You have probably seen the headlines lately: the Pentagon planning for 90 days, Britain telling families to stock up. It sounds alarming, so here is what those warnings actually mean for your house.
The 90 days is for military bases, not households. The Pentagon is ordering major U.S. bases to run on their own for at least 90 days without outside power, water, or supply. Separately, Britain and more than 30 other countries launched household preparedness campaigns — and those say 3 days. That is the number that applies to your home.
How much water is 3 days?
The official guidance from Ready.gov is simple: one gallon of water per person, per day, for drinking and basic hygiene, with at least a 3-day supply on hand.
For a family of four, that is 12 gallons — about three 5-gallon buckets. A couple needs about 6 gallons, or a little more than one bucket. Start with 3 days. If you want more cushion later, build toward two weeks.
What to store it in
Store drinking water only in containers made for it: food-grade, BPA-free plastic. A few options that work well:
- 5-gallon food-grade buckets — heavy-duty 90 mil HDPE, FDA-approved and BPA-free, with flat or spout lids. Easy to carry, easy to stack, and one bucket holds more than a day of water for a family of four.
- 55-gallon emergency water barrel kit — a complete setup with the barrel, a siphon pump, a bung wrench, and water treatment included. Good for a bigger reserve at home, a church, or a small business.
- Smaller jugs — 5-gallon HDPE jugs with a handle are handy for grab-and-go, the car, or an RV.
Keep stored water in a cool place out of direct sunlight, and rotate it every six months if it is untreated.
Keep stored water fresh
Water sitting in storage can go stale and grow slime and bacteria over time. Purogene Water Treatment Preserver is an EPA-approved treatment that keeps already-clean drinking water fresh in storage. Add 1 ounce per 30 gallons — a 32 oz bottle treats up to 960 gallons. It is a preserver for potable water, not a purifier for dirty water.
Do not forget the dry food
Water is only half the kit. Dry goods like rice, flour, beans, and pet food keep for a long time in a sealed bucket — and this is where a screw-on lid earns its keep.
Gamma Seal lids turn an ordinary 5-gallon bucket into an airtight, resealable container you can open and close without prying. Pair them with Mylar bags and your dry goods stay fresh, dry, and pest-free. (Note: Gamma Seal lids are made for dry storage, not liquids — use flat or spout lids, or a sealed barrel, for water.)
Your 3-day checklist
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day x 3 days, in food-grade containers
- Water treatment to keep it fresh in storage
- Dry food in sealed buckets with screw-on lids
- Flashlight, batteries, a battery or hand-crank radio, and some cash
- Medications and a first-aid kit
Full details and the official checklist are at Ready.gov.
Three days of water and food is not panic buying. It is the same common-sense preparedness the government has recommended for years — and it starts with a couple of buckets.
Build a Kit Info. https://www.ready.gov/kit
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DZIusWGjFy3yH-j1r8CYLQzpRIE_LOO0/view?usp=sharing
Questions about which containers fit your plan? Call us at 800-560-2334 or visit BayTec Containers.
