How to Prepare an Emergency Water Supply

2Eklectik — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:48:20 +0000

Water Bottles

The first item in any emergency survival kit should be water. An adequate supply of clean, drinkable water is a top priority during survival preparedness. The average, active person should drink approximately 2 quarts of water a day. If you live in a hotter climate you will need to drink more, as will children and nursing mothers.

Water may also be a part of your emergency food supplies, since it may be necessary for cooking. Water is also needed for hygiene. As a result, you should store at least a 2 week supply for each member of your family (remember, in case of evacuations, your portable survival kit should contain at least 3 days of water per person).

The safest and most reliable emergency supply of water is commercially bottled water. This water should be kept in its original container, and not opened until needed. Commercially available water should be stored until its expiration date.

If you are preparing your own containers of water, always use food grade water storage containers which are readily available from camping supply stores. If you are reusing containers, only use plastic 2 liter soda bottles. Containers that previously contained milk or fruit juice cannot be adequately cleaned to prevent bacterial growth. Also, cardboard containers are not designed for long term storage and may leak. Glass containers may break.

All containers should be thoroughly cleaned with dishwashing soap and thoroughly rinsed to remove all residual soap. Plastic soft drink bottles should also be sanitized rinsing every interior surface of the bottle (and lid) with a solution of 1 teaspoon non-scented chlorine bleach to 1 qt of water. After sanitizing, thoroughly rinse with clean water.

Each container should be completely filled with tap water. If your tap cater is chlorinated by your local utility company, tightly close the container, write the date on the outside, and store in a cool, dark place. If, however, your water supply is from a well or other untreated source, you will need to add 2 drops of non-scented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. You can also use commercially available water treatment (purification) products. These must contain between 5.25 and 6 percent sodium hypochlorite as the only active ingredient, or they should not be used. If you are not using commercially bottled water, replace your supply every 6 months.

Water is a critical resource in an emergency disaster survival situation. A top priority of your emergency preparedness should be to make sure you have an adequate supply for the longest possible time. This means not only having water, but making sure that it is bacteria free (properly chlorinated).

Additional Items for an Emergency Preparedness Survival Kit

2Eklectik — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:42:44 +0000

Your basic emergency survival preparedness kit will contain the most essential items such as water, food, a battery operated radio and flashlight. But it is also important to remember that other factors such as your particular location (flood, tornado or hurricane zone), your local weather, personal/family medical needs, and pets, will also impact what your survival kit should contain.

In an emergency disaster survival situation, you want to try to be as prepared as possible. It is better to have something and not use it, than to need something and not have it. So in addition to your basic survival preparedness kit, here are a few more items to consider when putting together your survival kit.

Prescription medications for yourself and family members (also note if these are to be taken with food, water, milk, etc)
Eyeglasses and/or contact lenses
Infant formula and diapers
Pet food and extra water for your pet
Copies of important family documents stored in a portable, waterproof container. These could include insurance policies, birth certificates, identification (passport ID page), bank account records, etc.
Cash, travelers checks and change
Emergency first aid reference material
Sleeping bag or blanket for each person (additional bedding if you live in cold climate)
Complete change(s) of clothing including long sleeve shirts, pants and shoes (boots). Again, additional clothing as appropriate for cold-weather climates
Household chlorine bleach (unscented without additives) and an eyedropper. This can be used as a disinfectant (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) or in extreme situations to treat water (16 drops bleach to 1 gal of water)
A fire extinguisher
Strike anywhere matches in a waterproof container
Feminine personal hygiene products
Mess kits, one per person, including paper cups and plates, plastic utensils, and towels
Paper and pencil
Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Depending on your personal requirements, your emergency preparedness survival kit may include some, none, all or more of the items listed. Remember, the most important thing is to not just prepare your survival list in advance, but then to assemble it, since it’s better to have something and not use it, than to need something and not have it.

Emergency Disaster Survival » emergency survival kit

How to Prepare an Emergency Water Supply

Additional Items for an Emergency Preparedness Survival Kit