Food And Water For Thought

Food And Water For Thought by Gary Benton
article copyright

One aspect of an emergency a lot of folks rarely consider is the storage of food and water, or even how long they can be safely stored. If an emergency were to occur right this minute, how safe are the canned goods you have in the cupboard? Or, how long could you drink the bottled water you have in the basement? How safe is your food and water supply, or do you even have one? With today’s uncertain political world, it might be to all of our advantages to have at least a two-week supply of food and water on hand. For most of us, we could live for two weeks on what is in the freezer, cupboard, or the fridge, but in some homes it might result in a more limited food intake.

In the event of a natural disaster or a terrorist attack, you may have to survive on what is available in your home when it occurs. If an emergency does happen and you still have electrical power, turn on the television to see what local authorities suggest you do, stay or evacuate the area. Additionally you should have a battery or alternate power radio available in case the power goes out, so you can listen to local radio stations to keep informed of suggestions and events. Knowing what to do and when to do it is very important in an emergency situation. If you are instructed to stay you might have to change your lifestyle a bit, but a lot will depend on if you have utilities and the extent the emergency limits your movements.

If you stay and have no utilities at all your first priority in most situations, in extremely cold weather you can stay warm under your blankets, but in hot weather you’ll need to increase your water intake and stay out of direct sunlight if you can, is water. Most folks would think of food as the number one concern, but without water people can die in as little as three days during moderate temperatures, faster in hot weather, and yet a healthy person can go as long as two weeks, some longer, without food. Water is your first concern, because it is a life sustaining consideration and remember, it can be stored prior to emergencies, you have emergency water sources, and most suspected unsafe water can be treated to make it safe to drink.

According to the American Red Cross, water can be stored safely in clean plastic containers, in glass, in fiberglass, or enamel lined metal containers. Make sure any container you use has never been used to store harmful chemicals or materials in it. I would suggest using empty two liter pop bottles for water storage; they even come with a cap to seal the container. You can also purchase commercial water storage containers, plastic drums, or buckets. I prefer those containers with tight lids to keep the water from being spilled and to keep it clean. If you use a sealed container, pop bottle, drum, or other container, label it on the outside with a permanent maker “Drinking Water” and add the date. Keep your water stored in a cool, dry and dark place, rotating it every six months, that is the reason for the date on the container.

In an emergency you can find water in ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams but keep in mind this water is not safe to drink until it has been purified. In your home you can use the water stored in your pipes as well as your hot water heater, just make sure the gas or electrical power is turned off before you drain the water heater. It is important for you to determine where your water comes from too, so you can determine in advance if your water might be safe or not in some emergencies. If your water at home comes from a private well it may still be safe to use, if you live in the country, In some emergencies, terrorist acts, floods, or tornados, public water sources might not be safe. Streams, ponds and rivers may not be safe then either and may even be the target of some terrorist acts. In most cases, unless I knew for sure my water source was clean I would shut my water off and use what remains in the pipes and hot water heater. Most hot water heaters are around the forty-gallon size and that’s enough for two people to survive for around twenty days at a moderate temperature, most survival experts suggest a gallon a day in mild temperatures, though you can survive on less if you do not eat.

If you are forced to use emergency drinking water from an unknown source at any time, streams, ponds or lakes, you will have to purify it before drinking. Try to get water from a fast moving source, river or stream, and avoid water that has a bad smell, has scum on it, or is obviously polluted in some way. There are four ways most folks purify water and though they all work to various degrees there are only two suggested by the Canadian Red Cross.

Pages: 1 2 3