes develop a plastic taste. Only use bottles that originally had beverages in them (large plastic soft drink bottles work well). Use the 3 gallons per person per day to find out how much water you should have for your family in an emergency.
Learn how to provide a safe supply of drinking water for your household in a disaster.Water Heater - DO NOT use if the tank or fixtures have been submerged in floodwater! (1) Turn off the gas or electricity to water heater (turn off electricity at the fuse or breaker box, turn off gas by locating the valve supplying the hot water heater and turning the valve handle so that it crosses – is not lined up with – the gas line) (2) Turn off the water intake valve (should be located near the water heater) (3) Open the drain at the bottom of the tank (4) Turn on a hot water faucet (water will drain from the tank, not the faucet) Discard the first few gallons if they contain rust of sediment. Do not turn the gas or electricity back on until the tank is refilled. Pipes (1) Turn off main water valve where the water comes into the house (usually near the water meter if you have city water). (2) Let air into the pipes by turning on the highest faucet in your house. (3) Get water from the lowest faucet in your house (never get water from faucets that have been submerged in floodwater). Ice If you have freezer space, consider freezing part of your water supply. This has the added advantage of keeping food in the freezer cold longer during a power outage.
Vlad Magdalin
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