Staying at Home During an Emergency.  During an emergency, you might be cut off from food, water and electricity for several days or more.  If power is out, food stores may be closed and your water supply may not work.  Here are some suggestions to follow:

Water:  If a disaster catches you without a supply of clean water, you can use ice cubes and the water in your hot-water tank or pipes.  You can also use clean water from the reservoir (back) tank of your toilet (not the bowl).  If it is safe to go outside, you can also purify water from streams or rivers, rainwater, ponds and lakes, natural springs and snow by boiling (for 5 minutes), distilling or disinfection.  To purify water with bleach, use 10 drops of bleach per gallon of water.  Use only regular household liquid bleach that contains only 5.25% sodium hypochlorite.

Food:  During and right after an emergency, it will be important that you keep up your strength by eating at least one well-balanced meal each day.  Take vitamin, mineral and/or protein supplements.  Food may be rationed safely, except for children, pregnant women and the frail or ill.

If the Electricity Goes Off:  First, check to see if your neighbors have power.  The problem may be in your home.  If they also have lost power, check with the power company to see when power might come back on.  Turn off or unplug all major appliances.  When appliances, such as refrigerators are left on, they could overload electric lines when power is turned back on, causing a second outage.  Use the phone only when absolutely necessary. If the only problem is downed lines, your cell phone or car phone will work.

Plumbing can freeze when power is lost during cold weather periods.  You can turn off the water supply at the main intake pipe, drain your system and leave a faucet open to avoid air lock.  Be ready to go to a shelter if warmth and protection are needed during a long power outage.

Medical:  If you or anyone comes in contact with a biological or chemical agent, a decontamination procedure and medical attention may be needed.  Listen to the advice broadcast on EAS stations.  As emergency services may be overwhelmed, only call 911 about life-threatening emergencies.