Emergency Water Storage

How much emergency water storage should a person have? Preparedness experts, including FEMA, recommend that you store a two-week supply of water. A person needs a minimum of 1 gallon of water a day, which breaks down to a couple of quarts for drinking and cooking, and another half gallon for cleaning and sanitation. That means a minimum of 14 gallons of water per person per household.

The next question might be: What is the best method of storing emergency water supplies? A couple of considerations for planning your emergency water storage containers would be the types and sizes of containers. Many people use food-grade 55-gallon water drum (usually blue) and store them in their garage. Others used the 5-gallon water containers, usually purchased at camping supply stores.

I’ve used both a 55-gallon drum and multiple 5-gallon containers, and for most circumstances prefer the smaller containers. The main reason is that in an evacuation situation, the smaller containers can be transported in my bug out vehicle. They are also easier to refill and empty.

For those who cannot afford to buy the 55-gallon drums or even the 5-gallon water containers, chances are the perfect water storage container is already in home: 2-liter soda bottles. Once you drink up the soda, clean and fill them with tap water, then add 1/8 teaspoon of household bleach and store in a dark place.

Even someone who lives in a small apartment can have an emergency water storage system. Water containers can be stored under the bed, in the closet, and in the back of cupboards. Since most water stored is tap water, and 2-liter bottles easy to obtain, there’s no reason why every person doesn’t have water stored against a future emergency.