One of the very first things to consider, when faced with the potential of living in an emergency situation, is the fact that even though your surroundings and situation may have changed substantially, your temporary needs, such as water, will have remained the same. It may be during an emergency situation that one notices the acute need for such basic needs like water.
It is always a good idea to have some extra water in storage. This water will need to be in a container that keeps it free from microbes and other bacteria, as well as being able to hold adequate amounts.
A common practice in preparing for emergency situations is to build up your food storage a bit at a time. Bottled water and other desirable non-perishables can be purchased every time that you are at the grocery store, allowing you to build up your food storage in increments.
A seventy-two hour kit is a bag that contains the food, safety, and personal items needed to sustain one person over the course of a typical three day emergency. A good choice for a container for a seventy two hour kit could be a large backpack or a five gallon bucket with a lid.
The average person needs about one gallon of water per day for drinking and washing, and also for food preparation. Be sure to include enough water along with your kits.
Another element of preparing for an emergency situation is finding alternative ways to cook your food. If your power is out then you may need to resort to some other method, such as cooking with propane, butane, wood fuel, or any other alternative method.
Keep in mind that you may need extra water to cook. Think of oatmeal, dehydrated meals and powdered drinks. Make sure you have adequate water storage so that your food preparation isn’t effected by a lack of usable water.
You may need to purchase supplies for alternate methods of cooking. Make sure you know how to use these resources beforehand. Knowing how to use a portable stove for example is a good skill to be practiced up on.
It is also important to be ready for any medical situations that you can foresee. Besides having safety and first aid supplies in your seventy-two hour kits, you should be sure that you have medication to last during the crisis.