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When storing drinking water in your car, there are certain factors you need to consider, such as the weather and how many people your supply is intended for. If you live in an area with both hot summers and cold winters, having two separate water storage systems – one for cold weather and one for hot weather – is the best way forward.
Here are some recommendations and invaluable advice shared by professional outdoor educators and survival experts on how to store emergency water in your vehicle.
Storage tips for when the weather is hot
Avoid water in plastic bottles. A study by researchers at the University of Florida and Nanjing University found that plastic water bottles left in a hot car for a week leaked significant amounts of harmful chemicals into the drinking water. Examples of these toxic chemicals include antimony, a known carcinogen, and BPA, which may cause serious health problems like cancer and hormone and metabolic disorders.
Use aluminum and stainless steel bottles. Metal containers won’t leach all sorts of nasty chemicals into your water, no matter how hot it gets. They are also quite durable should you drop them. The only downside is they can get really warm in hot conditions. (Related: Survival essentials: Tips for storing water in your car.)
Consider bagged water. Bagged water comes in convenient package sizes, don’t degrade or leak, are easy to store, have a long shelf life and are able to withstand extreme temperatures. However, bagged water is expensive.
Consider boxed water. You can buy 12-pack, 24-pack and 32-pack boxed water in recyclable packaging. Avoid storing boxed water under car seats or anywhere it can get crushed. Boxed water will fit nicely inside a cooler in a trunk storage bin.
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Consider canned water. Some companies sell emergency water with a 50-year shelf life. This emergency water is packed in cans made of corrosion-resistant aluminum, which is perfect for long-term storage. These cans are designed to withstand conditions between 38-140 F, making them a good option for keeping in your car when the weather’s hot. The main drawback of canned water is its price; but since it has such a long shelf life, you probably won’t have to replace it frequently.
Keep a cooler in your car. Even a cooler that’s not filled with ice can help insulate your emergency water supply from the heat. Soft coolers are generally more convenient for use in a car, but hard-sided models with extra insulation are usually more effective.
Storage tips for when the weather is cold
Avoid water in plastic bottles. In cold, freezing weather, plastic tends to become brittle, so opt for water stored in non-plastic containers.
Avoid canned water. Cans could burst when the weather is too cold, so don’t store canned water in your car.
Don’t fill up your containers all the way. To avoid any problems with expanding water and cracked containers during winter months, be sure to leave a bit of empty space in your containers. As a general rule, leave at least ¼ or ? of the container empty to provide enough room for the water to expand.
Use a cooler. Generally, all commercial coolers use the same method of insulation – foam insulation between the inner and outer walls. Cheaper hard coolers use styrofoam while premium hard coolers use heavier but more effective polyurethane.
Aside from a cooler, there are other materials that you can use to insulate your emergency water supply from the cold, such as survival blankets, which are really good at trapping heat and can provide another layer of protection. You can wrap your emergency water containers in survival blankets before storing them in a cooler.
Where to store emergency water in your vehicle
Car cabin. When the weather is cold, you can prevent your emergency water from freezing if you store it in the cabin since you will probably turn on the car heater as you drive. That way, your water supply will get a blast of hot air, which can make a difference in the long run.
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Storing emergency water in the cabin of your car also makes it more accessible, especially in times of need.
Trunk/hatchback. Storing emergency water in the trunk of your car can help you save space. During hot months, your emergency water supply will also stay a bit cooler in the trunk where it’s protected from the sun.
Points to remember when storing water in your vehicle
Assuming your emergency water and the container you used were both clean at the time of storage, it should remain safe to drink for six months. That said, check your water containers at least every six months for any signs of leaking or deterioration. If you need to rotate out your supply, you can use the water you’re replacing to water your plants.
A three-day supply (more if you have room in your vehicle) is a good amount to stash in your car.
Your car emergency kit should include other means of getting potable/safe drinking water, such as a LifeStraw, iodine or purification tablets that can help purify water.
Consider purchasing quality hydration packs, or bladder packs, which are flexible reservoirs that can fit into your backpack and offer some protection from freezing and UV rays. Store 100-ounce hydration packs per person for emergencies.
You should also pack a camp stove because, despite your best efforts, your emergency water may still freeze in winter. You can use the stove to melt enough water for drinking in an emergency situation.
Watch the following video to learn more about emergency water for long-term vehicle storage.
This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
- Here’s why you should NEVER reuse your plastic water bottles.
- 4 Tips to prevent emergency water from freezing.
- Prepping 101: Emergency water storage for beginners.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
