Monday, June 23, 2008
When the levee breaks
Where floodwaters remained, they were a noxious brew of sewage, farm chemicals and fuel. Bob Lanz used a 22-foot aluminum flatboat to navigate through downtown Oakville, where the water reeked of pig feces and diesel fuel.
"You can hardly stand it," Lanz said as he surveyed what remained of his family's hog farm. "It's strong."
LeRoy Lippert, chairman of emergency management and homeland security in nearby Des Moines County, warned people to avoid the floodwaters: "If you drink this water and live, tell me about it. You have no idea. It is very, very wise to stay out of it. It's as dangerous as anything."
Over the course of days, access to drinkable water becomes a pretty serious issue for communities thus innundated.
Those with a preparedness bent can take a couple of steps to increase the liklihood that your family will be able to weather the storm (so to speak). Some modest water storage and filtering supplies can make a big difference in handling this type of crisis.
Those interested in water storage should plan on a gallon a day for every member of the family. The best way to store water is in containers manufactured for the purpose, and treated for long term storage.
These can be procured through a reputable dealer such as Nitropak, which features a full line of water storage supplies (I am a satisfied customer and recommend this vendor, but have no commercial interest here) but clean empty plastic soda or milk jugs and a couple of drops of bleach will do for those on a tight budget. In my home I have a 55 gallon container, plus six 5-gallon containers (which can actually be moved if necessary), all filled and treated for 5-year storage. That sounds like a lot, but for my family of four is probably only five or six days worth, practicing pretty extreme conservation (ie no washing). Storage will only get you so far. In an extended water crisis, or in the event you have to evacuate your home, a high quality water filter would be essential to ensuring access to potable water.
In a non-evacuation scenario, a high-capacity filter is best. A large table top filter such as the Big Berkey can filter most contaminants and organisms. I have one at my country house and rest easy knowing I can drink the pond water if the well goes out (the house sits on a hill so a flood is not in the cards). 
I think a portable filter also makes sense and every family should have one. There is a growing number to choose from, but the Katadyn Pocket Filter is generally regarded as the best. It is also the most expensive. This is a popular filter among backpackers and relief workers around the world. I keep mine with the other stuff I am likely to grab in an evacuation scenario. I imagine there are a lot of folks in Iowa river country that would be happy to have one now.
As with anything gear related, everyone should do their own research to determine what best meets the needs and budget of their particular situation. These are the steps I have taken to ensure access to potable water in a crisis (and I don't live in a flood plain).
4 Comments:
By 
Mystery Meat, at
Mon Jun 23, 04:10:00 PM:
This shows a shocking lack of confidence in the ability of your government to help you in times of trouble. Me, I'll be sitting on top of my house waiting for the helicopter.
By 
, at
Mon Jun 23, 04:44:00 PM:
From Theo Spark:
Where are all of the Hollywood celebrities holding telethons asking for help in restoring Iowa and helping the folks affected by the floods?
Where is all the media asking the tough questions about why the federal government hasn't solved the problem? Asking where the FEMA trucks (and trailers) are?
Why isn't the Federal Government relocating Iowa people to free hotels in Chicago?
When will Spike Lee say that the Federal Government blew up the levees that failed in Des Moines?
Where are Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks?
Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big screen television sets?
When will we hear Governor Chet Culver say that he wants to rebuild a "vanilla" Iowa, because that's the way God wants it?
Where is the hysterical 24/7 media coverage, complete with reports of cannibalism?
Where are the people declaring that George Bush hates white, rural people?
How come in 2 weeks, you will never hear about the Iowa flooding ever again?
By , at
Tue Jun 24, 12:03:00 AM:
so what's the thing with the potable water C? Worried about that dirty bomb going off in DC, and making it farther south into Appalachia? (Respond to my SEC address....you know me.)
By , at
Tue Jun 24, 12:25:00 AM:
I have been down in the Oakville bottoms and it has a very distinct river smell. I haven't noticed any "pig waste" smells that are certainly distinct when you pass a hog confinement. Oil, diesel and gasoline spills have been reported.
The town and most of the farms use wells with sandpoints on them to access the aquifer. If the well flooded, all of the river water and whatever was in it may have contaminated the well.
The town had recently drove a new well down 100 feet. It may not now be good if the town ever recovers. Even those farms on top of the bluff may not have good water since their wells may use the same aquifer.
Patrick
