Emergency Food & Water

WATER
Water will be used for drinking and wound care. Water needed for hand washing is minimized with the use of hand wipes and hand sanitizer. Food does not require water for preparation. There are advantages and drawbacks to the various options of water storage.

 55 gallon drums of water require a special hose for filling, preservative, a working bung pump, and sterile containers or those able to be sanitized for transport of water to student's cups or other uses. Sterile and empty containers can be obtained from bottled water suppliers. Where ever the drum sits is where the water will be pumped. There will be spillage and high traffic. Barrels sweat rotting floors and keeping moisture in the container.
 Large boxed pouches of water and smaller 4 oz pouches do not expose water to light and are good for at least 5 to 7 years (and possibly good forever). The adhesive of the box on the large boxed water fails. Wrapping the box in plastic and providing a belt of duct tape can keep the box together during storage. Small pouches can be punctured during storage with other items.
 Pallets of large water boxes may be purchased through your water utility district or via the local Pepsi distributor, but it is not an easy process. You will want to contact other schools to join together to make a large order. With persistence, you may be able to get the water utility to pay a portion of the cost of the water. The water can be sent to the district warehouse and trucked to your site. Entire heavily wrapped pallets can be stored at the rear of your container, but the warehouse must bring a truck with a lift and a pallet jack to do so. Large water boxes require thousands of cups, pens for marking cups, and places to store used cups for reuse.
 A great advantage is seen in using 4 oz pouches of water for students. They have a 5 year shelf life, are easy to distribute and do not require keeping cups clean and identified.
 Some of us have stored unscented bleach to purify water. Clorox customer service says that the date on a bleach bottle is the manufacture date. Bleach for water purification should only be stored about 4 months beyond that date. Heat beyond 68 degrees expedites the degradation of the chemical and its effectiveness to purify water. Bleach experiences a 20% degradation each year.
 Water bottles that are clear are only good for about 3 - 4 months.
 Juice can only be stored for one school year in an external container. It will provide calories and is also full of sugar, thus increasing thirst and sanitation needs. Juice and other sugary drinks are highly discouraged.
 The bulk of stored Water should be stored at the back of the cargo container. Water and food are the last things to be brought out.
 Water purchased in bulk from local water districts are tested every year and may be good well beyond the 5 year expiration.

FOOD/SNACKS
 Comfort Food: Food is food. Comfort is comfort. Food should not be used for comfort.
 Millennium bars have a 5 year exterior storage shelf life and provide nourishment equal to one meal. They contain no nuts or peanuts.
 Datrex bars also have a 5 year exterior storage shelf life and provide nourishment equal to one day's worth of intake. They contain no nuts or peanuts.
 MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat or military rations)
  o MRE's have a shelf-life of 3 - 5 years in external storage and 5 - 7 years inside. They are not meant for external storage.
  o The first number in the code is the last digit in the number of the year. (ie: 1983) The color of the entr?container is changed each decade. That tells you the decade it was made.
 Food Advisory
  o Emergency food should contain no peanuts or nuts. Allergies to peanuts and nuts are common and can be deadly.
  o Salt and sugar increase thirst and sanitation requirements.
  o Sugar increases activity and agitation.
 Snacks are not advised.
  o Distribution takes time and labor. Both will be in short supply.
  o Snacks typically contain high concentrations of salt and/or sugar.
  o Snacks used as stress medication or distraction have far reaching ramifications.
 Special arrangements must be made for students with allergies or dietary needs with a special cache of food. Donated ice chests can be used for their storage.
 Foods that must be cooked are discouraged because of labor intensity and the inability to store fuel for cooking inside the container.
  o Foods and beverages that only require hot water in its own Styrofoam container are an option.
  o Items that require just the addition of hot water will alleviate the need to scrub food from pots.
 Be sure to check with your local fire department regarding appropriate storage of any fuel.
 School kitchens contain food. Building damage, gas leaks, and items spilled and fixtures and tools knocked onto the floor in the kitchen can make the kitchen inoperable or inaccessible. There is also a risk of contamination and spoilage.