10 real shelter-in-place survival facts most people get wrong

1. Don't ration your drinking water

It feels smart, but the official advice is the opposite: never ration drinking water unless authorities tell you to. Drink what you need today and look for more tomorrow. Save water by moving less and staying cool.

Source: Ready.gov - Water

2. 3 gallons is one person for 3 days, no more

Store at least 1 gallon per person per day, for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth. The CDC says 3 days at minimum and 2 weeks if you can. In very hot weather your needs can double.

Source: CDC - How to Create an Emergency Water Supply; Ready.gov

In the story: Part 1 starts with 39 cans and 3 gallons.

3. Your water heater is a hidden water tank

The CDC lists the tap water heater tank, melted ice cubes (made from safe water) and the liquid in canned fruit and vegetables as emergency water sources. Never drink water from radiators or a home-heating boiler: it can make you sick.

Source: CDC - How to Find Clean Water in an Emergency; CDC - Make Water Safe

4. 8 drops of bleach per gallon, then wait 30 minutes

For plain, unscented household bleach with 5-9% sodium hypochlorite: 8 drops per gallon (2 drops per quart). Stir, then wait at least 30 minutes. Double it if the water is cloudy, colored or very cold. Follow the bleach label if it has drinking-water directions.

Source: CDC - How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency

5. Boiling beats bleach, and 1 minute is enough

Boiling is the best way to kill germs. Use a rolling boil for 1 minute, or 3 minutes above 6,500 feet. Bleach doesn't work as well against some parasites, like Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Filter cloudy water through a cloth or coffee filter first.

Source: CDC - Make Water Safe

6. Boiling cannot fix chemical or fuel contamination

If water might contain fuel, toxic chemicals or radioactive material, boiling and bleach will not make it safe. Use bottled water or another source, and call your health department.

Source: CDC - Make Water Safe

7. Your fridge buys you 4 hours, if you keep it shut

A closed refrigerator keeps food safe for up to 4 hours without power. After that, throw out perishables like meat, eggs and leftovers. Never taste food to check it. Hard cheese, butter and peanut butter can be kept.

Source: FoodSafety.gov / USDA - Food Safety During a Power Outage

8. 39 cans are useless without a manual can opener

Ready.gov's basic kit lists a manual can opener next to the food. Also on that list: a whistle to signal for help, a dust mask, a hand-crank or battery radio, and plastic sheeting with duct tape.

Source: Ready.gov - Build a Kit; Ready.gov - Food

9. Sealing a room: cut the plastic wider and tape the corners first

To shelter in place against contaminated air, pick an interior room with few windows. Cut plastic sheeting several inches wider than each opening, label each sheet, and tape the corners first, then the edges. Cut and label the sheets ahead of time.

Source: Ready.gov - Shelter

10. Your cordless home phone dies with the power

Many cordless phones need electricity, and internet (VoIP) landlines stop working in an outage unless they have battery backup. A corded phone on a traditional copper line may still work. Save a contact named "In Case of Emergency" on every phone.

Source: FCC/FEMA - Emergency Communications Tips

In the story: Part 4: a neighbor signals across the street with a flashlight in Morse code.