The human body can only live for 3 days. This makes water a critical aspect of emergency preparedness.
In many homes, nearly twenty-five gallons of water each day is used by each individual. This is not only drinking water, but that put to use in cleaning cooking and flushing as well. Almost all of the systems that are used to provide water to these homes are powered by electrical energy. This includes those homes that employ well water, as these often use electric powered pump systems. Therefore, having stores of water with you is important in the event you find yourself without access to electrical power.
It’s recommended that you assess your family’s needs for a seven day period. With careful consumption, two to three gallons per person will be enough in very warm temperatures. Half of this will be water for drinking. The other fifty percent will be used for cooking and hygiene. You may not consume anywhere near this much water at present, but take into account that other sources of beverages might not be available. At the same time, you’ll be adjusting to living without having the benefit of things like air conditioning and electric fans. You’ll need to replace water lost by means of sweating and respiration.
If you are warned that there’s an looming scarcity, you’ll be able to fill all containers on your property that are strong enough to hold water without spills: ice chests, buckets, bowls, bathtubs, sinks, and so forth. Separate your stored water into that which will be used for drinking and that designated for other use.
Make plans to store enough water to last your home seven days. This means that every person in your family will require twenty-one gallons of water kept in storage. To be on the safe side, store twice this volume. A family of 5 would need 105 gallons of water kept in storage. Two times that amount would be over 200 gallons. Translated, this would mean you would need 2 to 4, 55 gallon drums.
The weight of a gallon of water is just under eight and a half pounds. This is an important consideration with regard to storage and transportation. Considerable amounts of water are safest kept on a reinforced cement floor for the reason that weight of fifty-five gallons of water is almost 500 pounds — and that’s not including the weight of the drum! The majority of flooring systems wouldn’t normally hold up well to this extra weight.
If you are unexpectedly lacking water service, you’ll find locations in your own home that contain useable water. The majority of hot water heaters contain about 40 gallons of drinkable water. The tank part of the commode also has water that is able to be used for drinking purposes. Ice cubes inside the freezer are an additional source. Don’t neglect to utilize the water within canned food items as every drop is important whenever water is scarce.
In a rain, water may be gathered by using a child’s swimming pool or by placing a container beneath your downspout. You may place a clean bedspread or sheet out in the course of rainfall or overnight on the lawn to collect the dew. Wring it out over a storage container. Harvest non-drinking water from commode bowls and waterbed mattresses.
Prepare ahead to get ready for probable water shortages. Get imaginative with strategies to replenish your stored water as soon as the tap is turned off. Educate yourself and your loved ones to reduce the use of the water you DO have.
