The Importance of Emergency Water Preparedness: Offer your community a backup plan.

Start Planning Today: Emergency Water Preparedness for Individuals, Hospitals, Hotels, and Communities

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes

As climate change accelerates, the extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts, has become more frequent and as recent events show - abnormal, planning for emergency water needs is no longer optional—it’s a necessity, even if you live in a historically safe area. From individuals to entire communities, being prepared with a reliable water supply during a crisis can be life-saving.

This article explores why emergency water preparedness is critical, the risks of not having a plan in place, and the steps you can take today to ensure water independence. Learn about your options and available solution for securing clean water when disaster strikes.
These events devastate water infrastructure, leading to contaminated supplies, water shortages, and increased demand for emergency resources.

Cities Need to Be Prepared for the Unexpected

With unpredictable weather patterns and rising geopolitical risks, cities must plan for worst-case scenarios. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),  many cities in the United States face aging and inadequate water systems, which are vulnerable to these extreme weather events. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) reported that the U.S. drinking water infrastructure received a grade of C- in its 2021 Infrastructure Report Card, highlighting the dire need for modernization and resilience planning.  City emergency managers should be able to focus on their communities instead of worrying about access to clean water.

Resilience of water systems against cyberattacks

In 2024, U.S. water infrastructure has increasingly become a target for cyberattacks. Hackers linked to Iran and Russia have exploited vulnerabilities in water and wastewater systems, often by taking advantage of weak passwords and outdated software. In one incident, Iranian hackers breached a Pennsylvania water facility, defacing control systems, while Russian-affiliated groups tampered with water pumps in Texas, disrupting operations. According to the EPA, most of the country’s 150,000 public water systems serve populations under 3,000, which often lack the resources to handle complex cyber threats​. These incidents, although did not cause devastating effects,  highlight the urgent need for a back up plan.

Why Water Preparedness Matters

Emergencies like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and wildfires are on the rise. In 2022, the U.S. experienced 18 major weather and climate disasters, which resulted in widespread damage to infrastructure, including water systems, Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico left more than 1 million people without access to clean drinking water for weeks. Each year brings more devastation, there are many state of disasters that can be mentioned, all of dire effects that destroy, threaten, bring a plethora of problems. Our Governments, our local governments should have a water back up plan.

The Impact of Disasters on Water Systems

As disasters increase, so do their impacts on water infrastructure. The California wildfires of 2020 not only destroyed homes and businesses but also contaminated water reservoirs, leaving residents and emergency workers struggling to find clean water. According to FEMA, every person should have access to at least one gallon of water per day for drinking and sanitation in an emergency, yet bottled water delivery is often delayed or impossible due to damaged roads. In the recent North Carolina disaster, mules were used to bring water and resources to the affected.

Climate Change and Water Shortages

Climate change is exacerbating water shortages across the globe, with nearly 5 billion people expected to experience water stress by 2050, according to the United Nations. In the U.S., states like California and Arizona are already imposing water restrictions due to prolonged droughts, which only emphasize the importance of planning for emergency water needs.

Water Contamination and Health Risks

In addition to water shortages, contamination is a serious risk during disasters. The Texas winter storm of 2021 left millions without access to clean water for weeks due to frozen pipes and malfunctioning treatment plants. Contaminated water can cause outbreaks of waterborne such as cholera and dysentery, which the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates account for 80% of diseases in disaster-stricken areas.

Steps You Can Take to Prepare Today

Preparing for emergency requires both short-term and long-term planning. Here are a few steps you can take today to ensure your family, business, or community is ready for the next disaster:

1. Stockpile Bottled Water: FEMA recommends keeping at least a 3-day supply of bottled water per person in your household, or a 2-week supply if possible.
2. Identify Local Water Sources: Know where nearby lakes, rivers, or reservoirs are located in case of a long-term water outage.
3. Invest in Water Purification Systems: Portable water purification devices like HydroVolt can ensure any water source can be made safe to drink.
4. Develop a Community Water Plan: Hospitals, hotels, and local governments should coordinate efforts to provide clean water to the public during emergencies.
5. Stay Informed: Subscribe to local weather alerts and disaster warnings to stay updated on any potential threats to your water supply.

HydrEvolve: A Vision to Empower Communities with Emergency Water Solution and Water Independence

As you plan for future emergencies, consider HydroVolt’s emergency water purification and desalination systems as your self-reliance tool. The original idea, the aim was to create a unit that is easy to use, rapid in deployment, a unit that can purify any water source, no matter if fresh or ocean water.

The HydroVolt units have been rigorously tested and validated in distant and difficult deployments after natural disasters for over a decade. They are designed and manufactured for austere environments, created by three founders from Florida after a hurricane in 2005, it was a long process to build reliable, sustainable and efficient equipment as well as manufacturing partnership that built specialized components, since no other company built  similar or comparable units.
Finally since an organization, outside the US military, used water systems to help those affected by the recent hurricane caused floodings in North Carolina, we have a precedence to bring our solutions to the American citizens.

Whether you’re an individual preparing your household, a hospital securing your water supply, or a community seeking sustainable solutions, do your research and chose the most robust, reliable water purification technology available. Our HydroVolt has been tested and proven, we needed the experience and time so that you can be confident that your water supply will be secure, no matter the situation.

HydroVolt Units:  Quality and Dependable Water Systems for Individuals, Communities, Cities, Hospitals, Hotels, NGOs and Emergency Responders - these units saved lives.

Our innovative water filtration systems, like the HydroVolt AQS are designed to function in the most challenging environments, sealed in a Pelican Case,  a portable solution that can purify, monitor the drinking water and communicate with the operator remotely.

HydroVolt’s products offer portability, reliability, and ease of use, making them ideal for easy transport and quick deployment. With the ability to filter and desalinate up to thousands of gallons of water per day (amounts depend on unit), these systems ensure uninterrupted water access even during major disasters. Whether it’s a flooded urban center or a rural hospital dealing with contaminated water, HydroVolt’s solutions are designed to meet the demands of different-scale operations.

The HydroVolt SQN was tested in field hospitals, after both natural disasters and in war zones. It provides reliable, clean water for surgeries, patient hygiene, and even sterilization of medical equipment. The rugged design ensures that the system can be rapidly deployed, easily maintained and remotely monitored, making it an essential asset for any emergency preparedness plan. The ability to filter, desalinate, and monitor water remotely ensures that cities, communities are better prepared for whatever crisis may come.

Start planning today—your future water security depends on it.

Sources:

EPA – Cybersecurity and Water Resilience

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – 2021 Infrastructure Report Card

POLITICO – Iranian Hackers Target U.S. Water Utilities

ASIS Online – Biden Administration's Water Security Warning
CDC - Emergency Water Supply Alternatives

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information – U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters

The Guardian – Hurricane Maria’s Water Crisis

EPA – Hurricane Harvey Water Contamination

California Department of Water Resources – California Wildfires and Water Supply

FEMA – Water Preparedness Guidelines

United Nations World Water Development Report 2021 – Water Stress Predictions
World Research Institute - Water Stress

Texas Tribune – Texas Winter Storm Water Crisis

Ciottone's Disaster Medicine – 59  Infectious Disease in a Disaster Zone

World Health Organization (WHO) – Waterborne Diseases in Disaster Zones