Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene-related Emergencies & and Outbreaks
Emergencies related to water can cause community-wide disruption and illness if water is contaminated with germs, chemicals, or toxins. Water-related emergencies can be created by natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts; man-made disasters, such as chemical spills; or waterborne disease outbreaks. Many diseases can be prevented by creating and storing an emergency water supply, knowing how to make water safe, learning about drinking water advisories, and following hygiene practices during an emergency.
![Make Water Safe During an Emergency](/healthywater/emergency/images/make-water-safe-400px.jpg?_=59346)
Use CDC materials to raise awareness and prevent illness:
- Buttons and Badges
- Fact Sheets
- Posters
To receive email updates about this topic, enter your email address:
![Water Rescue crew on site searching for survivors after dangerous flooding](/healthywater/images/GettyImages-1207848062.jpg?_=31152)
Visit CDC’s Natural Disasters and Severe Weather website.