Large plastic trash bags can be amazingly useful in your disaster preparedness.

Most realize that you can also put a large clean trash bag in your garbage barrel and fill it with water, that way you have a source of clean water.  But did you realize how they can be used when you can’t flush the toilet?

If you have a power outage lasts several days, you may still run out of water, but you still need to use the toilet.  A clever technique that hospitals often use is to lift the seat and place a large trash bag over the bowl, letting it rest on the water and drape down over the outside of the bowl.  Then put the seat back down.  It can be used several times, and when it gets full or begins to smell, you can dispose of it and replace it with a new one.  It is also a good idea to tape the flush lever so that it doesn’t accidentally get flushed.  Be sure to stock up on waterless hand sanitizer.