After the 3.11 disaster, it was said that many evacuation sites lacked proper consideration for the needs of women. Comments included: “There were no partitions, so I had trouble with changing clothes and breastfeeding”, “There was nowhere to hang underwear”, and “It was embarrassing to receive sanitary goods in public”. The leaders at many of the sites were men, so women found it difficult to say what they wanted and had to remain patient. In an emergency situation, survival is always the most important consideration, but more sensitive care could be provided. Bonnie Waycott reports on the issues and solutions.