Military Hygiene and Hygiene in Emergency Situations - K.O. Pashka 2005

Fundamentals of the organization of sanitary and hygienic measures in ground forces during peacetime states of emergency and wartime. Hygiene of field quartering of troops and the population.
Problems of sanitary clearance of troop locations and affected populations resulting from various natural and man-made disasters.

Storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes. During these natural phenomena, wind speeds reach over 100 km/h, often accompanied by torrential rains and floods. The consequences of such natural disasters include destroyed buildings, uprooted large trees, and damaged power lines, resulting in power outages that disrupt the operation of Water supply facilities, wastewater Treatment plants, and pumping stations lacking independent power sources for extended periods. This gives rise to The Challenge of waste and sewage disposal, as well as the timely clearance of structural debris, the presence of which fosters the breeding of rodents, flies, and other pests.

Severe frosts. Severe freezes can also damage power transmission lines due to heavy ice or frost accumulation on the cables. Repairing such damage requires substantial material resources, significant manpower, and heavy machinery over several months. This phenomenon was observed in several regions of Ukraine in November 2000 and January 2002, when heavy wet snow and frost accumulated on wires and utility poles at air temperatures dropping to -8–10 °C; unable to bear the excessive weight, the wires snapped and the poles collapsed. Due to extreme cold, the ground freezes to a considerable depth, which can cause the contents of water supply and sewerage systems to freeze and rupture.

Flooding caused by flash floods and tidal waves. Flooding and waterlogging of residential areas are frequently caused by river overflow resulting from heavy rainfall, snowmelt, and ice jams. Tidal waves are typically triggered by underwater earthquakes and, occasionally, by storms. Sanitation facilities in coastal areas are destroyed by hydrogeological factors, as well as by erosion and land subsidence. Inundation damages buildings, sewerage and water supply networks, water treatment plants, and pumping stations—particularly sewage outfalls. Backflow in sewer pipes causes manholes, septic tanks, and settling basins to overflow, leading to prolonged contamination of surrounding residential areas and requiring considerable cleanup efforts. The inundation of wells, landfills, public toilets, cemeteries, and animal burial sites poses a genuine threat of epidemic outbreaks. Contaminated areas and debris accumulations create ideal conditions for the proliferation of flies and rodents. The burial of human bodies and animal carcasses resulting from floods must be carried out as promptly as possible to prevent the threat of infectious disease epidemics.

Earthquakes and landslides. Earthquakes are vibrations of the Earth's crust caused by subterranean explosions, volcanic activity, or tectonic processes—specifically, the sliding of crustal plates along faults. Earthquakes cause widespread destruction of residential and administrative buildings, trapping injured and deceased people and animals beneath the rubble. They result in damage, distortion, displacement, and rupture of water supply and sewerage systems, as well as the failure of treatment plants, pumping stations, septic tanks, and settling basins. Water in damaged wells becomes unsafe for consumption or disappears entirely.

In the wake of powerful earthquakes (such as Armenia in 1989, Japan in 1995, Turkey in 2000, India in 2001, and Iran in 2003) accompanied by massive destruction and heavy casualties, the disaster relief efforts of a single affected country are insufficient. There arises a pressing need for international assistance in the form of equipment, material resources, medical personnel and supplies, food, and other aid. Critical challenges must be addressed, including clearing rubble, providing medical care to the injured, burying or cremating the dead, organizing shelter, food, and water supply for both residents and relief workers, restoring water supply and wastewater disposal systems, and collecting and disposing of refuse and sewage.

Following the catastrophic destruction of settlements, questions naturally arise as to whether it is feasible to rebuild the community on its original site or establish it in a new Location.

Landslides can also destroy various types of buildings and structures, but their scale and consequences are generally less threatening than those of earthquakes, although they still require similar response measures.

Volcanic eruptions. Sanitation challenges include the destruction of water supply and treatment facilities by molten lava in settlements lying within its flow path, as well as severe air pollution over a wide radius caused by ash and sulfurous emissions. This frequently necessitates the evacuation of the local population.

Explosions. Explosions at various facilities frequently trigger fires and can rupture sewer mains, leading to pipe failures within treatment plants. Explosions occurring directly at wastewater treatment facilities can escalate into true ecological disasters.