Toilet Paper

Toilet paper is an item that is often taken for granted in daily life, but its absence is felt immediately in an emergency. Its primary purpose is for personal sanitation, a fundamental aspect of health and dignity. During a disaster, supply chains are disrupted, and toilet paper is often one of the first items to disappear from store shelves. You cannot rely on being able to find it. Having a dedicated supply in your emergency kit is essential for both shelter-in-place and evacuation scenarios.

For your kit, you'll want to pack several rolls. To save space, you can remove the cardboard tube from the center of a roll and compress it flat. Store the compressed rolls in a waterproof zip-top bag to protect them from moisture. This makes them much more compact and easy to fit into a backpack or storage bin. It's a simple trick that can save a surprising amount of space. This is a critical part of your overall sanitation plan, along with Garbage Bags and Plastic Ties for waste disposal and Moist Towelettes for hygiene.

While it might not seem like a high-tech survival tool, the psychological impact of having basic comforts like toilet paper during a stressful event cannot be overstated. It provides a sense of normalcy and dignity in a situation where those things are in short supply. It is a fundamental part of maintaining your personal hygiene and preventing the spread of disease, making it a simple but absolutely essential component of a well-thought-out emergency kit.