January 2021
How will you launch your preparedness plans in 2021? The single most important disaster preparedness step you can take is emergency water storage.
Why is water important?
- A normally active person needs to drink 2 quarts every day, up to double that when it’s hot or you are physically active. A major disaster may cut off or contaminate your water supply.
- You can live many days without food but not without water.
How much water to store?
- Store 1 gallon per person per day for 14 days. You will need half of this for drinking and half for food preparation and sanitation. For a household of 4, that’s 56 gallons.
How to store water?
- Store water in containers that won’t break or decompose. Plastic containers with the triangular recycling symbol and the number 1 are recommended. Wash the container with soap and warm water and fill from the tap. Seal tightly.
- Label with the date so you can replace the water every six months. Store containers in a cool dark place away from direct sunlight.
- Check with local suppliers for containers. Many people prefer stackable containers. Consider the weight of water when you decide on sizes: 5 gallons of water weighs 42 pounds.
- Don’t forget to store water in your car and at work.
Already done all of this? Great, add a water purification pump, such as a personal or family size Lifestraw, to your supplies!
Emergency procedures
If you are able to stay in your home after a disaster event, you have several water sources. However, leaks in pipelines may drain or contaminate our water supply. Treat or filter water for drinking.
- fill your bathtub with water
- use the 20-40 gallons of water stored in your water heater: turn off the incoming water supply, turn off your water heater’s power source (for gas heaters, switch to “pilot” instead of Off, let the air out by opening the relief valve (pipe on the side of the heater); locate the drain valve near the bottom of the tank and release water into a clean container
- access toilet tanks for about 1 gallon of tap water
If you are uncertain about a water source:
- bring water to a rolling boil for 1-10 minutes, or
- use water purification tablets, available from stores like REI, or
- purify water with regular household bleach. (Do not use perfumed bleach. Add 2 drops of bleach per quart of water, 8 drops per gallon, ½ teaspoon for a 5-gallon container.)
We will write again in February. Until then, keep wearing masks, washing your hands, and staying home when you can. COVID is still on the rise.
Linnton NET wants untrained and trained volunteers for small- to medium-sized projects.
Help us help you,
Nancy Hiser
Linnton NET
503-713-3468
nancyghiser@gmail.com