Question:
Re stockpiling water:

So now I'm planning to pick up a jug of bottled water here and there, so I will have some on hand -- just in case. (Maybe those of you in flood/earthquake/hurricane areas already do this. I'm in Minnesota.)

Answer: Out here in earthquake country, I keep a minimum of a gallon per personper day -- and at least a three-day supply. You'll want to cycle throughthe water every six months or so. Rather than spend money on bottledwater, though, I reuse water containers. I understand there are reallybig water containers (30-50 gallons), which you can keep in a garage, ifyou have a garage (which I don't).

Also, the water in a toilet tank is "clean" and can be used for drinking(as long as you don't use blue or bleach tablets).

Besides food and water, my earthquake closet also has water purificationtablets, a camp toilet, extra batteries, a radio, candles, can opener, anda fantastic first-aid kit (which we had to use in the '94 Northridgequake).

I also keep an earthquake kit in my car.

To keep down costs, I bought most of the camping-type stuff and the carkit at a surplus store.