Prepare in Advance for Emergencies
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to keep your household safe and supplied with water and food for extended emergencies. Water and food will NOT be supplied by other organizations or agencies.
1. WATER
You need 14 gallons of water per person — more for pets, pregnant people, newborns, and those with extra needs. Know how to access water from your water heater. Treat additional water with UNSCENTED REGULAR Chlorine bleach.
Choose the size of your water containers and where to store them for ease of access. Water is about eight pounds per gallon, that's 440 pounds per 50 gallon barrel! You’ll need a spigot or hand pump (Amazon) to access water from larger containers.
Know how to shut off your home's water supply in an emergency. Protect yourself from broken pipes and contaminated water inundating your home and water heater.
Emergency Water Storage chart is from www.regionalh2o.org / emergency-preparedness / emergency-water-storage [LINK]
How can you access water in your H/W tank? The Regional Water people made a 'doorhanger' that you can print and tape to your water heater! [LINK]
2. FOOD / PREPARATION
You need food and a way to prepare it. Power and communications may be disrupted. Think camping techniques and supplies.
3. EMERGENCY SANITATION
Make a toilet plan!
4. COMMUNITY
Make connections with your neighbors now so you can work together to help those at greater risk after an emergency.