Besides oxygen, the second most precious substance to the human body is clean water. Recently, the contamination of a major river in China by a 50-mile long jolt of benzene has led to a certain level of panic as the city of Harbin faces the prospect of no running water for at least several days until the contanimants flow on by. Here's one article on the situation. Apparently people are starting to panic buy, many are fleeing the city, and there are wild rumors flying around, too, like fears of impending earthquakes. If everyone simply had a 72-hour supply of water and some basic sanitation arrangements, this serious industrial accident would have been little more than a big inconvenience to most ordinary folks.

Thanks for the reminder. I have trouble keeping a lot of food on hand, but there's just no excuse for not having an emergency supply of water. Empty 2l soda bottles work fine, are cheap, and can be reused.

I moved this thread for the potential interest. I saw this news story right on top of a report on mainland china's severe pollution that came with rapid industrialisation. There was also a brief story about some asteroid coming close in 30 years. My main paranoia NOW is do we have enough champagne and dinner rolls. Happy Thanksgiving <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Storing water is so simple that there is just no reason not to do it.

And if my idiot sister in Idaho can do it, anyone can! <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Do you think your idiot sister could tell my anti-prepared wife that I'm not completely nuts for having a month's supply of water in the basement? <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

as long as your basement doesn't flood, you will be in good shape

Yeah, she thinks I'm paranoid for stocking up on food and water...hope she doesn't find out about the shelter I'm building down there for when the aliens attack... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

YOu have heard of a "chinese fire drill", right? :-)

What do you mean when the aliens attack...they're already among us, I see their spaceships flying over my house every night <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Just an update. Reading various news sources, including actual eyewitness comments on the BBC website, sounds like the residents of Harbin are taking this chemical disaster in stride. No panic, no riots. Life seems pretty normal. However, it may last longer than originally planned. This article said that the water was turned off on Tuesday and that plans to resume water service on Saturday would have to be postponed, but it might be turned back on by Monday. Might?

Anheuser-Busch has a brewery in Harbin and gets its water from wells, so it's providing water to residents.

And in other news, yet another Chinese chemical factory exploded, releasing toxic benzene into the Yangtse and forcing the evacuation of thousands in that area. And the Russians are mad as heck about the first spill since the Chinese waited 11 days to announce the spill and the slick is headed towards their border now. They declared a state of emergency in the affected area. Sheesh, 11 days? So how many people already drank the water before the announcement? Sad.

Anyway, events like this, and particularly Katrina, make me think that 72-hours is definitely a bare minimum supply of water. A week sounds like a more prudent goal.

It's a good idea to keep water in more than 1 place so you don't lose it all .

Dave

Yes, -I've recently read about it's now entering the Amur River, (a major World Class river!, -for those unfamiliar, -No mere brooklet!), -which serves as much of that area's Russian / Chinese border. The Nenets tribespeople of the area, as you say, -are mad as heck! Or certainly mighty Displeased! (Asians often don't "pop off into emotionalism", -like many of we do here in the West. Differing Cultural Values, etc.).

So much of their Lifestyle, -is so heavily dependant, -on Amur Fish. And now they're being told not to eat Amur fish, -for a year!

However, -a river such as the Amur, (which can Stand Respectfully shoulder to shoulder with say our Mississippi / Missourri !), -doubtless has many tributaries. (Some, such as the Shilka and several others, -are Great Rivers in their own right!). Tribs right down to the smallest brooks. Of which there must be many, -in that Great Siberian Forest.

Thus Water, -as well as *other* fish, -can surely be aquired from those! Though Amur Class fish won't be available in all of them.

I lament what has happened to the Amur (a personally Beloved World River of mine!) (Something Belovedly Great even in it's very Name!), -from someone else upstream.

But when it comes down to Brass Tacks Survival, -I don't see what the catastrophic Survival Situation is! The Amur again, is far from the area's *only* Great and Pristine River! Those Fine Outdoors Folks will be visiting *other* riverbanks soon enuff. And as with our own Alaska's Prince William Sound and Mt St' Helens, -the Amur itself will Heal Up! And Magnificently!

Along this general line, -our Pittsgurgh Zoo has an Excellent Asian Forest exhibit! Replicating precisely that Amur River area! Our Northeast U.S. Forest, -and that Southeast Siberian / Manchurian / Korean Forests, -are in very many ways Very Similar! As the Exhibit makes a point of mentioning. (I understand also that our entire Appalachians in general, -to which I am quite near!, -shares a lot of Plantlife Similarity, -with this Asian and Amur Forest!).

This Outstanding Exhibit may be a "so so pass thru" area to many here at our Zoo, (Sadd!), -but it's by a Good Ways my personal Favorite!,

By the way, -its *not* all Asian and Amur Plantlife there! Great and Enjoyable as that is! We also have here a Siberian Tiger! [color:"black"] [/color] [color:"black"] [/color] [email]Arney[/email]