(e/ &on SENSE! Water And Emergencies (NAPSA)—Public safety and disaster relief groups say one of the most important things a family can do to be prepared for an emergency or disaster is to store water. Yet a recent poll found just over four in ten Americans store water as a precaution. Families should store one gal- lon of water per person per day, enoughforat least three days. As no region in the U.S. is immuneto disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross say that it’s vital for Americans to store water for drinking and personal hygiene. Both groups recommend all families store at least one gallon per person per day for a minimum ofthree days. Bottled water is considered an excellent choice for emergency preparedness because it is a highly regulated packaged food product, subject to stringent regulation and safety standards. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which reg- ulates bottled water as a packaged food product, has not established a shelf life for bottled water. The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) advises consumers to store bottled water at room temperature (or cooler), out of direct sunlight and away from solvents and chemicals such as gasoline, paint thinner, household cleaners and dry cleaning chemicals. Bottled water can be stored indefinitely with proper handling. Visit the IBWA web site, www.bottledwater.org, for more information.
