How to Handle Food and Water After a Flood

A flood is often a life-changing experience. Food and water are essential to survival, and are some of the most important items to check after a flood. Humans can survive for weeks without food, but they need water on a consistent basis to survive. Never keep food or water that has been affected by flood conditions without first properly sterilizing them. Otherwise, you may be ingesting harmful bacteria and illnesses.

Things You'll Need

• Large containers for water storage
• Boiling pot
• 5% bleach

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Instructions

Water

• 1

  Fill large, clean containers or your bathtubs with water.

• 2

  Boil water in a clean pot for at least three minutes, as needed. Allow the water to cool before you drink it.

• 3

  Add 3 drops of 5% bleach to each liter of water you would like to sterilize. Allow the mixture to sit at least 30 minutes.

Food

• 4

  Discard and open packages and containers that have come into contact with floodwater.

• 5

  Discard any commercially canned glass containers.

• 6

  Discard anything in a bag such as sugar, flour or coffee.

• 7

  Discard anything in cardboard boxes.

• 8

  Discard any cans with dents or rust.

• 9

  Discard any containers with unsealed lids.

• 10

  Discard all fresh vegetables and fruits.

• 11

  Discard any carbonated beverage with silt crusted on the cap, even if sealed.

• 12

  Discard any food that needs to be refrigerated if your power has gone out for any amount of time.

Undamaged Canned Food

• 13

  Keep any metal cans that show no signs of leaking, dents or bulging.

• 14

  Mark the cans with permanent ink.

• 15

  Remove the label.

• 16

  Clean the can in detergent solution. Be sure to get all of the seams and lids.

• 17

  Rinse in water.

• 18

  Soak cans in two teaspoons of 5.25% bleach per quart of water.

• 19

  Air-dry the can.