Water Preparation
Having access to clean water is critical in any disaster scenario. Water is consumed the FASTEST out of all resources. Among our seven areas of preparation-Food, Water, Shelter, Energy, Health, Protection, and communication, water is a necessity in both Food and Health, making it critical to your resource list. Learn more about how you can properly prepare and store your water.
Water Preparation Information
If you are in a disaster or emergency, it's important that you take steps to prevent illness from unsafe water. After a disaster, do not use water you suspect or have been told is contaminated, use bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene. While the human body can go at a maximum of a few weeks without food, water is much more crucial. Our bodies can only go a few days without fresh clean water. Floods and disasters can damage drinking water wells and lead to aquifer and well contamination. Disasters can contaminate water with livestock waste, human sewage, chemicals, and other contaminants that can lead to illness when used for drinking, bathing, and other hygiene activities. Possible sources of water that can be made safe using treatment are rainwater, moving bodies of water, lakes, and natural springs. Water that is contaminated with waste, chemicals, or fuels cannot be made safe.
