Food and Water
Food and Water
How to prepare food and water for emergencies:
- You and each member of your family should be prepared with enough emergency food and water to last a minimum of three days. General rule of thumb is one gallon of water, per person, per day. Remember to include water for your pets while planning.
- You can store tap water in food-grade plastic containers. Tap water needs to be replaced at least every six-months.
- Commercially bottled water should be kept in its original container and replaced once a year.
- Canned goods and food that do not require refrigeration are the best kinds of food to keep for an emergency. Some examples include: cereals, dried fruit, juices, canned fruit, peanut butter and jelly, bread, and trail mix or nuts.
- Make sure the expiration date on your emergency food is still okay.
- Include formula and baby food in your emergency food supply if you have an infant.
- Food should be stored in sealed containers in a dark, cool location.
- Canned foods last between 18 and 24 months; dry foods, like cereal and crackers, last approximately six months.
- Any refrigerated food should be consumed within four hours of a power outage or spoilage may occur. Any food in the freezer should stay for 48 hours, if the freezer door is kept shut.