Safety Tips

Improperly disposed human waste can lead to outbreaks of cholera, dysentery, and other diseases. Tips for a sewer outage:

• When instructed, do not use or flush your toilet. Powered sewer lift stations may be out of order, which could lead to a sewage back-up into homes.
• Create an emergency toilet by using your toilet bowl or a five-gallon plastic bucket with a tight fitting lid. Line either with a heavy-duty trash bag and use household bleach as a disinfectant. If using your toilet bowl, first turn off the water and flush one time to empty the toilet before lining it with the trash bag.
• Use a chemical toilet if one is available.
• Do not use kitty litter in your emergency toilet. This cannot be flushed after the sewage system is operational.
• Wash hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water after handling the emergency toilet.
• Once given the OK, dispose of the emergency toilet's contents into your household commode.
• Thoroughly sanitize your emergency toilet with bleach before storing and disposing of it.

Contact Us

If you have additional questions concerning restroom facility safety following a natural disaster or emergency situation, please contact the Office of Emergency Management at (203) 854-0238.