Water is one of the essential elements of life. Without water, there is no survival. Ensuring you and your family have access to clean, drinkable water in the case of emergency or disaster should be at the top of your survival planning list. There are many ways to ensure access to clean drinking water in an emergency, one being long-term water storage. The most ideal situations for emergency long-term water storage are when you are planning on bugging-in or sheltering in-place and need to stock up or when trying to decide what supplies are needed for the bug-out location you’ll be evacuating to.

In this article, we’ll discuss the basics for storing water long-term and examine the three options for long-term water storage.

Survival Water Storage Basics

In a crisis situation, having access to clean, drinkable water – and enough of it for your entire bug-out crew – will be key to surviving. Whether you plan on bugging-out or sheltering in-place, here are the key fundamentals you will need to know to ensure you’re storing water properly for the long-term and will have enough to last you through the crisis.

How Much Water To Store

According to the U.S. government, the ideal amount of water to have stored is one gallon per person, per day, for at least three days. The average person needs ¾ gallons of fluids for drinking each day and up to ¼ gallons for hygiene and sanitary purposes. If you’re located in a hot environment or have children, nursing mothers, or people that are ill in your bug-out crew, you will need to store more water. Following those guidelines, a family of four would need to store twelve gallons of water to ensure survival over three days. If you consider the amount you would need for any amount of time beyond that, you can see how quickly your water needs can add up.

Your long-term water storage should allow for at least 1 gallon per day for each member of the family.

Ultimately, the decision of how many days worth of water you decide to store for survival will be based on the type of emergency you are planning for. For instance, long-term water storage for an emergency expected to last a few days is quite simple, whereas planning for an extended period or stockpiling for a large group can get quite complicated. Before beginning to prepare your long-term water supply, take some time to consider how much you will need, for how many people, and for how long before getting started.

Storing Survival Water

The best place to keep your emergency water is in a cool, dry place. Basements are a great choice, although it is prudent to split your supplies up in different areas of your home in case one area becomes flooded, damaged, or otherwise unaccessible. A good practice is to ensure there is water stored in every closet of your home, or at least in one closet on each floor.

If you live in an area where flooding is a high risk, storing the majority of your water supply above ground is prudent.

Conversely, the basement is a safer place to store water in areas at high risk for tornadoes.

How Long Can Survival Water Be Stored

As long as the containers have been properly sanitized, water that has not been commercially bottled should be safe to drink for up to six months. Commercially bottled water will typically have a ‘use by date’ printed on the bottle that will provide guidance on how long it will be safe to drink.

Things To Be Aware Of

When choosing containers, avoid any plastic containers that are not safe for food or anything that contains BPA. Containers that have had fruit juice or milk in them should be avoided as fruit sugars and milk proteins can’t be fully cleaned out and create an ideal environment for bacteria growth when used for water storage. Plastic is a much preferable choice to glass as glass is heavy and can break. Water is also very heavy, make sure to use proper lifting technique, such as lifting at the knees, when transporting it.

If you’re ever in doubt about the safety of your water, boil and treat it with purification tablets (such as these) before drinking. Each year, waterborne pathogens kill approximately 3.4 million people, better to be sure and stay alive!

Water purification tablets kill bacteria and viruses, and are especially important when harvesting water in nature. Click the image to view Aquamira Water Purifier Tablets on Amazon.

Three Options for Long-Term Water Storage

There are three options for proper long-term storage of water: buy pre-bottled water; collect and sterilize containers and fill them up; buy purpose-made containers and fill them up.

Buying Your Water Supply

Purchasing cases of bottled water is by far the easiest solution for building an emergency water supply, but also one of the most expensive. However, when employing this option, money can be saved by buying large, water-cooler sized jugs (although these can be quite heavy to carry around).

Image credit Steven Depolo on flickr.

In terms of purchase options, they’re abundant. You can buy cases of bottled water at almost any local grocery store, Costco, or even HERE on Amazon. While simply purchasing bottled water is the easiest option, it’s also the most expensive and takes up the most space. If you need to buy a large supply, you’ll need to buy shelving to properly store your emergency water. If you stack bottled water too high, the lower cases can get crushed.

Bare Bones DIY Solution

Jugs like these can be sanitized and used as long-term water storage containers. Image credit Lisa Risager on flickr.

For this long-term water storage solution, you will need to collect plastic bottles, such as those used for soda. You will need to sanitize the bottles and fill them on your own, so this is the most time consuming of all the options, but also the most cost-effective. If you have some extra time and need to save money, this is the best option. Review the following instructions for properly sanitizing and filling your own long-term water storage containers:

1. Clean out your containers using soapy water, ensuring they are well-rinsed and all soap is removed.

2. Add one teaspoon of unscented household chlorine bleach to one quart of water.

3. Pour the solution into your containers and shake the bottles until the solution has touched all surfaces (make sure the cap is on while you’re doing this so that it gets sanitized as well).

4. Rinse out the sanitizing solution.

5. Fill your containers with tap water (only if the tap water has been commercially treated, such as a city’s water supply).

6. If you’re using non-treated or well water, add two drops of unscented household chlorine bleach to the water and let it stand 30 minutes before drinking.

7. Screw the caps tightly on your containers, being careful not to contaminate the insides with your fingers when closing.

8. Your emergency water storage containers should be able to store water for at least six months after being treated this way.

The Happy Compromise Solution

For someone needing a large volume of water and not wanting to deal with the hassles of sanitizing or storing dozens (maybe hundreds) of soda bottles, this is the ideal option. The happy compromise is the best option for storage with the least hassle. It involves buying purpose-made, food safe, water storage containers (check out the Water Brick, our personal favorite) and filling them with water yourself. While this option costs a bit more than the DIY solution, it costs much less than buying water bottles from the store.

The Water Brick is our preferred option for the following reasons:

● Holds 3.5 gallons, which is a large volume but not so much as to make them too heavy to carry

● There is a handle which makes them easy to carry

● Water Bricks are stackable and take up as little space as possible, making shelving unnecessary

● There is a large opening, making them much easier to clean than soda bottles

● The large opening also makes these containers viable for storing dry food, documents, or even ammo (try doing that with a soda bottle!)

● They are food grade and BPA-free

The time-saving features of this option come from the ease and speed of the sanitization process. Basically, you will purchase the appropriate amount of containers (Water Brick or otherwise), sanitize as above, fill them up, and forget about them! To illustrate the convenience of the sanitization process, consider that it would take seven standard two liter soda bottles to make up the same quantity as one Water Brick. Which process do you think is faster?

The interlocking design allows for greater stability when stacking multiple Water Bricks.

To learn more about Water Bricks and to get your own, CLICK HERE NOW.

To make the process even easier on yourself or to avoid handling bleach, simply purchase water purification tablets or drops (such as these). However, the container will still need to be properly sanitized.

More Resources for Successful Long-Term Water Storage

If you’d like to learn more about preparing your long-term water supply for an emergency or disaster, check out these helpful resources:

● Surviving a Drought: Learn How To Harvest Water From Natural Sources

● Bugging-In vs. Bugging-Out: How To Decide in an Emergency

● Going Off the Grid: How To Make Your Home Self-Sufficient

Conclusion

Having access to clean, drinkable water (and lots of it) is something many of us living in first world countries take for granted. But in a crisis or emergency situation, finding safe drinking water will become a priority for everyone. When water stops running and stores sell out of water bottles, having a prepared supply of water on-hand at your bug-out or bug-in location will be an invaluable asset.

Whether you choose to buy your water ready-bottled or bottle your own, always remember that the most important factor is to ensure you have enough. Think carefully through how many people will potentially need to access the water (including pets, if applicable) and how long your supply will need to last. A little planning and forethought ahead of time can save much aggravation, and maybe even lives, down the line and ensure you have an effective long-term water storage solution.

Don’t forget to include pets in your long-term water storage plan, about 1 ounce of water per pound of your pet’s weight.

Your Thoughts

Do you have a water storage solution that you like, or know of an innovative way to purify your water supply? Let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!

An electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, may sound harmless enough but its effects can be devastating.

An EMP is essentially an intense burst of energy (for instance a lightning bolt, which is simply a highly concentrated EMP event that is very localized) that, depending on size and intensity, could potentially wipe out electrical and information systems across vast areas.

EMPs can occur naturally, as with lightning and a case we will explore later in this article, as well as through man-made sources such as nuclear or radio-frequency (non-nuclear) weapons. In order to properly prepare for such a phenomenon – whether to defend against Mother Nature or technological warfare – it is imperative to have a clear understanding of what exactly an EMP is in order to properly prepare yourself to defend against it.

The following article will teach you the basics in understanding what an EMP is, how it can be caused, and the short and long term effects. This article also explores Faraday cages and how they can work to protect you against EMPs, discussing the features that are most important and various types you can purchase and build yourself.

What is an EMP and How is it Caused?

An EMP – whether natural or man-made – is a burst of energy with the power to knock out electrical power. The lasting effects of an EMP can range from minor inconvenience to potentially sending the world back to a pre-communications technology ‘dark age,’ so to speak.

Man-Made EMPs

The largest man-made EMP threat looms from nuclear weapon detonation. In what is referred to as the Compton effect (named after physicist Arthur Compton who first theorized of the effect), the theory follows that when a nuclear bomb explodes, the explosion releases electromagnetic energy which binds to molecules in the atmosphere and releases bonded electrons.

These free electrons then interact with Earth’s natural magnetic field creating a current that is powerful enough to decimate electrical currents over a large expanse of area.

In 1997, Gary Smith, then the director of Applied Physics Lab at John Hopkins University, testified in front of the House National Security Committee that a nuclear detonation at 300 miles above the surface of the Earth could carry enough impact to knock out electrical power to the United States as well as most of Canada and Mexico (click here for source article).

However, nuclear weapons are not the only ones capable of generating an EMP; more localized sources of energy such as radio-frequency weapons or non-nuclear EMP devices can also wreak havoc.

Instead of drawing energy from a bomb explosion, these devices use concentrated microwave energy to cause disruptions in electronic equipment and destroy data. While these devices deliver a non-lethal pulse, the damage to electrical systems is no less devastating than with a nuclear detonation.

Naturally Occurring EMPs

In addition to lightning, EMPs can also occur naturally as a result of geomagnetic storms. While these occurrences are infrequent, a geomagnetic storm in 1921 affected the United States as well as parts of Europe for two days, closing the New York City railroad system and burning telegraph lines in Sweden.

The cause was later attributed to a group of sunspots that were 1.9 billion square miles in size. Today, a storm of this size would affect over 100 million people and cause widespread panic and chaos due to society’s heavy reliance on electronic devices for everyday life.

Despite the increased vulnerabilities present in modern times due to the prevalence of electronic devices in managing day-to-day activities, a future natural EMP event will likely come with advanced warning thanks to the benefit of space-monitoring stations.

A solar event would take hours, or even days, to reach Earth’s atmosphere, providing enough warning to safely stow electronics and turn off power systems (while shutting down power will not completely immunize systems against damage, it certainly can reduce the risk).

EMP Damage

EMPs, regardless the source, have the potential to inflict immediate and long-term damage. Depending on the intensity of the pulse, EMPs can start electrical fires, incapacitate power grids, and shut down power sources for refrigeration (causing loss of food and medical supplies), water and sewage services, security systems, and phone and Internet (this would affect financial institutions and ATMs as well as land, sea and air transportation).

Additionally, any cars relying on high-tech computer systems (basically any model manufactured in the last 20 years) would be disabled and back-up generators could experience malfunctions or be ineffective if the existing equipment is damaged.

Recovery from an EMP is dependent on the size of the affected area and location, but could potentially take many years.

What is a Faraday Cage and Can it Protect Against EMPs?

The good news is, you can protect your electronic equipment from an EMP event. A popular method of EMP-proofing is to use a Faraday cage, a protective container equipped with a conductive outer layer that is typically made from aluminum.

A popular method of EMP-proofing is to use a Faraday cage, a protective container equipped with a conductive outer layer that is typically made from aluminum.

These containers function as a shield, protecting the electronic devices inside from EMPs. The term ‘cage’ originates from the fine metal mesh often used as a protective wall; however, research indicates that using a solid sheet of metal may be more effective (more on building your own faraday cage later on).

A Faraday cage can be built to any size to accommodate myriad manner of objects; keep in mind that an EMP can cause a voltage spike powerful enough to fry all manner of electronic devices, including cell phones, computers, radios, and appliances. The only must-have in constructing a Faraday cage is that it needs to be thoroughly lined by a conductive material with no gaps.

How Does a Faraday Cage Work?

The manner in which a Faraday cage can protect against an EMP is by using the conductive layer to diffuse energy rays (this is why it is imperative to have no openings through which energy waves can pass). The process is referred to as field cancellation, with ions in the conductive material realigning themselves to cancel the incoming electric field.

How Can You Test If Your Faraday Cages Works?

There is a very simple way to test the effectiveness of a Faraday cage: place a working cell phone in the cage and try calling it. A properly functioning Faraday cage will block the signal and the call will not go through.

How To Build a Faraday Cage

The best way to prepare yourself and your loved ones for an EMP is to prepare for the aftermath by ensuring you have adequate stockpiles of food, water, and other essentials. In the event of widespread electricity loss, store shelves will quickly empty and essential resources will become scarce.

Not only will having the supplies ready beforehand ensure you have enough to last, but also, in a worst-case scenario, there may be civil unrest or upheaval that makes it dangerous or impossible for you to leave your home, necessitating having sufficient supplies on hand. CLICK HERE to read The Bug Out Bag Guide’s comprehensive article on prepping for power grid failure.

In addition to preparing for the aftermath, having a Faraday cage built and ready to go is a measure you may choose to take to protect your household devices in the case of an EMP.

Homemade Faraday Cages for Large Devices

To protect your larger devices – including computers, televisions, tablets and appliances – a large ‘shield room’ can be fashioned by lining a closet with heavy-duty aluminum foil. When constructing your shield room, be sure to pay careful attention to how your foil is placed around the door frame so that it provides a continuous shield.

Laying a piece of cardboard on the floor as you load items into the closet can help prevent damaging the foil. Additionally, check for any outlets in the closet and ensure nothing is plugged into them and that they are also covered with foil.

If you don’t have a closet ready to go, or are prepping a location that is not in a home, you can build a freestanding Faraday cage by framing a box with 2x4s and then lining the outside with fine, conductive mesh. Remember, the openings on the mesh must be small enough to prevent energy waves from entering.

In place of mesh, you can also use sheets of aluminum or copper for your shielding material. Whatever material you choose, ensure its coverage is continuous over the entire exterior of your cage, or else its shielding effects will be rendered useless.

Homemade Faraday Cages for Small Devices

For smaller devices, something as simple as a shoe box lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil can do the trick. Alternatively, you can wrap your devices in several layers of foil, which also functions as an effective means of protection.

If you are considering building your own Faraday cage, make sure to check out this article and other resources with detailed building instructions.

Purchasing a Faraday Cage

You may already have a store bought Faraday cage ready to go and not even be aware of it – your microwave oven. While most people are familiar with their microwave’s ability to keep radiation in, few are aware that a microwave can also keep radiation out. To test your microwave’s effectiveness, unplug it (this is an essential first step, do NOT attempt this exercise while the microwave is plugged in) and run the cell phone test discussed in the previous section, How Can the Efficacy of Faraday Cages Be Tested?

There are also anti-static bags, available in a variety of sizes, that can protect against electrostatic discharge and are easy to store in your get home bag.

How Effective are Faraday Cages?

The effectiveness of your Faraday cage in protecting your devices against an EMP is dependent on a number of factors, including the origin of the EMP, how far your Faraday cage is from the EMP, and the type of rays emitted by the EMP.

High-frequency waves require smaller holes in the meshing while short-range EMPs contain gamma rays and X-rays that cannot be blocked by only a single layer of heavy-duty foil. To fully protect against EMPs from radiofrequency weapons, thick sheets of metal are required.

What You Need to Know About EMPs and Faraday Cages

In today’s technology-enabled world, it is easy to imagine the devastating consequences that could arise from a prolonged loss of power. A larger EMP that destroys power for several weeks, or even months, could easily lead to civil unrest and throw many first world residents into a survival situation.

While Faraday cages provide an effective means of first-line defense against EMPs, remember there may be little to no warning before a strike and you may not have the opportunity to put your Faraday cage to use. The best way to prepare for an EMP event is to prep yourself and your family for the aftermath, ensuring your stockpile of supplies will be adequate to see you through a potentially long-term spell of power-free living.

Further Reading

• Check out our article on Preparing Your Home For A Blackout
• Watch this video from Blackout USA:  Click HERE To Watch Now

Your Thoughts?

Are you fully prepared in the event of power grid failure? What must-have items have you stored away in case of power failure? Are Faraday cages part of your overall prepping strategy? Do you know of any other means to protect against EMPs? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, thanks!