It’s that time of year again – time to make a New Year’s resolution. Do you have one already? If not, or you’re looking for another one to add to your list, here’s a simple one. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, better known as FEMA, has teamed up with the Ad Council to encourage Americans to “Resolve to be Ready” for possible emergencies year-round.

The campaign is emphasizing the use of tools and resources to introduce the concept of a family emergency plan to children. A downloadable family emergency plan, emergency kit checklists and guidelines on how to stay prepared year-round are available for use by families.

Water supply is a definite need to be addressed in a family emergency plan. Plain Talk About Drinking Water by Dr. James M. Symons addresses this very topic with the question “How much water should I store for emergencies?”  Here’s the answer:
     A good rule of thumb is to store one gallon of water per person per day. Emergency planning experts recommend storing enough water for at least three days, which means a family of four should store about 12 gallons (45 liters). People with special needs, such as nursing mothers, young children and family members with illnesses, may require more water to be available.

Whether you develop your own family emergency plan or use the ideas set in place by FEMA and the Ad Council, make sure you and your family are prepared.