Water Storage

Stocking water reserves should be among your top priorities in preparing for an emergency. You should store at least a three-day supply of water for each member of your family. A good rule of thumb is 1 gallon per person per day. Children, nursing mothers and ill people will also need more. 

How To Store Emergency Water Supplies

Store your water in strong, food-safe containers. Never use a container that has held toxic substances, because tiny amounts may remain in the container's pores.

Another method to store water is to simply purchase bottled water and leave the seals intact, but remember to rotate your water every six months or as date stamped on the bottles.

Hidden Water Sources in Your Home

If a disaster catches you without a stored supply of clean water, you can use water in

• your hot-water tank,
• our plumbing and
• in ice cubes.

Warning: Waterbeds can hold up to 400 gallons, but some water beds contain toxic chemicals that are not fully removed by many purifiers. If you designate a water bed in your home as an emergency resource, drain it yearly and refill it with fresh water containing two ounces of bleach per 120 gallons.