Into Motivation

The human body is only able to live for three days. This makes water a crucial facet of emergency preparedness.

In many homes, nearly 25 gallons of water per day is used by each person. This is not only drinking water, but that used for cleaning cooking and flushing as well. The majority of the systems that are used to supply water into these homes are driven by electrical energy. This includes those households that make use of well water, because they often use electric pump systems. So, having stores of water available is extremely important in the event you end up without access to electrical energy.

It’s wise to have a week’s worth of water stashed for your family. If you’re careful with your water use, you will be able to get by with 2 to 3 gallons of water per individual in very warm climates. Half of this water will be employed for drinking. The remainder will be employed for hygiene and cooking. You might not consume this much water currently, but take into account that other options for beverages most likely are not available. Furthermore, you will be adapting to living without having the benefit of such things as air conditioning and electric fans. Drinking water will be required to replenish moisture your body loses via respiration and perspiration.

If you’re warned that there is an impending scarcity, you may fill all storage containers on your property which might be strong enough to hold water without spills: ice chests, buckets, bowls, bathtubs, sinks, etc. Separate the stored water into that which will be used for drinking and that designated for other use.

It’s advisable to prepare for at least seven days without

having water. Each person should have 21 gallons of stored water. To be safe, you may wish to double this volume. For 5 persons, this would mean 105 gallons of water ought to be stored. Two times that amount would be over 200 gallons. So, 2 to 4, fifty-five gallon drums would satisfy your storage needs.

A gallon of water weighs a little less than 8 1/2 pounds. Take this into account when planning storage and transportation of water. Large amounts of water are best stored on a strengthened concrete floor as fifty-five gallons of water (not including extra weight of the drum) would weigh almost 500 pounds. Most standard flooring systems wouldn’t be able to bear this additional weight.

Should the unanticipated occur, obtain useable water from other sources at your residence. Typical domestic hot water heaters may contain forty or even more gallons of drinkable water. Drinkable water can be retrieved from the tank over a commode. Harvest ice from the freezer. Don’t throw away the water within canned products as it is another important source of moisture when every drop counts.

Water can be collected via downspouts or inside a youngster’s swimming pool in the course of a rainstorm. On top of that, clean bedspreads and sheets can be placed out to soak up the dew or rain and then wrung out over a storage container. Non drinking water sources include water from the commode bowl and the water bed mattress.

Plan ahead to prepare for probable water shortages. Get creative with strategies to renew your stored water as soon as the spigot is shut off. Train yourself and your loved ones to reduce the use of the water you DO possess.