Before a hurricane, fill containers with drinking water and keep the bathtub for flushing

A hurricane forecast gives you hours to prepare. The CDC says a hurricane watch is announced 48 hours before experts expect tropical-storm-force winds to start, and a warning 36 hours before, and that the warning is meant to give people enough time to prepare. This page covers one use of those hours: water. A hurricane can cut off the power and the water supply, and the water you cannot get later is easier to store now.

When a hurricane is forecast, fill clean containers with drinking water, and use the water in the bathtub for flushing and washing only, not for drinking.

Who this page is not for

If you live where officials have ordered an evacuation, go. Ready.gov says: “If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone and local officials tell you to evacuate, do so immediately.” An older National Weather Service brochure says to plan to evacuate if you live in a mobile or manufactured home, on the coastline, on an offshore island or near a river or flood plain, or in a high-rise. If you do not have a car, the CDC says to consider making plans with friends or family, or to call authorities for a ride.

One person says leaving can be impossible: a four-hour drive can become twenty hours, some people have no car, and flights get cancelled. The CDC says: “You may hear an order to stay at home. If driving conditions are dangerous, staying at home might be safer than leaving.” This page cannot tell you which of these is your case; your local emergency management office can.

Drinking water first

The CDC says: “Store at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day for 3 days,” and “Try to store a 2-week supply if possible.” It says to store more for pregnant women, people who are sick, pets, or if you live in a hot climate. It says unopened, commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable source of water in an emergency. In the UK, the Be Ready campaign says 3 litres of drinking water per person per day for 3 days is recommended, with more needed for baby formula, medical devices and pets.

If you are filling your own containers, the CDC says food-grade water storage containers are best. If you cannot get them, it says the container should have a top that closes tightly, be made of durable material that is not glass, and never have held bleach, pesticides or other toxic chemicals. Before filling, it says to wash the container with soap and rinse it, then sanitise it with a solution of 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach (5% to 9% sodium hypochlorite) in 1 quart (4 cups) of water: cover, shake, wait at least 30 seconds, pour it out and let the container air-dry. Then fill it with clean water, close the lid, label it “drinking water” with the date, and keep it cool and out of direct sunlight, away from gasoline or pesticides. The CDC says to replace stored water every 6 months.

The bathtub is for the other water

Many people suggest filling the bathtub before a storm so there is water to flush the toilet and wash with if the supply stops. The National Weather Service’s brochure says the same, with a limit: “Fill bathtub and large containers with water in case tap water is unavailable. Use water in bathtubs for cleaning and flushing only. Do NOT drink it.” The CDC’s current hurricane page says: “You can also fill up your sinks and bathtubs with water for washing.” It lists drinking water separately, in clean containers.

People disagree about this. One person says a bathtub is a poor place to keep water you plan to drink because tubs are not clean. Another says sewers can back up and contaminate water stored in a tub, so sealed containers are safer. The official lines above settle what the tub water is for: flushing and washing, with drinking water in sanitised containers. One person adds that plumbing may back up after a few flushes once the power is off. Local officials can say whether the sewer system is working before you flush.

A full tub or bucket is a drowning hazard for young children. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (2006) says young children can drown in even small amounts of water, to keep a young child within arm’s reach in a bathtub, to keep toilet lids down, to consider a bathroom door latch out of reach, and never to leave a bucket holding even a small amount of liquid unattended.

If you have a well, one person points out that wells and many town water systems depend on electric pumps, so power loss can mean water loss. That is a reason to store drinking water, not to rely on the tap.

While the power is off

Some people say a generator belongs well away from the house, because carbon monoxide has killed families during outages. The CDC says: “Never use a generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine inside your home, basement, or garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door, or vent,” and “Use an extension cord that is more than 20 feet long to keep the generator at a safe distance.” It says carbon monoxide can build up in a home, garage or camper from stoves, generators, lanterns and gas ranges or from burning charcoal and wood, and that a charcoal grill, hibachi, lantern or portable camping stove must never be used inside a home, tent or camper. The CDC also says never to use a gas range or oven to heat a home, and that if conditions are too hot or too cold you should seek shelter with friends or at a community shelter. There is a page here called Fill spare freezer space with bottles of water in case the power goes off about frozen bottles and food safety. For the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning and what to do, see the safety box at the top.

If floodwater reaches you

Some people say never to walk or drive in flooded streets, because of open manholes, power lines and currents. Ready.gov says: “Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.” It also says: “Go to the highest level of the building if you are trapped by flooding. Do not climb into a closed attic. You may become trapped by rising flood water.” Some people suggest keeping an axe in the attic to cut through the roof. Ready.gov does not mention an axe; its line is the one quoted above. If you are trapped, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK. After a hurricane, Ready.gov says not to wade in flood water, which can contain dangerous pathogens, debris, chemicals, waste and wildlife, and that underground or downed power lines can electrically charge the water. If you or someone with you is in danger now, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK.

Other things the forecast hours allow

The CDC lists, for a hurricane watch or warning: fill your car’s gas tank; clear the yard of anything that could blow around, including bikes, lawn furniture, grills and propane tanks; check the carbon monoxide detector’s battery; and, if you have pets, pre-identify shelters, a pet-friendly hotel, or an out-of-town friend or relative, because local animal shelters may be able to offer advice. Some people say shelters may ask for proof of a pet’s vaccinations, such as rabies, so it is worth asking the shelter what it wants to see. Ready.gov says to keep your phone charged and to sign up for alerts, and the National Weather Service’s brochure says to keep cash in case the power goes out and cash machines do not work. There is a page here called A full tank is an exit you keep ready.

In the UK

The main steps above are written for hurricanes. In the UK the official advice is about storms, flooding and power cuts. The Be Ready campaign says to pay extra attention to warnings when the Met Office names a storm, to charge phones and power banks, to secure loose objects, and to limit travel as much as you can. It says to write down the number to report a power cut: 105 in England, Scotland and Wales, and 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland. It says that while there is no mains water supply, bottled water should be used “solely for drinking, washing your hands and food preparation.” It says rain-butt water, if you have an outside area and collect it, can be used for flushing toilets or watering plants and is not to be drunk. It also says to check your water provider’s website, and to sign up to the Priority Services Register if you are eligible, because then your water company will arrange alternative supplies. For flooding, GOV.UK lists Floodline on 0345 988 1188, a 24-hour service; SEPA and Natural Resources Wales give the same number for Scotland and Wales. Floodline does not cover Northern Ireland, where nidirect lists the Flooding Incident Line, 0300 2000 100, for reporting flooding, and says it is not for emergencies: call 999 if anyone is in danger. If your water company does not tell you what is happening, the Consumer Council for Water in England and Wales (0300 034 2222 for England, 0300 034 3333 for Wales) takes complaints about water companies. The Be Ready page also says Scottish Water’s website shows the status of supply in your area, and that in Northern Ireland NI Water provides information on supply issues.

After a storm in the US, FEMA’s disaster assistance helpline (1-800-621-3362) answers questions about applying for federal help, and 211 can point to local help; call 911 first if anyone is in danger.