In our neighborhood, the only surviving buildings after the earthquake were condominium blocks. Our condominium also suffered big damage, with its water tank broken and its external wall all fallen off. Most of the local residents took shlter in Takasho junior High School. What I remember most from the time we spent at this evacuation center is the toilet. Never in my life had I imagined that flush toilets would become such hateful things. Every toilets was full of excrement. "We cannot flush these toilets. Please do not throw paper down," "Except for urine,please use newspaper and dispose of your stools and used papaer." All these notices were totaly ignored. I really cannot describe the disgusting sight. Amidst such horror, a lady whom I met at the center said to me,"I use a makeshift wastebasket like this and use it at the home. "and showed me a box she had folded and made out newspaper. This gave us an idea that developed into our disposable toilet.
When we go to the toilet, we could take this papaer box with us and when we finished our job, we could throw it into the trash can without soilling our hands. We could use it for our children in the corner of the playground even if there was no light. At night at the evacuation center, women and children used to sit around chatting and busily making these boxes out of newspaper. I look back on it with nostalgia now. I am deeply grateful to newspapers and that lady who gave us the idea.
(Female, aged 40,Nada Ward)

Fire Deperment Advice
The temporary toilets in evacuation centers were installed by and large after about three days, or within a week or so even for slow sites.
In the home, if you have water in the bathtub that you keep in case of water cuts, you can use it to flush the toilet.