What Should You Store? Some Basics to get you Started are:

Water

This is a very important staple to have in your food storage. It is probably the single most life-saving item you can have in your food storage. You should have enough water to sustain each member of your family. Drinking water is extremely important, but you will also need water for cooking and bathing and washing too. Three gallons of water a day per person in your family is the recommended amount. It will need to be used sparingly because no matter how much you have; you’ll never know how long you will have to depend on your supply. Water can be stored in glass or plastic containers (except milk containers because they are biodegradable), and must have an airtight lid. A small piece of plastic wrap placed over the mouth of the container before you put the lid on helps keep the water fresh. You can use tap water plain if you change it once a year, or add a small amount of bleach or other commercial purification product before storing indefinitely. You can also boil water before using to kill germs and improve the taste. Try to store your water in a cool place. Don’t overlook the water in your toilet tank and water heater in an unexpected crisis. Waterbed water can be used for washing, but don’t drink it or use it on eating surfaces because of contamination due to the chemicals used in making the plastic lining.

Water Purification Tablets or Containers/Filter Pumps- are absolute must. They can help turn most unusable or questionable water sources into safe drinking water. These are especially vital when living "on the trail" or outdoors. You can buy them at any grocery, drug or hardware store. Boiling water helps remove the bacteria too.