Emergency Preparedness: Tips for Storing Water in a Small Space
Water is one of the most important items to stock up on in your home emergency kit. To help ensure you and your loved ones have enough water for an emergency or natural disaster, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends storing a minimum of one gallon of water per day for each member of your family, including pets. The CDC also suggests having at least a three-day water supply, but encourages, if possible, having closer to two weeks just in case.
So, let’s say you’re a family of four with a pet — you’ll need about five gallons per day, which equates to 15 gallons for three days or 70 gallons for two weeks. That is a lot of bottled water to store in your home. And, figuring out where to put all of that water can be challenging, especially if your place is tight on space to begin with.
Before you start looking for storage spaces, bottled water should be stored in a cool, dark place and kept it in its original packaging, according to the International Bottled Water Association. Here are some great but not-so-obvious areas to store your emergency water supply.
Under a Bed or Other Large Furniture
You don’t need to limit your storage options to the pantry or kitchen cabinets. Look to see if there’s space to slide a case of water underneath each bed in your home. Or, maybe you have a large sectional couch that’s tall enough to slide a case underneath. If your home has a dining room, stack some cases underneath the table and conceal it with a tablecloth.
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If you have room on the floor of a closet, consider storing a case or two in this location. If your closet has some open shelves closer to the floor, consider that space, too. Remember, don’t store a case of water on a high shelf as it could fall on someone when they go to retrieve it.
Under Bathroom Sinks
Take a look at the cabinet underneath your bathroom sink. If there’s room, put a case or two in there. If you don’t have a cabinet, consider using a tablecloth and making a skirt around your bathroom sink. That way, you can store a few cases and also add a decorative element to your existing bathroom.
Having an emergency water supply is critical. But, sometimes, it can be tricky to find space to store all of that bottled water in your home. Hopefully, these creative ways can help make it easier for you and your family to be prepared with enough water in an emergency.