Wirecutter Guide to Emergency Preparedness Supplies

[majorhavoc]

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/emergency-preparedness/

A good starting point for newbies with recommendations on common gear that is almost universally accepted as important basic supplies.  I don't agree with all their recommendations, but some solid gear choices in there.

Also contains embedded links for CERT training, pulling together a go-bag, bug out bags, ARC first aid training, family food stock up plan, etc.  Good, basic information on preparedness.

[Anianna]

FEMA recommends that you keep a three-day supply of water on hand—a gallon per person per day. That's generally enough to cover drinking water and basic hygiene needs. But after speaking with a half-dozen disaster-preparedness experts, we think the three-day recommendation is unreasonably modest. Scientists fear that a massive rupture along the San Andreas Fault could damage the aqueducts and pipelines that deliver water to Southern California, and that repairs could take anywhere from weeks to six months or longer (PDF). We've seen that floods and hurricanes like Katrina and Sandy can cause massive utility disruptions and contamination of municipal water supplies. Given those risks, as well as the relative ease of storing water, we think that stockpiling a 10- to 14-day supply is a reasonable goal, especially if you live in an earthquake zone. The best way to be sure you have an adequate and easily transportable water supply is to get some dedicated containers.

The FEMA recommendation is the bare minimum with the expectation that Red Cross generally makes it to a disaster site by that point.  I like that this article references actual events that show why it's better to keep more on hand and not have to rely on whether Red Cross can show up or not. 

I sometimes consider how things differ where I am now to when we were on the farm.  It doesn't take much to get people shooting each other in my current area.  I want to be able to lock down for an extended period and not have to go out looking for resources if evacuation isn't feasible or optional.  Additionally, there is a higher percentage of concentrated low-income clusters here where a lot of people probably don't have the resources to prep, so I'd rather my family be self-sufficient so those more in need get first access to limited emergency resources regardless of the overall safety of venturing out.

I keep several gallons in the house and have a pile of Water Bricks in the shed as well as purification tablets in case any of that water goes funky.  We also have a distiller, so if the tap water is still running but not safe to drink, we can boil and distill it.  That's a last resort, though, as distilling is a lot of energy for a little return. 

Btw, those Auquatainers, I like to add one to my grocery order from time to time kind of like I do canning jars (I shop at Walmart).  It's just part of the groceries and doesn't feel like a big separate purchase, plus Walmart often has it for the cheapest price I can find anyway.  I also get a gallon or two of distilled water to tuck various places throughout the house (but only when it's cheap).  You buy a little here and there and eventually you find yourself well-covered for an event. 

When I'm canning and the canner has some room in it, I add jars of filtered water to fill the space.  Pressure canned water is sterilized and suitable for drinking in already rationed amounts and can add up over time and have an almost indefinite shelf life if stored properly, plus the canner works most efficiently when full.  Maximize energy use, build emergency water supply. 

[MacWa77ace]

When you store the water in the 7 gallon Aquatainer do you add anything to it like 14 drops of bleach, etc? And how long do you store it before rotating out.

Do you put tap water in it or filtered water?

For those with water softeners, which is just a filter, do you filter your drinking water a second time?

Is the stored water stored in climate control or in the environment.

[Raptor]

Funny when I saw the title I thought they may be reviewing wire cutters. 

IMO it is always good to have article on preps in the MSM. 

BTW for the record I carry in my car a cheap Harbor Freight bolts cutters and a pry bar. I keep it with the spare tire. 

[Anianna]

When you store the water in the 7 gallon Aquatainer do you add anything to it like 14 drops of bleach, etc? And how long do you store it before rotating out.

Do you put tap water in it or filtered water?

For those with water softeners, which is just a filter, do you filter your drinking water a second time?

Is the stored water stored in climate control or in the environment.

We're on municipal water and I have a reverse osmosis filter system on my kitchen sink and that's what I fill water storage containers with.  I don't know if I'm doing it right, but I just fill and forget it.  I think about it every few years and sometimes will open and sniff a container, but it just smells like water, so I leave it.  If I were to encounter one that smells funky, I would dump it and sanitize the container before refilling, but I haven't had that experience yet.  I have the Water Straws, water purification tablets, and the distiller for just in case. 

I also have a bunch of rain barrels, but after the report that PFAS are in rain globally, I only use that to water non-food plants.  I'm thinking of getting a second reverse osmosis filter system that I can set up as a portable filter to hook my rain barrels for when I want to use that water for drinking or to water food plants. 

A lot of my water is just in various rooms of my house, so climate controlled, but we also have a lot out in the shed that is not climate controlled.  I figure if I encounter any of my water going funky, it will be the shed water, but I sniff it before I use it to be sure.

[MacWa77ace]

We're on municipal water and I have a reverse osmosis filter system on my kitchen sink and that's what I fill water storage containers with.  I don't know if I'm doing it right, but I just fill and forget it.  I think about it every few years and sometimes will open and sniff a container, but it just smells like water, so I leave it.  If I were to encounter one that smells funky, I would dump it and sanitize the container before refilling, but I haven't had that experience yet.  I have the Water Straws, water purification tablets, and the distiller for just in case. 

I also have a bunch of rain barrels, but after the report that PFAS are in rain globally, I only use that to water non-food plants.  I'm thinking of getting a second reverse osmosis filter system that I can set up as a portable filter to hook my rain barrels for when I want to use that water for drinking or to water food plants. 

A lot of my water is just in various rooms of my house, so climate controlled, but we also have a lot out in the shed that is not climate controlled.  I figure if I encounter any of my water going funky, it will be the shed water, but I sniff it before I use it to be sure.

That's pretty much the way we do it. But I don't have that model water container and for $20 I will try it, it looks stackable.

I have long term water storage and short term. The short term is a bunch of empty containers we fill straight from the tap immediately prior to anticipated events like hurricanes. And would use that short term water for hygiene and dishwashing etc. But we've never even had a boil water order after a hurricane in my AO.

Your PFAS info made me smile, 'cause literally isn't all food plants and livestock food plants grown with rain water or reclaimed water. Maybe an indoor hydroponics facility isn't? I don't think you'd have to worry about it. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger dumber.

I've thought of setting up the runoff rainwater barrels but there are so many birds and squirrels shitting on my roof and I've cleaned out my disgusting gutters so many times that I don't think I'd want that as a permanent setup. And there was this episode of 'House' that featured pigeon shit in the drinking water and the brain disease from the amoebas. And that girl from Signs too.  I'll just filter my pool water and drink that, and I know a racoon sometimes shits in my pool. That bastard! Psychological aversion. But I do have all the stuff to setup a sand and pebble and charcoal bucket filter system off the gutters if it comes to that. Hopefully I run out of ammo before I have to drink my gutter water.

I have straws and a manual pump filter and lakes and a canal and a pool. You should definitely invest in the higher volume manual filter pumps if you have a good watersource like barrels or a lake or stream. And the funds, good ones are >$100

I also have a sprinkler well for my sprinker system that I can set up a 240v genny on, I'll have to just connect an extra dryer cord I have to the pump motor and plug that into the genny. [its a little more than that but essentially that] I got that Idea from the book Lights Out.

My PAW watersupply.

[Anianna]

Your PFAS info made me smile, 'cause literally isn't all food plants and livestock food plants grown with rain water or reclaimed water. Maybe an indoor hydroponics facility isn't? I don't think you'd have to worry about it. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger dumber.

Yea, most of the food you can buy is going to be problematic from several standpoints including this one and there is no certification, at least as of now, that you can use to maybe try to avoid PFAS in food (like, you can avoid weed killer used on oats to some extent by buying certified organic and kosher oats, but the PFAS are going to be there regardless). 

For me, it's about mitigating exposure.  Sometimes what really matters is the dose.

I actually am working on hydroponic and aeroponic projects.  I expect to get an aeroponic tower for indoor food crops within the next year, not only for self-sufficiency, but also for some greater control over the quality of our food (plus, I have some medical conditions that keep me mostly indoors, so I don't get to garden much anymore otherwise).  Also, painting the flowers (hand pollinating) can be very therapeutic, which I learned from test growing tomatoes hydroponically indoors recently. 

[Moab]

Alot of excellent info here.

I need to work on this more. I have usgi 5 gal water containers. For home and bug out. 

We can't drink the tap water here. So we've had both delivery and bought from the store directly. I am considering a fill your own bottles machine at our local riteaid. 

The more i handle water containers. The more I see value in 3 gal jugs. Carrying 5 gal water containers is not ideal. 3 gallons is much more doable. Thinking about stackable 3 gallon jugs. For home use. And can easily be transitioned to bug out use.

Also would be interested in a sort of intermediate gravity system. For use with sawyer high load count filters. Like a large campsite system. So you could filter say 2 or 3 gallons at a time. That would be usable at home and on the road. I've seen a few dramadary(sp?) bags. Maybe 2 gallon. But not 3 or larger. 

Our location does not seem like a good long term bug in location. So I tend to consider preps more on short term bug in and things we can travel with.

Anyone have the rundown on water purification chemicals? Like in order of best to worst? I've read pool shock, non scented liquid bleach, purification tablets, iodine tablets etc etc. I wonder if a chart or list exists with cost, effectiveness and taste?

I keep extra propane tanks. And two barbecues. One with a side burner that could be used for boiling. But that has to be a terrible energy to result ratio. 

[Anianna]

WaterBricks are 3.5 gallon and very stackable.  I agree that the smaller containers are so much easier to handle.  They are a bit more expensive than a lot of other options, though (one WaterBrick holds 3.5 gallons for about the same cost as the Aquatainer that holds 7 gallons).  Personally, I think they are worth it, especially since they feel sturdier than a lot of containers and are sold by an organization heavy in humanitarian work. 

https://www.waterbrick.org/product-category/waterbrick/

I can't move the Auquatainers by myself.  They stay where they get put.  I can move the WaterBricks around and I could shove several in the back of my van pretty quickly if needed. 

ETA: It looks like WaterBrick now also has food bricks that fit with their water containers.  Awesome!

[Anianna]

I keep extra propane tanks. And two barbecues. One with a side burner that could be used for boiling. But that has to be a terrible energy to result ratio.

I used the side burner of an outdoor barbecue to operate my canner when our power went out while I was jarring a batch of chicken stock.  I would have lost 8 quarts of stock otherwise. 

[majorhavoc]

I keep extra propane tanks. And two barbecues. One with a side burner that could be used for boiling. But that has to be a terrible energy to result ratio.

I used the side burner of an outdoor barbecue to operate my canner when our power went out while I was jarring a batch of chicken stock.  I would have lost 8 quarts of stock otherwise. 

The ubiquitous propane bbq grill is a valuable home prep resource and should not be overlooked in an emergency.  A second 15lb tank is a very modest investment and would be extremely handy in a crisis.  

As would one of these if you have smaller propane devices to operate indoors, such as a Mr. Heater Buddy or a propane camping stove.  Just make sure you have good ventilation!

https://www.amazon.com/GASPRO-Disposable-Throwaway-Connector-Appliance/dp/B01N2BD2XH

[Moab]

The barbecue is very valuable. 

I meant using it to boil water. Rather than using chemicals. I assume using propane to boil water would not be as economical as chemicals. 

[MacWa77ace]

Those 7 gal Aquatainers are $20 at Walmart, but they also have a $17 6 gal Ozark Trail



$0.02/gal difference. Otherwise this gives you a shape, weight and capacity option

[Moab]

WaterBricks are 3.5 gallon and very stackable.  I agree that the smaller containers are so much easier to handle.  They are a bit more expensive than a lot of other options, though (one WaterBrick holds 3.5 gallons for about the same cost as the Aquatainer that holds 7 gallons).  Personally, I think they are worth it, especially since they feel sturdier than a lot of containers and are sold by an organization heavy in humanitarian work. 

https://www.waterbrick.org/product-category/waterbrick/

I can't move the Auquatainers by myself.  They stay where they get put.  I can move the WaterBricks around and I could shove several in the back of my van pretty quickly if needed. 

ETA: It looks like WaterBrick now also has food bricks that fit with their water containers.  Awesome!

This is very cool. Thank you. Much better use of space. And carriable by alot more people. These would fit in a closet or car much better. And the spouts are handy. I like this option. 

[Raptor]

If you look around a lot of times you can find bottled water in gallon jugs for about the same price as an empty 5 gallon container. Like these @ $12.99 each (with sealed with water in them). As long as they are stored properly the shelf life is easily 5 years or indefinate for nonpotable water uses. Then the container can be rinsed and refilled.

[Raptor]

I also use exactly this container for for water storage. I keep them in a box and they are stackable. In this case $8.28 for 6 gallons in a heavy (not milkjug) plastic water jug you cannot go wrong.

https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Geyser-Alpine-Spring-Water/dp/B004JKNZZY/ref=sr_1_30?crid=3ERZJJNKVNYEV&keywords=6+pack+of+water&qid=1676321955&s=grocery&sprefix=6+pack+of+water%2Cgrocery%2C94&sr=1-30

[MacWa77ace]

I have those five gallon and a few similar 1 gallon containers of water. Among other containers. I'm going to work on standardizing a more compact solution eventually. But testing all these variations is just getting me more non-matching water containers.

I also use exactly this container for for water storage. I keep them in a box and they are stackable. In this case $8.28 for 6 gallons in a heavy (not milkjug) plastic water jug you cannot go wrong.

https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Geyser-Alpine-Spring-Water/dp/B004JKNZZY/ref=sr_1_30?crid=3ERZJJNKVNYEV&keywords=6+pack+of+water&qid=1676321955&s=grocery&sprefix=6+pack+of+water%2Cgrocery%2C94&sr=1-30

If you look around a lot of times you can find bottled water in gallon jugs for about the same price as an empty 5 gallon container. Like these @ $12.99 each (with sealed with water in them). As long as they are stored properly the shelf life is easily 5 years or indefinate for nonpotable water uses. Then the container can be rinsed and refilled.

Some of those 5 gallon dispenser jugs have a recess in the bottom so they are stackable vertically. But mostly they can only be stacked on their side with some sort of system to keep them in place.



@Anianna you don't have to fill jugs to the top if the weight is too much, but it kind of defeats the purpose not to.

[Moab]

If you look around a lot of times you can find bottled water in gallon jugs for about the same price as an empty 5 gallon container. Like these @ $12.99 each (with sealed with water in them). As long as they are stored properly the shelf life is easily 5 years or indefinate for nonpotable water uses. Then the container can be rinsed and refilled.

Does anyone make reusable caps for those?

I have a water machine in town here. Its half the price of buying 3 gal jugs of drinking water at the grocery store. But I guess filling containers at the house and treating it with bleach or something is just as good?

I guess what I'm asking is what is the nest method for storing water long term?

Considering cost of containers, taste quality, how easily they can be stored, and price of water, treatment and containers?

I should add I don't really want to use containers larger than 3 gallon. As I like the option of everyone being able to move them easily. And I don't see a long term bug in here as as option.

If you were settled I would assume 50 gallon or larger plastic barrels would be the most economical?

[MacWa77ace]

IIRC you can reuse the plain caps that they come with.

I can't remember if the ones that have the one way valve can be reused.

On the 55 gal drums you have to get a drum pump to use vertically. Starting at ~$15 but that would probably break or be to exertive, so better off getting a quality one for more money

For cost efficiency and price comparisons figure out the cost per gallon, that way you can compare different capacities as apples to apples.

[Raptor]

I have those five gallon and a few similar 1 gallon containers of water. Among other containers. I'm going to work on standardizing a more compact solution eventually. But testing all these variations is just getting me more non-matching water containers.

I am not pushing any of these options. I am just noting they are out there.

I have a water machine in town here. Its half the price of buying 3 gal jugs of drinking water at the grocery store. But I guess filling containers at the house and treating it with bleach or something is just as good?

Without a doubt hands down the cheapest way to get water for storage is to use tap water. In some cases there is enough chlorine in it so no additional chlorination is needed. The other thing to bear in mind is that water does not turn bad it simply gets contaminated. Tap water stored in bottles for instance may see algae growth in it. It can still be used as gray water and with simply boiling the water (or filtering it) it is still good potable water to use.
If you want to be proactive it does not take much bleach to treat tap water. Just remember to check the percentage of sodium hypochlorate in the bleach. DO NOT USE SCENTED BLEACH! Most but not all a 5.25%. Based upon the chart below if to get between 1 and 5 PPM (check the tap first, many municipalities dispense .5 to 1.5 ppm) you want to add .13fl oz per gallon.

There is a good link here. 
https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/resource/how-to-guides/how-much-chlorine-to-add-to-storage-tank-to-kill-bacteria/


I have a few plastic food grade barrels but have never filled them up because of the weight and the difficulty of getting water out with a siphon. 50 gallons of water weighs over 400 lbs + the weight of the drum.

On final point to remember if you have a hot water tank you are constantly storing and replenishing 30 to 50 gallons of water.