Family Survival

Sources

Every source cited on this site, collected from the guides, the water standards page, and the tools. Each was checked on the date shown.

Critical facts

The single list of safety-critical numbers used across the site.

FactValueSource
Water to store1 gallon per person per dayFEMA
How long to plan for at homea 2-week supplyFEMA
Hot climates2 gallons per person per dayReady.gov (FEMA)
This is our guidance, not a FEMA number. It follows Ready.gov's note that in very hot temperatures water needs can double.
Boilinga rolling boil for 1 minuteCDC
Boiling at altitude3 minutes above 6,500 ftCDC
Bleach, 6% strength8 drops of 6% bleach per gallonU.S. EPA
Bleach, 8.25% strength6 drops of 8.25% bleach per gallonU.S. EPA
Cloudy or very cold waterdouble the bleachU.S. EPA
Wait before drinking30 minutesU.S. EPA
Generator placementmore than 20 feet from windows, doors, and ventsCDC
Never indoorsnever inside a home or garageCDC
Refrigerator in an outage4 hoursCDC
Full freezer48 hoursCDC
Half-full freezer24 hoursCDC
Heat stroke is an emergencycall 911National Weather Service
Hypothermiabelow 95°FCDC
Carbon monoxide symptomsheadache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, confusionCDC
Moving flood water6 inches can knock you downNational Weather Service
Frostbitenumbness, white or grayish-yellow skinReady.gov (FEMA)
Fans are not enougha fan alone does not lower body temperatureReady.gov (FEMA)
Water for pets0.01 gallon per pound of pet per dayIsland County (WA) Department of Emergency Management
Island County rounds common pet-care figures (1 oz per lb for dogs, 4 oz per 5 lb for cats) up to 0.01 gallon per pound.
Replace water you bottled yourselfevery six monthsReady.gov (FEMA)
Cans to throw outleaking, bulging, badly dented, or spurtingUSDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
Insulin without a refrigerator59°F to 86°F for up to 28 daysU.S. FDA
Refrigerated medicine in a long outagepower out more than a dayReady.gov (FEMA)
The life-sustaining exception is from FDA, Safe Drug Use After a Natural Disaster (source key fda-disaster-drugs).
Never mix bleachnever with ammonia or any other cleanerCDC
Bleach for surfaces1 cup of bleach in 5 gallons of waterCDC
Handwashingsoap and water for at least 20 secondsCDC
Hand sanitizerat least 60% alcoholCDC
Time to get outless than 2 minutesU.S. Fire Administration (FEMA)
Smoke alarm caretest monthly, replace every 10 yearsU.S. Fire Administration (FEMA)
Tsunami safe ground100 feet above sea level, or 1 mile inlandReady.gov (FEMA)