Extension office talks emergency water supplies

Jul. 22—HULBERT — Emergency water supplies can be critical for both humans and pets, and the Cherokee County Oklahoma State University Extension office recently made the topic the focus of a workshop at Hulbert Community Library.

The July 18 program was led by Sherry Clark, Cherokee County OSU Cooperative Extension Office agriculture educator. Clark taught the group about a variety of emergency water aspects, including storage requirements, how to disinfect the water, and alternative and emergency water sources. Clark said as the world evolves, she thinks people need to be more prepared for emergencies.

"We obviously need to educate and be prepared, because we never know when we will have a natural disaster," Clark said.

Kelly Barrett attended the event with her mom, Debbie Woodward, a Hulbert resident. Barrett, a Fort Gibson native, said that after checking out the library with Woodward, they noticed the schedule featuring an emergency water supplies workshop and other related talks.

"These are classes that I am interested in — any kind of prepping for emergencies, or homesteading type of classes — so we signed up for all of them," Barrett said.

Barrett said she believes preparing with emergency water supplies is important to everyone, and it's an area of life she has thought about before because of her grandmother.

"Whenever there would be a storm coming, or if she saw they were going to shut the water off she would always fill the bath tub with water, so it's kind of always been there [in the back of the mind] to know to do a little bit of that," Barrett said.

She already knew how boiling water is the safest method for disinfecting water, but Barrett said she did learn the proper way to disinfect water with bleach.

According to Clark and the OSU Fact Sheet to which she referred, 16 drops of household liquid bleach can be added to each gallon of water. After stirring the water, it should be left to stand for 30 minutes. If a slight bleach odor is not present after the treatment, is should be repeated and let stand another 15 minutes. Only regular bleach with 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite should be used.

Other disinfecting methods Clark discussed included disinfection tablets and bringing the water to a roiling boil for three to five minutes. Since the water will taste flat, air can be add after it cools by pouring it back and forth between two containers.

Hulbert Community Library Manager Ashley Rouse said she didn't know people could disinfect water with bleach. Being able to store water for six months before needing to replace it also stuck out to Rouse.

"I don't think it will make me get a supply of it, but I think I will be more aware of it," Rouse said.

Clark's workshop detailed how a gallon of water per person per day for three days is the adequate minimum that should be stored. Additional water should also be stored for personal hygiene, pets, and food preparation.

The workshop was one of the last homesteader workshops the library is staging with the Extension office, but the facility will be hosting a weather preparedness show with 2 News on July 24 at 1:30 p.m.

Check it out

Those wanting to learn more about emergency water related topics should call the Cherokee County OSU Extension at 918-456-6163.