Disaster Hygiene Protocols

No power, no water, no problem. Here's exactly what you need to stay clean and manage waste safely during any disaster. In this post, we’re going to avoid getting our hands dirty while discussing the messy, but non-negotiable business of staying clean and using the bathroom at home in the absence of power and running water. As always, we’re going to discuss the supplies you need, how to connect the dots to set up your system and how to manage the remains. This essential daily function is often overlooked when emergency plans are discussed, but I’m going to walk you through it and detail how you maintain the health and dignity of those around you. I’ll close this post with the steps to take and helpful pointers. 

I have stated before that you need three separate supplies of water for drinking, cooking, and hygiene and sanitation. The water we’re going to use for this purpose is the water you’ve set aside for hygiene and sanitation. Remember, don’t use drinking water for hygiene and sanitation. Check out the post Stashes and Hidden Caches for more suggestions on water storage. Hygiene and sanitation are up there in importance when making emergency plans and this is one of the conversations that shouldn’t be skipped or glossed over, especially with young children and the elderly. 

Everyone should know where waste is stored and this should be well away from where you sleep and store food. It’s also important that children, the elderly or anyone of diminished capacity don’t attempt to move full bags of waste material. Aside from the risk of injury, the bag bursting or tearing creates a far more serious problem. If there’s no reason why you can’t use the bathroom, use the bathroom.

While we all have the same physical needs, we respond differently to stress. Some people eat more as a stress response while others eat less. Eating unfamiliar and saltier foods can increase water consumption as well as the need to visit the bathroom. Living in a warmer region, physical activity, pregnancy, battling or recovering from illness all impact food and water intake. It follows that this leads to an increase in the use of toilet paper.

How often we answer the call of nature is beyond the scope of this post. You’ll have to figure out that part for yourself. I’m merely offering guidance on the logistics of the situation. If you're an experienced camper or RVer, you can easily adapt those resources to this application. Diarrhea and dehydration can be deadly in the aftermath of a disaster when access to services is limited and the grid is down. Your ability to hydrate and remain properly hydrated is critical to your overall health, especially in an inherently stressful situation.

Here’s an interesting aside. In Japan, many households reserve bath water for later use. Cleaning the body is done through showering so the bath water is relatively clean and used solely for soaking purposes. While they don’t drink it, it’s available for use for things such as flushing the toilet and sanitation. Bathtubs can be covered so the water isn’t sitting there exposed to dust and such.   

It’s important to remain clean not only for personal dignity and group morale, but clean skin also reduces the risk of infection. Below is the Supply List followed by specific guidance on personal hygiene, waste management, illness and sick care and finally, helpful pointers.   

Supply List

• 1- heavy duty, 5-gallon bucket with a snap-on toilet seat and lid

• Heavy duty trash bags

• Toilet Waste Bags (quantity based upon family size and frequency of use)

• Toilet Paper and Feminine Hygiene products

• Flushable Wipes (you’re not flushing them so why not!)

• Hand Lotion and Deodorant (wards off dry skin and body odor)

• Absorbent material: pine pellets; unscented cat litter; sawdust; coconut coir; shredded newspaper

• Spray bottle or an empty water bottle

• Washcloth or Baby Wipes / Bath Soap / Hand Sanitizer

Personal Hygiene

• Use unscented products as strong fragrances and perfumes can become overwhelming in close quarters.

• Focus on the Three Zones: Face & Hands; Armpits & Groin; Feet and use a separate wipe for each zone.

• Hand Sanitizer is in addition to soap and water, not a replacement. Using soap and water is the most effective method of handwashing and ensuring cleanliness.

• Fill a spray bottle or punch a hole in the top of a plastic water bottle to use for handwashing. This wastes less water.

Waste Management

• Place a small amount of the absorbing material in the bottom of the toilet bag. Use as intended, then cover solids with more absorbing material. If you run out of absorbing material in one day, you know you’re using too much.

• Separate waste types, e.g., solids and liquids into separate containers. Urinals may be a good fit, try them out.

• Remove urine daily.

• Wipes, diapers and feminine hygiene products should be bagged separately.

• Used diabetic supplies should always be disposed of properly.

• Place the bag containing solid waste inside a leak-proof bag and place it in the storage area. Don’t allow it to collect in the bathroom or other living area.

Illness & Sick Care

• Always wash your hands before and after providing care, regardless of what you do.

• Consider masks and gloves, as appropriate. If available, disposable gowns pair perfectly with masks and gloves for a higher level of isolation protection.

• As best as possible, separate the sick from those who aren’t sick. Reintegrate them into the group as soon as it’s safe to do so.

• Access to fresh air is important- open a window often!

Safety Tips

• Keep pets and small children away from waste-filled containers.

• Don’t place in direct sunlight.

• Avoid compressing the bags to fill more. This increases the risk of the bag tearing or bursting.

• Don’t pour bleach, ammonia or acids into bags containing human or animal waste. This can release toxic fumes.

• Don’t rely upon air fresheners, which only hides the odor. Control odor by separating urine; thoroughly covering waste; changing bags and sealing correctly; absorbing moisture.

As always, consult your healthcare provider for situation-specific guidance. Hygiene and grid-down sanitation aren’t as cool to talk about as tactical gear but it’s the one part of the preparedness infrastructure that if not addressed properly can turn a bad situation into an untenable situation. But you now have the tools and information to get after it! Before you go, check out this post, How I Got Ready.