How much emergency water do I need to store?
You should aim to store 1 gal per person for 2-3 weeks to really be prepared. For a family of four, that is a lot of gallons (56 to be exact). Even the minimum recommended water reserve is 3 gallons per person per day. For a family of four, that is 12 gallons. Those 1 gallon jugs you get at the store take up a lot of space, so I recommend you get a few larger containers.
And why not have a least one larger container for you neighbors too.
And why not have a least one larger container for you neighbors too.
Emergency Drinking Water Storage
If you have room for all those 1 gallon water jugs from the grocery store, go for it... they are just $1 a gallon. Otherwise, you'll need some more efficiently sized containers.
Go to an outdoors store or just search Google for "water container". Find a few acceptable containers. I tried the Reliance Aqua-tainer 7-gal available at REI or online. Filled it with chlorinated tap water (which is basically free). The 7-gal container is very heavy. A few 5 gallon jugs would be better if you want your water to be portable. A 55-gallon barrel from www.moreprepared.com is a good option if you have room in your garage.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Red Cross have released a guide called Food and Water in an Emergency. The organizations recommend you wash the container with dish soap and water, then rinse. Fill with tap water.. if the water come from the City of Hermosa Beach, then it is chlorinated and you do not have to treat with chlorine bleach. FEMA and Red Cross say you should replace the water ever 6-12 months, though some experts say it can last longer. If you forget to replace the water and a disaster strikes several year after you last replaced the water, you may want to treat the water as described below.
Store your emergency water in a cool, dark place. The garage or closets will do.
Go to an outdoors store or just search Google for "water container". Find a few acceptable containers. I tried the Reliance Aqua-tainer 7-gal available at REI or online. Filled it with chlorinated tap water (which is basically free). The 7-gal container is very heavy. A few 5 gallon jugs would be better if you want your water to be portable. A 55-gallon barrel from www.moreprepared.com is a good option if you have room in your garage.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Red Cross have released a guide called Food and Water in an Emergency. The organizations recommend you wash the container with dish soap and water, then rinse. Fill with tap water.. if the water come from the City of Hermosa Beach, then it is chlorinated and you do not have to treat with chlorine bleach. FEMA and Red Cross say you should replace the water ever 6-12 months, though some experts say it can last longer. If you forget to replace the water and a disaster strikes several year after you last replaced the water, you may want to treat the water as described below.
Store your emergency water in a cool, dark place. The garage or closets will do.
Emergency Water Treatment
Water Purification Tablets:
If you need to treat water after a disaster, you can you some Iodine or Chlorine Dioxide tablets.
REI carries Potable Aqua Iodine Tablets for $7 and Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide Tablets - Package of 20 for $10.
Or just go to any outdoors store and ask a salesperson to help you with your emergency water storage and purification task.
Chlorine Bleach:You can use choline bleach to treat water. Follow the instruction in "Food and Water in an Emergency" by FEMA and Red Cross: use two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach for each gallon of water.
If you need to treat water after a disaster, you can you some Iodine or Chlorine Dioxide tablets.
REI carries Potable Aqua Iodine Tablets for $7 and Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide Tablets - Package of 20 for $10.
Or just go to any outdoors store and ask a salesperson to help you with your emergency water storage and purification task.
Chlorine Bleach:You can use choline bleach to treat water. Follow the instruction in "Food and Water in an Emergency" by FEMA and Red Cross: use two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach for each gallon of water.
Another source of emergency water
If you or your neighbors need water after a disaster, you can find some in your hot water heater. Follow FEMA and Red Cross recommendations (use iodine or bleach per their instructions).
Other questionable sources... only if you absolutely have to... use the tablets.
Other questionable sources... only if you absolutely have to... use the tablets.
Don't forget to store emergency food
HBDSW recommendations on emergency food storage.