Mama, how big are those kids? I know my family is a LITTLE *grins broadly at the understatement of the mellenium* weird, but when I was 6 or 7, I had my first BOB given to me. A liter or two isn't much, but it is better than nothing. <br><br>As for 72 hours worth of water, forget it. Most of my contingency planning has been for areas where purifiable water can be had, so my point of view is biased, I'll state that outright. 48 hours of water (6-8 liters) is all you really can carry IMO, and refill and drop in tabs when you can. I carry in my main pack two, one-liter water bladders, and 2 2-liter plastic canteens and 2, one-liter nageleen bottles. There is also a couple of empty water bladders in case something gets popped, or we can dig in. But I'm also a pretty big husky with a framepack, and I know option isn't for everyone.<br><br>Andy and Chris talked about water in vehilces. Carry at least a gallon at all times, and more if you can. Ditto in the house. I like the big, blue, cubical "aquatainers" (?? not sure, the labels fell of years ago), and clean and refill them regualry. At least 5 gallons per person. <br><br>BTW, for the kids, is it wrong to use large cat carriers for them? J/k, I've never been able to figure out how to evac small humans- I'll be honset, I'm scared of them, but I know mentally that childern and pets will be the hardest part of any such action.