Emergency Preparedness

Disasters happen. But having a personal emergency plan and adequate supplies can boost your level of comfort when the unexpected occurs, whether it's a severe summer or winter storm, hurricane, earthquake, fire or some other natural disaster,  being prepared can help reduce the risk to your family and your home.

Be Prepared

Be sure to discuss the type of hazards that could happen in your home.  Plus, make sure you have an out-of-state friend or family member as a contact, so if anyone is separated during an emergency, all household members have a single point of contact.

How's Your Emergency Supply?

When putting together home emergency supplies, emergency preparedness guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommend that all households maintain an emergency supply of:

• Fresh drinking water - at least one gallon per person per day for at least three days – for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene

• Enough canned or shelf-stable food for up to a week.

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 thinners, household cleaners, and dry cleaning chemicals.

Additional items to have on hand in case of an emergency include:

• A least one gallon of fresh drinking water per person, per day for at least three days

• Enough canned or shelf-stable food for up to a week

• Batteries
  
  
• Flashlight

• Radio

• Sanitation Products
  
  
• First Aid Kit with medicines, prescription drugs, band aids, etc.
  
  
• Non-perishable packaged or canned food for 3 to 7 days.
  
  
  

  Tips for Storing Your Supply Kit:
  

  • Put supplies in a large container such as a plastic trash can with a lid and store it in a cool, dark place away from any chemicals or solvents.
    
    
  • Store one-gallon or three-gallon size bottles for easy handling. You may want to store bottles of water in different locations for easy access.
     
  • Label each food and water item with date of purchase or note the expiration date or “use by” date.
    
    
  • For maximum freshness, rotate food and bottled water every six months.
  
  

Belmont Springs® Bottled Water and Emergency Response

Belmont Springs® bottled water is deeply committed to our communities in the eastern United States during good times and difficult times.  Whether it’s an unexpected natural or man made event, we actively participate in supporting those affected by disasters and often partner with many relief initiatives such as Global Giving, the American Red Cross and FEMA.  When emergencies do occur, we’re especially proud when we can provide refreshing bottled water to those in need, and roll up our sleeves and pitch in to help. 

In 2005, DS Waters of America, Inc.®, the parent company of Belmont Springs® and the Gulf States largest home and office bottled water delivery service provider serving Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama, partnered with Global Giving on a disaster relief initiative for the victims of Hurricane Katrina; the costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes in US history. A portion of all retail sales was allocated to the rebuilding efforts of the Gulf Coast States. The program was supported through local print and on-pack communication. Global Giving is a non-profit disaster relief organization that fosters locally run social and environment projects internationally.

In addition, DS Waters shipped over 1 million gallons of water to the Gulf Coast States to directly support FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with the execution of their emergency response plan for the region.
If you are looking for an information source, the IBWA web site hosts the "IBWA Emergency Response Directory (ERD)," which contains a list of national, regional, and local organizations and government agencies. Individuals and organizations interested in providing emergency bottled water relief supplies can use the ERD to navigate successfully through the proper channels and help those in need. IBWA will work to update this document on a regular basis and welcomes updated or corrections to listings.

Requests for donations for those affected by disaster can be made by calling 1-800-4-WATERS or by visiting www.water.com/donations.