Caught Prepared: 25 Simple Steps to Protect Your Family in an Emergency

By Sam Spencer

No matter the disaster, you're caught prepared. From food storage, to sanitation, to emergency power, this easy-to-follow preparedness guide is so practical that no family can do without it. In 25 easy-to-implement steps, this book teaches you exactly what to do now to protect your family and give you peace of mind for years to come.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cedar Fort Publishing & Media
• Release date: Apr 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9781462129371

Book preview

Survival

Preparedness

Tips

1

Water Storage Tips

Water is absolutely necessary for survival. A person can survive easily for a week without food. I have often heard stories of people surviving for several weeks without food. However, a human being can survive only about three days without water. It is for this reason that your first priority as you begin your disaster preparedness plan is to store emergency water. We are accustomed to abundant domestic water supplies, and we can hardly imagine water not being available. We take it for granted.

An interruption in the water supply does not necessarily come from a natural disaster. It can also come from other sources, such as a contaminated water supply, a broken water main, or even failed equipment at the utility company. It is a good idea to have a minimum of one week’s worth of water stored for all occupants of your home or apartment. You will see how simple this can be as you study this section.

One gallon per person per day is the minimum that you should have in storage. This will give you two quarts to drink each day and two quarts for cooking and brushing your teeth. If you would like more water for hygiene, then you will need an additional gallon per person per day. The ideal amount of water to store for an emergency is two gallons per person per day. That would mean fourteen gallons of emergency water per person per week. 

Hot weather can increase the amount of water needed. Children may need additional water. People who are ill, pregnant, and nursing will also need additional drinking water. Limiting your activity particularly in hot weather can decrease your demand for water. It is important, however, that you give your body the water that it needs each day. Stay hydrated!

When disaster strikes, your emergency water storage could save your life. Have enough emergency water.

How Much Water Should You Store?

My recommendation: a minimum of seven days' supply of water per person. Store one gallon of water per person per day. Generally, it takes a few days for emergency services to become available, and water is often the first item that is brought in. The minimum preparation for emergency water should be one week. That would be seven gallons per person as a minimum to store in your home.

Start by doing this simple calculation based on your own family’s needs. Determine how much water you need to store for your family for one week: number of family members__________× 7 (one gallon per day per person) = total water needed.

What Containers Should I Use?

You should store water only in food-grade plastic containers with tight-fitting screw-on caps. You can purchase new containers if you desire. All used storage containers must be thoroughly washed, sanitized, and rinsed before filling with water for storage. Wash containers with dish soap, and rinse thoroughly with clean water. You can sanitize additionally if desired by swishing a solution of one teaspoon of liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water on all interior surfaces of the container. Rinse the container thoroughly again with clean water before you fill it with storage water.[1]

My wife buys apple juice and orange juice in large hard plastic containers. When we have finished drinking the juice, she will clean the container as described and fill it with storage water. We have many containers filled with water stored on shelves and in various places in our home. We write the month and year on each bottle with a felt pen. Generally, you can have confidence that if food was stored in a particular container, it is food-grade plastic. Be sure to thoroughly clean each container! PET and PETE containers are food grade and are designed for this use. Inspect the container to find the recycle triangle. These letters will be printed below it.

You should not store your water in glass containers because there is an inherent risk of breakage. You should not use milk containers for water storage because they are not designed for long-term use. Whatever you choose to store water in, you should place it out of the sunlight, especially if you have clear containers. If you need to store your water outside or in the sunlight, it is a good idea to use the blue water containers that will keep the sunlight from penetrating the containers or to cover them with a