Answers
Short, sourced answers to the questions people ask before and during a crisis: water, food, power, cash, heating, the car and the outdoors.
How much water do you need per person for 72 hours?At least 4 liters (about 1 gallon) per person per day — 12 liters for 72 hours. A table for families, storage tips and sources (CDC, FEMA).What should be in a 72-hour emergency kit?The complete 72-hour emergency kit list: water, no-cook food, light, radio, power, medicines, cash and documents — with quantities and costs.How much cash should you keep at home for emergencies?A rough guide: €50–100 or $50–100 per household, in small bills. Why cards fail in outages, what happened in Spain in 2025 and in Europe in October 2026.What should you do in the first hour of a power outage?Six steps for the first hour of a power outage — light, electronics, fridge, news, phone battery and staying warm — plus what never to do indoors.How many drops of bleach do you need to disinfect water?Drops of bleach per liter by concentration (4–6% and 8%), waiting time, which bleach to use and when bleach does not work. Based on CDC and WHO.How long does food stay safe in the fridge and freezer without power?About 4 hours for a closed fridge, 48 hours for a full freezer, 24 for a half-full one. What to eat first and what to throw away, based on USDA guidance.Is it safe to heat or cook indoors with gas or charcoal during an outage?What is safe and what is deadly for heating and cooking indoors without power, the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and what to do.What should you keep in your car for winter emergencies?Winter car kit list (cabin and trunk), what to do when stuck in snow, and how to avoid carbon monoxide in a stranded car.What should you do if you get lost while hiking?The STOP rule, the alpine distress signal (6 a minute), why staying put is usually best, and the one thing to do before every hike.How do you make a family emergency plan?Five questions for a family meeting, three meeting places, an out-of-area contact and a wallet card — a family emergency plan in one evening.