You fill a bathtub with water before a storm so you have an emergency supply if power, pipes, or the municipal water system fail.

Why do you fill a bathtub with water during a storm?

The core reason: backup water supply

When a severe storm hits (snowstorm, hurricane, strong wind event), several things can happen to your normal water source:

  • Power can go out, stopping well pumps or treatment plants.
  • Pipes can freeze, burst, or lose pressure.
  • Water can become contaminated or undrinkable for a while.

A bathtub is basically a big, convenient emergency tank you already own, and it can hold dozens of gallons of water for basic needs.

What the bathtub water is actually used for

In most emergency-preparedness advice, the tub water is mainly for non- drinking essentials, unless you treat or filter it.

Typical uses include:

  • Flushing toilets
    • If the water stops flowing, you can still flush by pouring a bucket of tub water into the toilet bowl or tank.
  • Basic washing and cleaning
    • Hand washing, sponge baths, cleaning dishes or surfaces when taps are dry.
  • Backup for cooking and drinking (if treated)
    • In a pinch, tub water can be purified (boiled, filtered, or disinfected) and used for cooking or drinking, but experts warn not to assume bathwater is clean enough on its own.
  • General household chores in an outage
    • Wiping counters, washing small items, or mixing with bleach for disinfection if needed.

Many experts point out that people in hurricane‑prone regions or in big winter storms use the tub water to keep bathrooms functional and maintain hygiene until services come back.

Why storms cause these water issues

Different kinds of storms create different water problems, but the logic is similar:

  • Hurricanes and tropical storms
    • High winds and flooding can damage infrastructure, contaminate wells, or interrupt treatment plants and pumps.
  • Winter storms and deep freezes
    • Extreme cold can freeze or burst pipes and can knock out electricity, especially if you rely on an electric well pump.
  • Strong thunderstorms or wind events
    • Power outages alone are enough to disrupt water service in some systems, especially rural wells.

Because you often get at least some warning before a major storm, filling the tub is an easy prep step you can do quickly, alongside buying bottled water and charging devices.

Safety tips and what not to do

Experts do add a few cautions so this simple trick doesn’t backfire.

  • Clean the tub first
    • Residues from soap, cleaners, or dirt can contaminate the water. Wipe and rinse thoroughly before filling.
  • Don’t assume it’s safe to drink as‑is
    • Tub surfaces, old caulking, or backflow from the faucet can introduce germs or particles, so treat it before using as drinking water.
  • Watch children and pets
    • A full tub is a drowning hazard for infants and young children, so keep the bathroom door closed or skip the tub in homes where that risk is high.
  • Use proper purification if needed
    • If you must drink it, options include boiling, using household bleach in the correct small dose, or using an emergency water filter or storage liner specifically designed for bath tubs.

Some companies even sell bathtub water liners or bags that sit inside the tub and create a more sanitary temporary reservoir for emergency water storage.

How this shows up in current “latest news” and forum‑style discussions

When big storms are forecast now—whether a blizzard, polar vortex, or late‑season hurricane—you’ll often see social media threads and news explainers reminding people to “fill the tub.”

Common points people talk about:

  • It’s part of standard hurricane prep lists: bottled drinking water, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, and a full tub for toilet flushing and washing.
  • For winter storms, especially in 2022–2025 cold snaps, articles have highlighted tub‑filling as part of “what to do before pipes freeze or water pressure drops.”
  • Forum posts and personal blogs sometimes joke about “what to do with all that water after the storm,” but many people repurpose it for cleaning or watering plants once the risk has passed.

“If the pipes freeze or the power goes out, you’ll want a backup water source for flushing toilets and washing up.” – This is the kind of simple, practical line you’ll see repeated in news explainers and prep guides.

Quick recap (TL;DR)

  • You fill the bathtub before a storm to have a large backup water supply in case your normal water is shut off, contaminated, or your pipes freeze.
  • The water is mainly for flushing toilets, basic washing, and cleaning , not automatically for drinking unless treated.
  • This is now standard advice in many hurricane and winter‑storm preparedness guides and often trends online whenever a big storm is forecast.

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