As hurricane season begins on June 1, those who live in hurricane-prone areas should prepare their emergency kits now, in advance of any storm activity, according to a press release from the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA).
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends people “buy commercially bottled water and store it in the sealed original container in a cool, dark place” as part of their emergency preparations.
“Checking and restocking your emergency kit now means you won’t be caught short when trying to find supplies at the last minute because store shelves are empty, which they often are as a storm approaches,” said Jill Culora IBWA’s vice president of communications.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s outlook for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season predicts a range of 12 to 17 named storms, of which five to nine could become hurricanes. Of those, one to four are estimated to become major hurricanes (Category 3, 4, or 5, with winds of 111 mph or higher).
IBWA says that bottled water is the safest and most reliable form of drinking water following weather events, such as hurricanes, that could disrupt municipal water distribution and lead to contaminated tap water.
FEMA advises that people should stock at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. FEMA also recommends taking the following into account:
Children, nursing mothers, and sick people may need more water.
A medical emergency might require additional water.
Warm weather climates may require more water
To help prepare in advance of any disasters, FEMA provides a checklist of items (such as a first aid kit, flashlight, and battery or hand-crank radio) for any basic emergency kit. FEMA’s checklist can be found at bit.ly/FEMA_EmergencySupplyList.
