Water - Got Enough?

After Hurricane Sandy hit the north-eastern cost of the United States, many of us saw the following "letter".

Things that I learned from Hurricane Sandy

1. The excitement and coolness wears off around day 3

2. You are never really prepared to go weeks without power, heat, water etc. Never!

3. Yes, it can happen to you.

4. Just because your generator runs like a top, does not mean its producing electricity.

5. If you do not have water stored up you are in trouble.
a. A couple of cases of bottled water is “NOT” water storage

6. Should have as much fuel as water
a. Propane
b. Gas
c. Kerosene
d. Firewood
e. Fire starter (kindling, paper, etc.)

7. Even the smallest little thing that you get from the store should be stocked up… (spark plug for the generator, BBQ lighter, etc.)

8. If you are not working, chances are nobody else is either.

9. I was surprised how quickly normal social behavior goes out the window. I am not talking about someone cutting in line at the grocery store.
a. 3 people were killed at gas stations within 50 miles of my home.
b. I did not say 3 fights broke out, 3 people were killed.

10. Cash is king (all the money in your savings means nothing)

11. Stored water can taste nasty.

12. You eat a lot more food when you are cold.

13. You need more food than you think if your kids are out of school for 2 weeks

14. Kids do not like washing their face in cold water.

15. Your 1972 Honda civic gets to the grocery store as well as your 2012 Escalade… but the Honda allows money left over for heat, food, water, a generator, fire wood, a backup water pump, you get the idea..

16. The electrical grid is way more fragile than I thought.

17. Think of the things that are your comfort, your escape, a cup of hot chocolate, a glass of milk and a ding dong before bed, tequila, etc. Stock up on those too. You will need that comfort after day 3.

18. You quickly become the guy in the neighborhood who knows how to wire a generator to the electrical panel, directly wire the furnace to a small generator, or get the well pump up and running on inverter power or you are the guy whose Master’s degree in Accounting suddenly means nothing. (Love you Steve!)

19. A woman who can cook a fine meal by candle light over the BBQ or open fire is worth her weight in gold. And women, whose weight in gold, would not add up to much, usually die off first. Sorry skinny women.

20. It takes a lot of firewood to keep a fire going all day and into the evening for heat.

21. All the food storage in the world means nothing if your kids won’t eat it.

22. You might be prepared to take care of your children and their needs, but what about when the neighborhood children start to show up at your door?

23. Some people shut down in an emergency. There is nothing that you can do about that.

24. Your town, no matter how small is entirely dependent on outside sources of everything.
a. If supply trucks stop rolling in due to road damage, gas shortages or anything else you could be without for a long time.

25. In an emergency Men stock up on food, Women stock up on toilet paper.

26. I was surprised how many things run on electricity!

27. You can never have enough matches.

28. Although neighbors can be a great resource, they can also be a huge drain on your emergency storage. You need to know how you are going to handle that. It is really easy to be Bob the guy who shares on Day 3, not so easy on Day 11. Just reality.

29. Give a man a fish he eats for that day, teach a man to fish and he will never be hungry again… Now I get it.

30. All of the expensive clothes in the closet mean nothing if they don’t keep you warm.

31. Same goes for shoes… Love you Honey!!!!

32. You cannot believe the utility companies. They are run by politicians!! Or so it seems.

33. Anything that you depend on someone else for is not avail anymore.

34. Quote “A man with a chainsaw that knows how to use it is a thing of beauty” hahaha

35. Most folks don’t have any emergency storage. They run to Wal-Mart and get water and batteries and then fill their tubs with water. That is it. A lucky few will get a case of ramen and a box of pop tarts. That will be your neighbors supply. (Especially if you live outside of Utah.)

36. Fathers, all the money you have ever made means nothing if you can’t keep your kids warm.

37. Mothers, everything you have ever done for your kids is forgotten if your kids are hungry.

38. You really do not want to be the “Unprepared Parents” The kids turn on you pretty quick.

39. Small solar charging gadgets will keep you in touch. Most work pretty well it seems.

40. Most things don’t take much power to operate.
a. Computers,
b. Phones
c. Radios
d. TV
e. lights
41. Some things take a ton of power to operate.
a. Fridge
b. Toaster
c. Freezer
d. Hot plate
e. Microwave

42. When it gets dark at 4:30pm the nights are really long without power.

43. Getting out of the house is very important. Even if it is cold. Make your home the semi warm place to come home to… not the cold prison that you are stuck in.

44. Someone in your family must play or learn to play guitar.

45. Things that disappeared never to be seen again for a very long time.
a. Fuel, of all kinds
b. Matches, lighters of any kind etc.
c. Toilet paper
d. Paper plates, plastic forks and knives
e. Batteries, didn’t really see a need for them. (flashlights??? I guess)
f. Milk
g. Charcoal
h. Spark plugs (generators)
i. 2 stroke motor oil, (chainsaws)
j. Anything that could be used to wire a generator to the house.
k. Extension cords
l. Medicines (Tylenol, Advil, cold medicine, etc.)

46. There was a strange peace to knowing all I had to do each day was keep my family safe, warm, and fed, but my peace was someone else’s panic.
There were also many things that were not learned from hurricane Sandy, but reinforced. Those things were the importance of my family and their love and support, especially my lovely wife, that my Heavenly Father is really in charge, period, and finally that I am very thankful for the upbringing and experiences that have taught me and brought me to where I am .. Wherever that is…hahahaha…

God Bless!!!
(This is not written by me, but to a friend from someone in New York)  

I originally found this posted in a Facebook Group, I then posted it on my Facebook page, I felt it just too important a message not to pass on...and it got me thinking, how many of us are working through our daily lives thinking that help would not be too far from us, or that we’re sufficiently prepared were we to find ourselves in an emergency situation when in reality we’ve just got a couple of cases of water bottles sitting out in the garage?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not spitting on those water bottles. Water is essential for maintaining life. The question is, Do you (do any of us) have enough?

Rule of 3’s

You can live only
3 hours without shelter;
3 days without water;
3 weeks without food.


In other words, all the food you have in your home store is worth nothing if you don't have enough water.

Need Could Arise Anytime

Your personal “emergency” could find you at any time. Thinking through and preparing for all possibilities could put you in a much better position.
Christmas morning, a Sister woke to find she had no water in her home. A pipe had broken in the night and she was without. Concerned mainly with the need to hydrate her body and create a meal for her family, she overlooked that the treated water in the pool next door could at least be used to flush the toilets or wash her body. Who thinks clearly when unprepared for an emergency?

How Much is Needed?

The average human has the need to intake at least 2 quarts (half gallon) of water per day; expectant or nursing mothers, children, and the sick have need of more. The Department of Defense and the Office of Civil Defense recommend “that a gallon of water per day per person be stored for food preparation and drinking… An additional one-half to 1 gallon per day is recommended for bathing and hygiene, and to wash dishes.” I’d just like to ask, “What kind of bathing will you be doing with just a half-gallon a day; and what about toilet flushing? Shouldn’t that be considered when thinking of hygiene?”

FEMA suggests that you have at least two weeks of water storage on hand. Other survival experts suggest you have at least a month’s worth stored for emergencies.

How does this break down for you?
Storing for only you? 28+ gallons
Family of 2 = 56+ gallons
Family of 3 = 84+ gallons
Family of 5 = 140+ gallons

Remember to store enough water for your pets.

In What Do I Store?

Only store in clean, sturdy, FOOD GRADE plastic; small containers marked PETE, or larger containers like water barrels and drums or containers stamped HDPE and coded with the recycle symbol and the number 2.
Optimally, it’s best to store in a container that prohibits light penetration, inhibiting the growth of bacteria. It’s better however, to have some kind of storage rather than putting it off. Don’t wait, start storing today.
Soda bottles and Fruit juice bottles, washed thoroughly can be stored in a dark area, where if they were to leak damage wouldn’t occur, are a great way to start. Avoid the use of milk jugs; they are far more susceptible to bacterial growth and the plastic breaks down much more quickly.
While filling containers you have available now, set a goal to obtain your container(s) of choice. Five gallon jugs (blue) are portable (40 lbs. full). Boxed water bags and Water Bricks stack well.  Blue water barrels can be purchased most commonly in five, thirty, and fifty-five gallon sizes. In an Internet search you may find barrels that hold as much as 250 gallons.
If storing in barrels be certain to have on hand a bung wrench, and a syphon pump and hose or like tools able to grant you access to your stored water.
Chlorine is corrosive to most metals. Stainless steel can be used to store only water which has not been or will not be treated with chlorine.

Where Do I Store?

Store water in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and direct heat; Store away from fuels and chemicals.
If you must store your water outside, leave at least 10% of your container empty for expansion when the water freezes.
Do not place your plastic storage containers directly on concrete. Store your water on a wooden pallet or on shelving. If you must store your water on a cement floor, place it on a piece of cardboard, carpet, or plywood.

Treatment

If you’re filling your containers with treated “city” water, there’s no need to further disinfect your water. If you’re on untreated city or well water, you’ll need to pre-treat your water before storing. The American Red Cross and FEMA recommend this method:

• Add six drops (1/8 teaspoon) of unscented bleach (containing 5.25 percent hypochlorite) per gallon of water.
• Stir and let stand for 30 minutes.
• If the water does not taste and smell of chlorine after 30 minutes, add another dose of 1/8 teaspoon and let stand another 15 minutes.
• Seal the containers and label with contents and date of preparation.

Rotation

Stored water from the tap should be rotated every 6 months.
Bottled water purchased at the grocery store should be rotated once a year. Check the date on the container.
Rotate self-serve water processed with ozonation, once a year.
One Brother, changes the batteries in the smoke detectors, the food in his families’ 72 kits, and their water storage each time General Conference rolls around. How will you remember to rotate yours?
Water being rotated out of storage could be used to water the garden, clean the car, or could be used in practice. Use your stored water for your daily needs. This will assure that you’ve stored enough water to sustain your family.

But I’m not ready…

Disaster strikes and you don’t have enough water stored on hand. – Turn off the electric or gas to your hot water heater, turn off the water intake valve, drain and catch the water from the drain spout at the bottom. (Expect that the first of this water will be rusty, not able to be used for intake. Prepare to save it anyway, don't waste. This is perfect for use in flushing your toilet.) Boil/Filter and chlorinate (see "treatment") this water for use. Wait 30 minutes before using.
This is a two part process. Boiling or Filtering (should filter to one micron or less) destroys parasites such as giardia and cryptosporidium, but won’t rid the water of possible viruses and bacteria. While chlorine takes care of the viruses and bacteria, it won’t rid the water of these parasites.
Distilling water can clean salt and other impurities from your water. Tie a cup to the lid of a pot by the handle, so that when the lid is turned upside down the cup hangs right side up. (Don’t hang the cup in the water.) Place the lid wrong side up over your pot of water and boil for 20 minutes. The water that runs off of the pot lid and drips into the cup is distilled, leaving the impurities in the water at the bottom of the pot.

Little Extra

Tastes a bit off? Water stored over a long period of time becomes stale tasting; re-oxygenate your stored or boiled water by pouring it back and forth between two clean containers.

A Few Favorites

 The WaterBrick (Add a spigot for ease of use.)

Can store up to 3.5 gallons of water; enough DRINKING water for one person for up to 3 days.
 9" x 18" x 7"
Interlocking and stackable


I have loved this filtration unit since the minute I first read about it. The Seychelle Filtration Straw is not just lightweight and easily carried it filters among other nasties, Cryptosporidium. 'Nuff said, I am in love.

When purchasing the 55 gallon water barrel as part of the Water Supply Kit, it comes with Water Syphon, Bung Wrench and Water Treatment Solution.

Have a TON of water available, and you just need a filtration system? Would the ability to filter up to 176 gallons a day raise your eyebrows? What about a Manufacture one million gallon guarantee? This is the Sawyer Point Zero Two (filters down to .02 microns not just a meager 1, see But I'm not ready... above).

Or my latest, greatest favorite, The Sawyer Mini - perfect for keeping in your car or go-bag.