When considering our position in a disaster, maybe we suppose that someone will come for us, knowing we are in trouble. For a moment, imagine the city of Seaside There are 90,000 residents. In the event of a natural disaster, most will experience the loss of electricity and/or the loss of water. With those gone, sanitation becomes the critical point very quickly. If even one neighbor does not know how to do prepare for sanitation needs, we will not be safe from a cross-contamination disaster. Continue your thought and consider, if the streets are shut down, how will emergency care get to you? If even half of the residents, 45,000 people, are without water and electricity, where do you think your emergency falls in regards to urgency? Being prepared is a problem that needs to be addressed as a community and neighborhood. If you live in an apartment complex, it is critical that all residents know how to dispose of waste properly due to the fact you are your own small community.

"Although we take it for granted, sanitation is a physical measure that has probably done more to increase human life span than any kind of drug or surgery." Deepak Chopra

 

Toilets can be made from a five gallon bucket, a pool noodle and or a toilet seat. Kitty litter helps with odor control and easy to carry away.

Composting toilets are easily put together or purchased and are an easy way to deal with HUMANURE. Done correctly, one can use the compost in the yard for trees or shrubbery.

Other things to have on hand:

A heavy duty shovel.

A large heavy spade.

A heavy piece of plywood

Latex gloves and a pair of heavy duty work gloves.

 

Supplies and considerations

 

Toilet paper

Most of the earth does not use toilet paper, in times of emergency this can become a luxury. See video below for the creation and storing of personal bidets. Toilet paper can be burned in times of lack of water, a burn barrel becomes a necessity.

Preventing hydrogen sulfide and sewage back-up in your home

  1. Creating a proper sanitation system in your bathroom, including "How to convert your toilet to a "dry potty"" and "How to properly dispose of waste"

  2. How to deal with vermin and insects that are attracted to human waste

Supplies in Disaster for sanitation: see above video

Test plugs , Duct tape, yellow stress balls, tube sock, Crisco, Emergency toilet, garbage bags construction grade, toilet paper, sanitizing wipes, kitty litter, five gallon bucket or bowl with lid, lime, mask and gloves, diamotaceous earth(to deter rodents and insects)

 

Toilets a necessary conversation

 

Watch this Video Featuring personal hygiene and bidet kits to eliminate or reduce use of toilet paper. Kathy McMullin from the State of Utah talk to us about sanitation in a disaster. She said the number one case of death after a natural disaster is the spread of disease from the inappropriate disposal of waste products. When water is interrupted, we lose our ability to flush.
For the full combined notes on the Sanitation In a Disaster class presented by Kathy McMullin, click here