15 Emergency Essentials You Don’t Want to Be Without

Drinking-Water

Minimum recommendations call for a gallon of water per person per day, although people who live in hot climates or are prone to excessive perspiration need more.

Empty plastic soda or juice bottles can be washed and reused to store tap water. Do not use milk jugs or dairy containers for this purpose, because it’s impossible to know for sure that washing has removed all traces of milk proteins.

Water alone is sufficient to prevent dehydration and maintain good health, but drinking nothing but lukewarm water gets monotonous after a while.

Consider stocking powdered drink mix and shelf-stable liquids, including single-serve milk and juice boxes. Choose drinks sold in cardboard boxes or plastic bottles rather than breakable glass.