Why You Should Fill A Bathtub While Prepping For A Power Outage
We’ve all been caught before, the power shutting off in the middle of a storm when we’re completely unprepared for it. Maybe you have some candles, some non-perishable food, but do you have water? Do you have safe water? Here’s the best way to ensure you have clean water while hunkering down in an emergency.
A Personal Reserve
The best way to stock up on water ahead of an emergency is to fill your bathtub. That might seem like overkill, but if you’re at risk of a power outage that could last a few days, having all that water ready and on hand could keep you clean, fed, and hydrated throughout that time. In fact, the American Red Cross suggests having enough supplies (including food, light sources, etc.) to last two weeks. Better to be overprepared than under.
Keeping It Clean
Though, bath water isn’t always the best for drinking, but there are ways to purify it. The most common way is to boil it for at least 1 minute to kill bacteria. However, if you’re experiencing a power outage, that may be either difficult or just downright impossible. Instead, you should add eight drops of 6% liquid chlorine bleach, or six drops of 8.25%, to one gallon of water at a time. Let it sit for 30 minutes after to completely disinfect. It’s enough chlorine to clean the water of impurities while not hurting us at all. You can also use five drops of 2% tincture of iodine per quart.
Keeping It Cleaner
A bathtub reserve is for more than just drinking, though. It can also be used for hygiene purposes, like filling your toilet tank so you can still flush it without running water. It can also be used to wash dishes, clothes, and your hands/body when needed. As long as you’re using it wisely, a tub full of water can last a long time, ensuring you stay clean, healthy, and sane while in dire circumstances.
Consider This
Filling the tub while storm prepping is so widely regarded as best practice that even Home Depot recommends considering water storage potential while shopping for a new tub! The average bathtub can hold 40 gallons of water, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends storing at least one gallon of drinking water per person per day for at least three days while planning and stockpiling for stormy weather.
The Rest Of Your Stash
While water is perhaps one of the most important things you need during a prolonged outage or other interruption, the American Red Cross does have a complete list of suggested items to have on hand. Alongside food and water, every person in your household should make sure they have any medication, a good amount of first aid supplies, multiple light sources, and a battery-powered weather radio (there are also solar-powered and crank-powered radios that would work just as well).
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No one ever wants to be caught in storms this severe, and many don’t even like thinking about it, but it can happen to you, and it’s far better to be prepared and never use your stockpile than it is to need a stockpile and not be prepared. If you hear nasty weather is coming your way, remember this article and get that bath faucet flowing.
Daniel Mitchell
