When a severe storm looms, many prep their windows and doors. But do you ever think about prepping your water? The Water Quality Association (WQA) recommend homeowners looking to stock up on water and other supplies ahead of big storms, and consider filling reusable containers with filtered tap water if bottled water is unavailable at area stores.
“If homeowners cannot find bottled water at the store, but have reusable water containers on hand, we suggest filling those with filtered tap water ahead of the storm,” says WQA Professional Certification and Training Director Tanya Lubner, PhD.
However, Lubner says once the water supply has been compromised, passing it through home water treatment equipment that is not intended to purify microbiologically unsafe water would not provide sufficient assurance of potability. WQA recommends residents pay attention to local boil water alerts and other warnings following severe flooding because local water supplies can be tainted with debris, bacteria and other contaminants. Water treatment equipment will also need to be sanitized after flooding.
When it comes to stocking up on water, the general rule of thumb is to have one gallon per day for each individual in a home. Three days of bottled water for a family of four would mean having 12 gallons of water on hand.
In addition to having bottled water, authorities recommend residents preparing for a hurricane have several days of food for each family member along with food for pets. Additional supplies to gather before the storm include prescription medications, extra batteries, a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio, flashlights, blankets, clothing and a first aid kit.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends residents make sure they know local evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Homeowners should consider bringing in lawn furniture, garbage cans and anything else not tied down. Boat owners should determine how and where to secure their boat.
Source: www.ready.gov. http://www.wqa.org
