BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – What is one thing you really cannot live without?

Hint: it’s not family photos or vital documents or even chocolate. According to most survival guides, the “Rule of 3” is that humans can survive three minutes without breathing, up to three weeks without food but only three days without water.

You may wonder: I don’t plan to be roaming in the wilderness without water, why should I care?

The answer is: because the hazards you don’t plan for are the ones that will strand you without that life-essential water.

The most likely hazards for us here in the Pacific Northwest – extreme weather, earthquake, tsunami – are those that can disrupt services, including delivery of drinkable water. In a large-scale disaster, it could well over three days before water mains could be repaired and water service restored.

That means having your own water source at hand is the solution. According to the Prepare in a Year plan to be Two Weeks Ready, March is the month to focus on water. Here’s what the Washington State Emergency Management Division advises:

  • Plan to have one gallon of consumable water per person in your household per day (and a similar amount if you have pets)
  • It’s important to have at least three days’ supply, but two weeks is better
  • Store water in plastic containers (PET) with a screw-top lid and do not use milk containers (HDPE) or glass bottles or containers that stored bleach or other non-consumable liquid
  • To keep the water safe to store, add a few drops of plain, unscented liquid chlorine bleach, then fill the container to the very top and seal tightly
  • Label and date each container
  • Store your water containers throughout your home and in cool, dark places (garage, closets, under the stairs)
  • Non-drinkable water can be used for cleaning and other purposes, so that you’re not using up your precious drinking water for those needs.

Of course, if you’re not at home when disaster strikes it’s important to have a Go Bag with you that includes at least a gallon of drinkable water. (And you might also want to tuck in some photos of loved ones and a few bars of chocolate.)

 

Amy Cloud is the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management.  She was born and raised locally, leaving for Whitman College and work in Seattle, Knoxville and Washington, D.C. She returned to work as Supervising News Producer and reporter for KVOS-TV’s NewsView before switching to communications for WWU, PeaceHealth and the City of Bellingham. She also co-chairs the Community PIO Group and is a member of the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues.