Emergency water preparedness
Store safe water, protect containers, and know how to follow official advisories when normal service is unavailable or unsafe.
Use this general checklist as a starting point, then follow instructions from local authorities, utilities, clinicians, and emergency services for the situation in front of you.
Prepare before a disruption
- Store water in clean, food-grade containers and label it clearly.
- Protect stored water from chemicals, heat, and direct sunlight.
- Follow local drinking-water advisories; use bottled, boiled, or properly treated water when authorities say tap water is unsafe.
- Do not use water contaminated by fuel or toxic chemicals; boiling does not remove those contaminants.
Make the plan usable
- Assign responsibilities and make sure every household member can find the plan and supplies.
- Account for disability, language, transportation, age, dietary, and caregiving needs.
- Review supplies and contact information periodically and replace expired or damaged items.
When conditions change
Use current information from emergency officials and service providers. A general article cannot determine whether a particular building, route, food item, water source, or medical situation is safe.
- Act on evacuation, shelter, boil-water, fire, and other official instructions promptly.
- Call emergency services for immediate danger or a medical emergency.
Important: This public education does not provide a forecast, risk score, medical judgment, or private household recommendation.
Related PREPHAUS resources
Official sources
- FEMA Ready.gov — Water
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency
- FEMA Ready.gov — Make A Plan
- FEMA Ready.gov — Build A Kit
Source links are provided for provenance and current official instructions. No publication or retrieval date is asserted here.