why do people fill bathtubs during storms

Why People Fill Bathtubs During Storms People fill bathtubs with water ahead of storms primarily as a practical emergency measure to secure a backup supply when municipal water or power fails. This simple prep taps into a standard tub's 40-60 gallon capacity, enough for critical household needs over a day or more.

Core Reasons

Storms like hurricanes, blizzards, or severe winter events often disrupt water access in multiple ways.

• Power outages disable pumps : Electric pumps for city water pressure or private wells stop working without electricity, halting flow from taps.

• Frozen or burst pipes : In cold storms, freezing leads to breaks, contaminating supplies or cutting service entirely.

• Flooding or infrastructure damage : Hurricanes flood wells or sewer systems, making water unsafe or unavailable post-storm.

• No reliance on bottled water alone : While drinking water gets stocked separately, tub water handles bulk sanitation without running out fast.

Experts like Philip Farina, a disaster response advisor, stress this as step one for basics: no water means no cooking, cleaning, or hygiene. Plumber Megan Doser notes a tub sustains flushing, handwashing, and sponge baths for 2-3 days for two adults.

Smart Uses for the Water

Stored tub water shines for non-potable tasks, avoiding waste of treated supplies.

1. Toilet flushing : Pour directly into the bowl (1-3 gallons per flush) to maintain sanitation and prevent backups.

2. Cleaning surfaces : Wipe counters, floors, or gear after flooding or power loss.

3. Personal hygiene : Sponge baths or handwashing keep health risks low without full showers.

4. Household chores : Rinse dishes, laundry (top-loaders), or pets if needed.

Pro Tip from Prep Guides : Line the tub with a clean sheet or trash bags first to keep water cleaner and easier to dip without drain loss.

Never drink it untreated —it skips purification and could carry contaminants. Boil or use tablets first if desperate.

Trending Contexts (2026)

This advice surged lately with a massive US snowstorm this weekend (Jan 23-24, 2026), prompting fresh guides on frozen pipes. Hurricane seasons (e.g., 2024) popularized it in coastal forums, while winter prep forums like Reddit echo it for blizzards. Private well owners get extra urgency, as contamination hits hardest.

Multiple Viewpoints

• Hurricane pros : Focus on flushing amid floods; some coastal locals swear by it yearly.

• Winter skeptics : City water users question it (e.g., Reddit: "We had power out but water fine"), but experts counter outages hit pumps unpredictably.

• Family caution : Drowning risk for kids—supervise or skip if young ones are home.

• Alternatives : Washing machines or buckets work too, but tubs hold most volume easily.

Picture a family in last week's storm: Lights out, pipes iced—tub water keeps toilets working, morale up, illness away. It's low-tech resilience at its best. TL;DR : Fill for emergency flushing, cleaning, hygiene when storms cut water—powers out, pipes freeze, supplies fail. Stock drinking separately.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.