An Integral Part of Survival Gear: Honey Buckets

In planning for emergencies and purchasing survival gear, one phrase dominates my thinking.... "What if....?" What if the electric power goes off? What if there's an earthquake or tornado? What if...what if?

This morning, as I prepared for work, I happen to catch three very funny TV commercials for Angel Soft toilet paper. They were entitled, "Uncomfortable Bathroom Moments" and trust me, they were hysterical.

I giggled and then thought, "Oh no! What if I couldn't flush the toilet? What if an earthquake, flood, or other catastrophe caused damage to the water lines? What is in my survival gear to address this problem?"

Water flushed toilets cannot be used when water service is interrupted. What water may remain in the lines isn't generally sufficient to flush the wastes down the sewer. Attempting to flush simply results in clogging of the system, which will then back up, making your living situation much more unpleasant.

Even if limited water is available, local authorities may prohibit flushing toilets, sinks, and other fixtures connected with soil pipes. If the sewer mains are broken or clogged and backups occur...well, you get the picture.

Every family should know emergency methods of waste disposal and have the necessary supplies among their survival gear. The lack of sanitation facilities following a major disaster and the failure to properly dispose of human wastes can lead to very serious problems such as typhoid, diarrhea, and dysentery. It is also important to dispose of sewage in ways that will avoid contamination of water supplies used for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other household purposes.

The flush toilet can be converted to non-flush with the use of plastic bags. However, what if you were unable to enter your home and had to take shelter in your back yard? What then?

Ah, yes! The honey bucket...an integral part of your survival gear.

A bucket by itself could be used, I suppose, but it would be smelly and very uncomfortable. Since I'm not a fan of misery, I prefer something less primitive.

One can purchase a honey bucket kit that contains everything necessary for one's comfort and safety from a variety of sites who sell survival gear. Generally, it consists of a 5 gallon bucket, an attachable seat, a tight fitting lid, plus liners and chemical toilet disinfectant powders. Each day, the bagged waste can be securely tied and deposited (no pun intended) in a large trash can with a tight fitting lid until a safe disposal option is available.

Some survival gear kits include honey buckets and accessories plus other necessities as well, creating a convenient, all-in-one survival pack. One such kit, advertised online as a 'Deluxe, Four-Person Honey Bucket Kit, contains the basic survival gear found in many 72-hour packs as well as the honey bucket and toilet supplies.

Most disasters that are sufficiently severe to require the use of honey buckets probably will last longer than that magic 72-hours we hear so much about. For this reason, it is advisable to take a few extra steps towards self-sufficiency where waste disposal is concerned.

For example, store a large supply of heavy-duty plastic bags, twist ties, disinfectant and toilet paper. Buy the least expensive toilet paper you can find, as this type degrades more easily. Store at least one honey bucket; more if you have several family members. When purchasing a honey bucket kit, request extra liners and chemical packets be added to your order. This way, your survival gear will last longer than 72 hours.

One more thought. Keep a tub of water near your honey bucket to which a small amount of regular household bleach has been added. Use this water for washing hands both before and after using the honey bucket. During an emergency situation, cleanliness is of vital importance to prevent the spread of disease.


Article Source: Mark D Featherstone