Preparing for Emergencies

Preparedness Begins at Home

The health and safety of your family depends on how well you plan, and fathers can take the lead when preparing their family for a disaster. Without adequate food, water, and first-aid supplies, you may find yourself unable to care for the people you love most.

Recently I visited my son, a student at the University of North Carolina. He needed “college supplies” so we headed off to the local department store for laundry detergent, an ironing board, and other items. My husband called me over to a shelf where a few Red Cross Preparedness Kits were displayed. “We should get these now,” he said, “We’ve been talking about starting a disaster supplies kit. Let’s start with this one.” “We’re not here for that stuff,” I thought, and my husband was quick to remind me, “We have to start some time.” We purchased our first kit. Like my husband and me, your family may not have an elaborate plan in place, but it’s important to start somewhere, and soon. A preparedness kit is a great idea, but if a hurricane, tornado or winter storm strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water, and electricity for days or even weeks. Fathers can provide for the whole family if they take time to prepare emergency food and water supplies.

Water Supplies

A normally active person needs to drink about two quarts of water a day. People who are sick, children, and nursing mothers will need more. Store at least one gallon per person per day. Store your water in washed plastic containers such as soda bottles. Seal the containers tightly, label them and store them in a cool, dark place. Rotate water every six months. The Red Cross recommends storing a three day supply and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) suggests families store a two week supply.

If you are uncertain about the purity of water, FEMA recommends several ways to treat your water. No technique is perfect, and often the best solution is a combination of treatments: filtration, boiling, and disinfection.

Filtration: You can filter questionable water using a piece of cloth or coffee filter to remove solid particles.

Boiling: Bring water to a rolling boil for 3-5 minutes. Let water cool before drinking.

Disinfection: Household bleach will kill most microorganisms; use 16 drops (from a dropper) per gallon of water, then let stand for 30 minutes. If it smells of chlorine, then you can use it. If not, repeat the procedure until the water smells of chlorine. Use only regular household bleach that contains 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented bleaches.

Food Supplies

If activity is reduced, healthy individuals can survive on half of their usual food intake and without any food for several days if they keep up with their water intake. Food, unlike water, can be rationed safely for non-pregnant adults.

If water is limited, try to avoid foods that will make you thirsty. These foods are those that are salty, or high in fat and protein. Use what’s in your cupboards and refrigerator before you break into your supplies. For a list of foods that you can store for six months, 12 months, and indefinitely, visit the FEMA web site to obtain a PDF of their brochure “Food and Water in an Emergency”.

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