7 Day Challenge Day 2: WATER STORAGE

Welcome to the 2024 7 Day Challenge. For 7 days, we are testing our Emergency Preparedness and Food Storage Plans. Each day will bring about a NEW mini challenge that will focus on a different aspect of our preparedness plans.

In order to receive each day’s emergency scenario in your email please sign up for the 7 Day Challenge email list or subscribe via text by texting 7daychallenge to 717-788-3663.

REMEMBER: To get the most out of the challenge, don’t be too literal about the scenarios. Modify them to fit YOUR family’s situation. Also, try to actually DO each day’s challenge. Don’t try to justify why you wouldn’t “need” to. The point is to PRACTICE our skills!

DAY 2: Water Storage

Water storage is critical as you can only survive for a few days without water plus you need to use it for so many other things besides just for drinking. Today we are going to talk about when you might need to use stored water, practice taking a bath or shower using only stored water, and do an inventory of our water supplies to look for any holes in our preps.

POSSIBLE SCENARIOS:

Earthquakes: Damage water lines and infrastructure, cutting off access to clean water.
Flooding: Floods often contaminate water sources and also can disrupt municipal water systems.
Droughts: Depletion of water supplies leading to water rationing or a complete lack of water availability.
Hurricanes/Typhoons: Can damage water treatment facilities or contaminate water supplies
Electrical Grid Failures: No power to run water treatment plants or pump water to homes
Winter Storms: Freezing conditions can lead to power outages and frozen pipes
Chemical Spills: Can contaminate drinking water, making it unsafe to use tap water
Bacterial Contamination: Contamination from pathogens such as E. coli, cholera, etc.
Boil Water Advisories: If you don’t have the means to boil water, you’ll need stored water
Water Main Breaks: Can disrupt water supplies to neighborhoods or entire cities for hours or even days
Aging Infrastructure: Aging pipes, valves, and water systems can cause water shortages
Global Water Supply Issues: Water shortages can also occur due to geopolitical issues, such as conflicts over water resources, which can affect local water supply chains
Supply Chain Disruptions: Can cause you to rely on stored water for a while
Government Mandated Rationing: Governments may enforce water rationing
Maintenance or Repairs: Planned or unplanned repairs to your local water system
Frozen or Burst Pipes: Water pipes can freeze and burst during winter storms

MINI CHALLENGE: Bathe/shower using only stored water

Remember the mini challenge can be done at any time during the day that fits your schedule. Take some time to actually DO the task and don’t just “think” your way through it.

💦 Prepare yourself and/or your kiddos to all take a bath or shower without using running water.
🔥 Heat 1-2 gallons of water in a large pot
🛁 Use a small basin or tub to catch water
🧽 Sponge off your body with a washcloth or sponge covered in soap/body wash
🫗 Rinse off using a pitcher to pour over your body, make sure water lands in the basin
🚿 Shampoo and condition your hair using as little water and product as possible to conserve
🧖 Pat dry with a towel
🤔 Reflect on how much water you used. Did you use all two gallons? Could you manage with less?
📷 Take some pictures along the way of your adventures toda
🗣️ Share your experiences in our Facebook Group daily discussion thread
✔️ Go through the “evaluate” section below and look for any things missing or that need to up updated in regards to your water storage. Add them to your worksheets found under the “plan” section.

EVALUATE:

Inventory your resources in your disaster kits. Here are a few questions to ask yourself :

Water Storage: How many days worth of water do you have stored? Can you easily access the stored water? Do you have water stored on each floor of your house? Do you have it in various sizes of containers? What are your options when the water runs out? Do you have containers that can be used to transport water from a distance? (view water container options here)
Water Filter/Purification: Do you have a water purifier? Do you have a water filter? Do you know when to use which one? How many gallons can you purify? Do you have the ability (and fuel) to boil water for purification? (view post about water purification/filtration here)
Water Conservation: What items do you have that can help you reduce water use? Do you need to add more paper and plastic goods? How can you clean yourself and your children using less water? (view some water saving tips here)
Water Rotation: Are all of your water containers currently full? When is the last time you rotated your water storage? Do you have a schedule for when you need to rotate next? (view some water rotation tips here)

PLAN:

Print out the worksheets below and add items you need to do, to learn, and to buy as you find holes in your preparedness plans throughout the week. Print multiple sheets as needed. These worksheets will become your road map for improving your preps over the next few months.

I will also be posting a lot on instagram (@jodi_foodstoragemadeeasy) over the next few days as I go through the challenges on my own. Come join the fun there and use hash tag #fsme7daychallenge if you are sharing your own adventures as well.