The American Red Cross Central Valley Region distributed emergency drinking water on Thursday that was donated by World Grocer of Turlock to their Emergency Response storage sites benefiting seven California counties.
The 8,800 gallons of canned emergency drinking water with a 30 plus year shelf life is being used to meet the needs of emergency victims within the Region's sphere of support. The California drought of 2014 has been especially severe in small towns where many rely on well water, which is now drying out. Red Cross volunteers assisted by the Stockton based non-profit Bread of Life, which donated their truck to help transport the water, have mobilized quickly to assure ready access to the emergency drinking water for communities in the Central Valley Region.
"Having good quality, clean, drinking water immediately available during an emergency is priceless," said Debby Dailey, lead Red Cross nursing volunteer for a recent Red Cross deployment in California.
The 30 plus year shelf life of the canned emergency drinking water is an important component of any disaster preparedness plan. Last year the Central Valley Region of the American Red Cross responded to more than 580 local emergencies. Each emergency brings its own unique needs, but drinking water is always at the top of the list. The American Red Cross has used the canned drinking water to support their operations locally, nationally and internationally.
World Grocer of Turlock manufacturers the canned emergency drinking water for long term storage and it has been sold to families, hospitals, governments, and businesses. The Red Cross and FEMA recommend having a three day supply of at least 1 gallon of water per person per day stored for an emergency. World Grocer put a lot of research and effort into the manufacture of their canned emergency drinking water.
"I felt it was important to provide first responders like the American Red Cross with a product that lasted a long time and continued to maintain an excellent flavor profile," said Prithvi Raj Chauhan.
The canned water offers a cost effective alternative to purchasing and storing bottled water, which only has a 2 year shelf life.