One of the first priorities in emergency preparedness is having
an emergency water supply. I hope I don’t have to go into too
much detail here about the importance of water. Okay fine, I
will. The body can lose all of its carbohydrate and fat stores,
as well as half of its protein stores, and still survive. Just a
10-20% loss of body weight in water would prove fatal. The
effects of dehydration can be severe, including laboured
breathing, dizziness, and delirium, potentially turning a
difficult situation into a dire one. Natural water sources, such
as streams, wells, lakes, etc. cannot be relied upon as they may
be contaminated with diseases or toxins and purification methods
may not remove them all. After a stable supply of fresh air, a
clean water supply is the next most important priority. HOW MUCH
WATER TO STORE FOR AN EMERGENCY? How much water to prepare is a
personal choice. The bare minimum, as recommended by FEMA, is 1
gallon (3.8L)/person/day or a minimum of 3 days. Other
government websites recommen