March 12, 2009
Store plenty of water to prepare for disaster
Editor’s note: The Emergency Management Division of the Washington Military Department is offering a tip a month to help people get prepared for a disaster. University Week will carry these tips each month.
March’s tip has to do with storing water. In an earthquake, the ground trembling and shaking can crack or break the lines that bring fresh water to your house. You may have to rely for three days or more on the water you have stored. Three gallons for each person in your household is the minimum amount required to take care of drinking, cooking and hygiene needs for the first 72 hours of a disaster.
Plastic containers with a screw-top lid are best for storing water. You should thoroughly rinse out the container and lid, then fill it to the brim and seal tightly. Label it “drinking water” and date it. Store it in a cool and dark place, such as under the bed or in the corner of a closet and rotate it every six months. Do not use glass bottles or milk jugs for water storage. Glass breaks too easily and the plastic in milk jugs becomes brittle over time.
It is not necessary to add anything to tap water or bottled water to purify it for storage. However, during a disaster you may find yourself with access only to water of questionable purity. In that case there are several methods for purifying it which are described on the Emergency Management Division’s Web site.
Click here to download a PDF with this information.
Click here to visit UW’s Emergency Management Office Web site.
