and County Road 540A in Lakeland in the days before Hurricane Irma hit.
[SCOTT WHEELER/THE LEDGER] @mikewferguson BARTOW — The aftermath of a hurricane tends to lead to a lot of water outdoors, but having enough indoors is an essential part of preparedness.
But collapsible 5-gallon water bags, jerry cans and coolers make it easy to store drinking water in the short term, and buckets, bathtubs and barrels make easy work of saving water for “gray” uses like flushing toilets and cleaning up.
“You want to store as much as you can.
People with illnesses, children, nursing mothers and those living in hot environments will require more.
“They’re usually not good for long-term use, but they can last for a few weeks,” Callendar said.
When it comes to large containers such as rain barrels, Callender said those are not ideal for storing drinking water.
When it comes to water for all uses, FEMA recommends at least one gallon per person in the household per day.
If there’s any doubt about whether the water is safe for consumption, Callendar said it’s best to boil it.
“You have to make sure it’s sanitary,” Callender said.