Water - 14 gallons/ person

Water is very important to store.  Without it you will die.  Also, many foods we cook require water such as pasta and rice.  It is recommended to keep a 2 week supply on hand.  14 gallons will supply one person a gallon per day.  This amount should provide enough for drinking, cooking and basic hygiene.

Storage

Water can be stored in water barrels that typically come in 55, 15, and 5 gallon sizes.  If you cannot afford or find barrels at this time, you can store water in clean 2 liter soda bottles or in juice bottles.  Milk jug containers are not suitable for long term storage of water because the plastic breaks down over time and they will leak.  Plan to change out the water every 6 months to assure freshness.  Many city water systems are treated with chlorine and therefore the water will not need to be treated before storing.  Check with your local water company.  There are products available to treat water to keep it safe for storage.  If you need to use your water and find that it tastes flat, you can pour it back and forth between two small containers to help aerate it.

Again, I emphasize the importance of storing water.  This should be the first item on your to do list.