72-Hour Kit Wednesday - Toilet Facilities

This is the most distasteful part of the 72-hour kit preparation but definitely a necessity. There are several different theories on the best way to prepare toilet facilities if you are forced from your home during an emergency. You can buy porta-potties with disposable bags or you can make your own. Either way, this is something you MUST plan for as part of your kit.

We have already included a roll of toilet paper for each family member’s kit, so that is one less thing you have to worry about now. We have also discussed a small pointed shovel for digging and trenching and this too you should already have in your kit. It is definitely a necessity. If you don’t have a portable toilet (and if you do, be advised they don’t support a lot of weight), you can use a 5 gallon sturdy bucket with a lid as your toilet.

It is very hard to consider the possibility of having to leave your home and then rough it even to the point of having to be responsible for the disposal of your wastes; however, the possibility exists and this information will help you to take care of this unpleasant task in the proper and safest manner.

You will need:

12 to 18 large brown paper bags for each person for each day. This allows the use of 4 to 6 bags each time for 3 times per day. You will place the bags 4 to 6 thick (one inside the other).

Spray Disinfectant (Lysol)

Newspapers and Toilet Tissue

Insecticide

Pointed Shovel

The bags are called soil bags. Paper is preferable to plastic because of their biodegradable properties. You will place these bags one inside the other and spray with a disinfectant. Then
fold up 2 sheets of newspaper and place in the bottom of the bag. Place this bag in the hole that you will use.

After use pour 1/4 cup bleach into bag or douse with Lysol then tie the bag shut with a piece of twine and spray the bag with insecticide. If you are moving on, dig a hole 30 to 36” deep and bury the bag. Make sure that you cover it well with dirt and then stomp on the dirt to make sure that there aren’t any air-gaps in the hole.

If you have made camp and will be staying you can place all the soil bags in a large plastic bag with a tie on it and place it in a large trash can that is not being used for garbage. Then at the end of the day, all the paper bags can be buried at one time.

You can also perform this same function using a 5 gallon bucket to hold your bags if it is lined with a plastic bag. Then, when you are ready to remove the waste, empty the paper bags and bury them as instructed above.

If you decide to use a 5 gallon bucket, all your supplies can be carried inside the bucket and stored with your kits until needed.