The informative video clip below emphasizes the reasons for water storage and some of the ways safe water can be obtained in an emergency.

Clean water is one of the most critical needs after a disaster. It is necessary not only for drinking but also for sanitation. Yet municipal water is almost always cut off or contaminated in a major event such as an earthquake, hurricane, or flood. It is extremely important to keep a supply of pure water on hand at all times, and to know how to obtain more.

Safe water can be obtained by boiling, filtering, or chemical treatment. Sometimes more than one method is required. Boiling and chemical treatment kill germs but do not remove dirt or dissolved chemicals. Filtering removes most contaminants but does not necessarily remove viruses and other very small germs. If water quality is suspect, it is best to filter and then boil or chemically treat the water.

Most experts recommend storing a two-week supply of water, allowing approximately 2 gallons of water per person per day, which allows a half gallon for drinking, a half gallon for cooking, and a gallon for washing and sanitation. So if there are four people in your family, you should try to store about 112 gallons of water. Two 55-gallon drums would work nicely. It’s a good idea to store additional water in smaller, portable containers such as 5-gallon jugs or 2-liter soda bottles in case you need to evacuate. Don’t use milk jugs—they are biodegradable and will begin to leak after a few months.

Stored water needs to be kept in a place that is cool and dark. Warmth and light may cause algae growth. Replace your stored water at least every other year to keep it fresh; more often if storage conditions are less than ideal.