Before There’s an Emergency: Get Ready. Get Water.

Water is the key ingredient to emergency preparedness - it keeps us hydrated, helps prep meals, and keeps us clean even without power or plumbing. While water should be your first step to getting ready for emergencies, it can be hard to know exactly how much you need.

For National Preparedness Month this September, we're breaking down everything you need to know to prepare a personal water supply for emergencies.

Build a Water Supply for 14 Days

Here in the Pacific Northwest, where there is a risk of a major earthquake, your emergency supplies should include enough water to sustain your entire household for 14 days. Our water system and other important infrastructure may require time to repair after severe damage, and you may need to rely on your own resources after an emergency.

The general rule is to include one gallon of water per person per day in your emergency kit. That assumes about half a gallon for drinking. The rest of the water is for sanitation (like handwashing) and food preparation needs.

If you have pets or family members with additional water needs, you should plan to store more water.

Store What You Can, Where You Can

Choose the storage option that works best for your home and budget. You can purchase bottled water to use in an emergency, or you can store water in your own containers. Make sure all containers are sanitized and food-grade.

Your water heater can also be used in an emergency, and it stores between 30-80 gallons of water. Check out this guide on how to access your water heater in an emergency.

You may need to be creative with storage to meet your family's water needs. Emergency water can be stored in all sorts of places in your home, like under beds, inside closets, in laundry rooms or pantries, or tucked beside bookcases. Slim containers like jerry cans or stackable bottles can slide into tight spots that may not fit anything else.

Keep Your Water Supplies Fresh

While tap water does not expire, it can taste "off" after sitting in plastic or metal containers for too long. Generally, you should check your water supplies every 6-12 months. Keep an eye on your containers to make sure they're in good condition and are not deteriorating. Bottled water has a "best by" date, and it's a good guideline for when to replace your water stores.

If you use your own containers, label them with the fill date so you know when to rotate them. In an emergency, it is okay to use water that has been stored for more than 6 - 12 months. You may be able to improve the taste slightly by letting it stand for a while or pouring it from clean container to clean container to expose it to air. As a precaution, you may want to treat water that you've stored in your own containers before drinking it.

More Emergency Preparedness Resources

• 5 Simple Steps to Prepare for an Emergency
• Preparedness Starts at Home: September is National Preparedness Month
• Hillsboro's Water System will be More Resilient with New Water Source