Personal emergency prep critical
(My Eastern New Mexico News column from April 3, 2019- posted in its entirety now that the paper's exclusivity has expired)
Never before have I needed my emergency preparations twice in so short a time. For the second time in just over two weeks, I'm glad I make a point to prepare for the unexpected.
First, it was the power outage from the wind storm. I was ready, so it was only a minor inconvenience.
Then, this past week a broken water main meant I, along with most of Farwell, had no running water for several hours. When the water was restored, we were under a 72-hour boil order. Again, a small inconvenience which could have been a real problem if I weren't prepared.
Because of where we live, water is the most critical emergency supply you can stockpile for your family.
This is a dry area without much surface water. All the usable water is deep underground. You can't just take a bucket to the creek for water. Even if you aren't on a town water system, if your water source depends on the electric grid to bring it to the surface, you could be in trouble.
Water is important for drinking, washing, and cooking, but also for flushing toilets. If you aren't careful, toilets can quickly use most of your water.
I won't claim to have enough water stored. I don't believe such a thing is even possible since you can't live without it.
You don't need to buy a water tank-- but if you can afford one and have a place for it, why not? Two-liter soft drink bottles, cranberry juice jugs, and other food-safe clear plastic bottles are a good way to store water. Keep them out of the light so they don't become a biology experiment and change them out every year or so. Once you have all you think you need, try living without running water for a day and see how quickly you use your supply. Then store more for next time. This would be good for you, and that's important to me.
The next time there's a disruption to the water supply wouldn't you rather pull out some jugs of water instead of wondering when the water will be turned on again, and when it will be safe to drink? Sure, maybe you can visit someone who still has water and fill your jugs from their faucets. I prefer to not be a burden on others, and I'd rather not feel the anxiety from not having what I need when I need it, on hand, at home.
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Good on you for being the small percentage of people actually having preps. I have a 50 gallon drum for water but have never had to use it thankfully. Your advice here is good!
I guess the problem with having preps (if you advertise them) is you get people coming to you in need. Maybe you covered this in a previous post but, where do you draw the line between keeping your preps and helping others?
I haven't really covered that, because I haven't worked it out for myself.
I guess it would depend on how critical they were for my survival, and my daughter's survival. (Her mom might have to fend for herself.)
If I thought a crisis would be short-lived, I would be really generous with neighbors. If I thought it was going to be persistent, I'd shoot to keep what we need to survive. I guess I figure I've been warning people for years. It's not my fault if they didn't listen.
LOL that is the funniest thing I have read all day haha. I think I am with you there. If things were short term I would be more generous but if it was more long term, I don't think so. I think it is best to help people try to be self sufficient now so that we are not put in that situation.
But good call. I won't know for sure until it happens.