/ first_moves
Do these first
/ failure_mode
How this plan fails
Water with fuel, toxic chemicals, or flood contamination may not be made safe by normal household treatment. Follow local health authority instructions.
/ avoid
Do not spend your first mistake here
- Drinking from radiators, boilers, or chemically contaminated sources.
- Waiting until the tap is dry to fill containers.
Water is where preparedness becomes arithmetic.
For four people, the 3-day minimum is 12 gallons. A 2-week target is 56 gallons. That number feels large because it is honest. Store it in layers: cases of bottled water, larger food-grade containers, and a plan to fill tubs or pots when a storm, grid failure, or water-main break is likely.
Do not make the plan depend on one device. A filter is useful. Stored water is better. Boiling is useful when fuel and a safe heat source exist. Local boil-water notices and health-department instructions outrank generic internet advice.
In the first hour of a grid or water emergency, fill containers while pressure remains.