Having an emergency go kit is essential for any situation. It is important to make sure that your kit is stocked with the right supplies, including water. The general rule of thumb is to include one gallon of water per person per day in your emergency kit. This should be enough for drinking and sanitation needs.
However, you may need to include more water if your household includes people with special needs or if you have pets. A normally active person needs about three-quarters of a gallon of fluid a day, from water and other beverages. However, individual needs vary by age, health, physical condition, activity, diet, and climate. Therefore, it is important to consider these factors when stocking up on water for your emergency go kit.
It is recommended to save at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days for drinking and disinfecting. If possible, try to stock up on a two-week supply. Consider storing more water than this for hot climates, pregnant women, and sick people. Be prepared by creating a water supply that meets your family's needs during an emergency.
Store your supplies (especially food) in airtight plastic bags and store your entire emergency kit in one or two easy-to-carry, lockable containers (such as a camping backpack, canvas bag, cooler, or unused trash can with a lid). If you have a large house, your emergency kit could become heavy, so it's a good idea to separate some of these supplies in your backpacks.Having an emergency kit will help you if you haven't been able to evacuate (a sudden storm or tornado occurred) or didn't (we don't recommend staying in place if you've been given an evacuation order) and you need vital supplies and rescue while relief teams work to contact you after a disaster.
