Category Archives: Food and Water

Simple Food and Water Storage for a Snow Storm, Power Outage or Natural Disaster

February 17, 2010

“It doesn’t take a large catastrophic disaster for anyone of us to find ourselves in a situation where we are stuck in our home, maybe for a period of days, without food or water available to us other than what we have there.”  It’s a wise warning from the American Red Cross.  This video from the CDC is short, sweet and informative:

“Stockpile things you like and normally buy, just buy a little more of them.  Stockpile foods that are non-perishable and don’t require refrigeration or cooking.”  It’s really common sense.  Store a little extra food and water in a pantry, garage or extra closet.

When an emergency strikes and the power goes out and stays out:

  1. Eat the food in your refrigerator first, since this will go bad the soonest.
  2. Then, eat the food in your freezer.  As long as you keep the door closed, it should last a few days (maybe longer depending on the climate).
  3. Finally, eat your stockpiled food of canned goods and non-perishable items.

They are simple suggestions, but so simple to overlook.
Survival Simon Says: Simply Prepare!

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Water in an Emergency: Water Purification and Filtration

December 9, 2009

clean-water-dropWater.  It’s essential for survival of all forms of life.  It covers 71% of the earth and yet it’s not always available – especially in an emergency.  In my last post we reviewed water storage ideas.  Now we’ll address the equally important topic of purifying and filtering water.

Apart from tasting bad, contaminated water can have microorganisms that cause diseases such as dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid. Purify all water of questionable condition before drinking it, preparing food or using for personal hygiene.

Pre-Storage Purification

Before you store water for long periods of time, treat it with a preservative like chlorine bleach to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Use household bleach with 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite, not bleach with perfumes or added cleaners.

  1. Add four drops of bleach per quart of water and stir.
  2. Seal your containers tightly.
  3. Label them “purified with chlorine” and include the date.

Pre-Consumption Purification

You can purify water a few different ways, but none are perfect.  It’s best to use a combination of methods.  Either way, if the water looks murky, filter it first before purifying.

  1. Let the water sit untouched to allow suspended particles to settle.
  2. Filter the water through layers of clean paper, cotton towels, or coffee filters.

The following purification methods will kill microbes but will not remove heavy metals, chemicals or radioactive fallout.

water-boiling-for-purificationPurification by Boiling

Boiling is the safest method of purifying water.

  1. Pour the water in a clean pan or cooking container.
  2. Bring it to a rolling boil and continue boiling for 10 more minutes (some water will evaporate).
  3. Cover the water while it cools before use.

Boiled water can taste flat.  To improve the flavor, shake or pour back and forth between two clean containers.

Purification by Chlorination

Liquid household chlorine bleach can also purify and kill microorganisms.  Add 2 drops of bleach per quart of water (four drops if it’s extra murky), mix well and let it stand for 30 minutes.  The water should have a slight taste and smell of chlorine.  If it doesn’t, add another dose and let it stand another 15 minutes before testing.

Keep in mind, chlorination will not kill parasites like Giardia. Parasites can cause severe health problems, particularly for those with existing medical conditions. Boiling is the best choice of treatment for parasite contamination.

water-purification-tabletsPurification Tablets

If you prepare in advance, tablets of chlorine and iodine are inexpensive and very effective.   Follow the directions on the package and double the dosage for extra murky water.

Comprehensive Purification by Distillation

Distillation will remove contaminants that the prior methods are unable to remove, such as microbes, salts, heavy metals, some chemicals, and radioactive fallout (dust and dirt).  In short, distillation requires boiling water and collecting the vapor. The vapor then condenses into water without the impurities.

  1. Use a clean pot with a lid that will stay in place when placed upside down on the pot.
  2. Fill the pot about halfway with water. Tie a clean cup to the handle on the  lid, so that the cup will be suspended right side up when the lid is placed upside down on the pot. The cup should hang suspended above and not touch the water.
  3. Boil the water for about 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid and collects in the cup is distilled.
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Water In An Emergency: Water Storage Supply and Survival Ideas

November 15, 2009

storing-waterDrip. Drip. Drip. Yeah, it’s a sound we all take for granted. Water sustains life. We use it to drink, cook, wash, shower, clean, and more…everyday. In our modern world we simply turn the faucet for instant access.

For my inaugural post, I thought it would be appropriate to address the most vital element of emergency preparedness. In part 1 of 2 posts, we’ll focus on the importance of storing water and rotating a steady supply. In another post, we’ll address water sanitation and filtration.

Long-Term Water Storage

To begin, most experts say you should store 1 gallon of water per person per day.  This is definitely more than needed to survive, but it provides a sufficient amount to be relatively comfortable.  A minimum of 3-days of water per person would be a great start.  For households and small businesses, there are three basic sizes and options for water storage:

  1. SMALL: PET water bottles (the kind soda or liters of water come in)
    This is an entry level approach, but they can be easily stored and transported.  If you store them in an extra freezer, they can be used to keep your refrigerator cool in the event of a power failure.water-storage-tanks
  2. MEDIUM: 5-7 gallon tanks with handles.
    These are just the right size for easy portability and usage.  Anything larger than 7 gallons, will be difficult to move and pour.
  3. LARGE: 50-60 gallon drums and tanks
    These are ideal for long-term storage if you have the space to store them.  Just make sure you have a good pump or know how to siphon water.

Short-Term Water Storage

Thunderstorms and other predictable emergencies allow us enough time to supplement our water storage just hours before.  Here are a few ideas:

  1. Fill your bathtub(s)
    This is the easiest to do.  You won’t drink this unless your situation is more extreme, but it can be used to wash and flush toilets.
  2. Fill large buckets, containers and coolers
    Everyone’s situation is different, but most of us have something laying around that can be filled.
  3. Fill trash bags (2 or 3 deep depending on the durability)
    This works well as a backup for step 2.  They can be placed just about anywhere, but keeping them outside would be advisable in case of a leaky bag.

Collecting Water

collecting-waterOf course, eventually you may run out of water storage (or never have it in the first place!).   In this case, you’ll want to be familiar with the closest water sources.  This varies greatly based on location, but here are some ideas:

INSIDE

  1. your hot-water tank
  2. pipes and faucets
  3. ice cubes

OUTSIDE

  1. rain gutters
  2. rivers, streams, ponds, lakes
  3. natural springs and wells

Be Water Wise

It only takes a few days for the average person to die without water.  Be wise.

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