Chapter 4 – Sleep and Shelter

 

When the SHTF, you are faced with two basic options.  You can stay where you are, or you can get out.  Preppers refer to staying where you are as “shelter-in-place” and leaving as “evacuate.”  You will also often hear the term “bug-out” used frequently.

 

When the SHTF whether you choose to evacuate or shelter-in-place depends on your own particular circumstances and how the emergency scenario develops.  Whatever you decide to do, this is likely to be the biggest call you make.  You should therefore be ready to make it and possess all the available information that will help you get it right.

 

Preppers generally like to have both the evacuate and stay-in-place options open to them.  Preparing both options equally well enables you to let the circumstances dictate which one you for with.  If you only prep for one course of action you may find yourself in a situation that really requires you to evacuate, when you are only able to stay-in-place, or vise-versa. 

 

A common belief among preppers is that when the SHTF urban areas will at some point, perhaps very quickly, became unsafe.  The theory goes that the concentration of people and competition for scarce resources in cities, will make staying there unsustainable.  City-dwellers should, therefore, be prepared to bug-out to a more secure location.

 

This obviously has big implications for your food and water store and also for your shelter.  There is an instinctive resistance to leaving your home, particularly in times of crisis.  Your home is your source of shelter, comfort and warmth.     However, in a SHTF situation you have to be prepared to evacuate, no matter how hard that may be.   Being fully prepared means being able to take everything you need for your survival shelter on the road. 

 

Being fully prepared to evacuate means having a Go-Bag or Bug-Out bag at the ready.  The most important facet of Bugging-Out is that you will need to be able to do it at a moment's notice.  And that really does mean at a moment's notice – when the SHTF don't expect to have time to pack your bags.  It is critical that all of this is planned, prepared and packed in advance. 

 

Doing your preparation correctly will enable you to react calmly when the SHTF.  Having an established and clear Bug-Out plan will also help to reduce the considerable stress that evacuating your home can put you under.  Knowing you have the essential items with you will make you feel a lot more confident about whatever the future holds.

 

For most people, Bugging-Out will mean getting in the car and so keeping your car at a state of readiness.  However, although you may be careful to stockpile fuel, you should also be prepared for the eventuality of not being able to travel by car.  In this case, you will have be prepared to carry your bags on your back.  This means you will have to think carefully about the weight of your bags and the number of different items your create.  

 

These essential items will help protect you if you need to leave your home.  They will also be very useful if you remain in your home and find need to repair damage or find yourself without heating.

 

ITEM #31 - FAMILY CAMPING TENT

An essential item, especially for anyone planning to evacuate.   But there are a few important points to consider.  It may seem obvious, but you should be sure to invest in a good quality tent that is suitable for the number of people who will use it.  You have no idea how long this might need to be your home, so it is best to have a tent that you would feel good about staying in.  Do not throw your tent in the garage and forget about it. 

 

They require a level of care and it is very important that they are water-proofed.  Do not lose any part of your tent and know how to put it up.  On a camping holiday, it may be amusing to be a little unsure how to erect a tent, when the SHTF it won't be.   Lastly, remember that tents are not only necessary for bugging-out.  Even if you plan to shelter-in-place, having a tent that you can shelter in while repairing your home is vital.

 

ITEM #32 - COLD WEATHER SLEEPING BAGS

Whether you are sheltering in your tent, in your car or in your home, Cold Weather Sleeping Bag are needed.  Being unable to find warmth at night is a huge problem and this may affect you even if you are sheltering-in-place.  If you lose power and heating, a good quality cold weather sleeping bag will be invaluable. Sleep is a basic human need and you cannot survive without it.  Knowing you have a warm, comfortable place to sleep will make all the difference when the SHTF. 

 

ITEM #33 - EMERGENCY MYLAR BLANKETS

The technological advances made in the production of equipment used for outdoor pursuits, such as mountaineering etc, means that items such as sleeping bags are now highly advanced.  This means they can be both very light and very effective.  It is worth investing in quality. 

 

As the name suggests, Space Blankets, are also technologically advanced.  They are more properly known as Mylar Blankets and are made from very thin reflective sheeting.  Mylar blankets are so small enough to fit in a kit bag but are very effective in preserving body temperature.  They are very useful in an emergency situation.

 

ITEM #34 - NYLON CHORD

The same material can be used to construct a make-shift emergency shelter.  Mylar is ideal for this as it can block wind and rain, while maintaining the internal temperature.  However, be careful when using Mylar as it is liable to rip easily.  Have your duct tape handy to repair and tears.  A Mylar tube tent is constructed by tying a nylon chord to two supports and pulling it tight.  Use this as the apex of your shelter and suspend the Mylar material from it.

 

For this reason, and many more, strong nylon chord is one of the essential items for when SHTF.  The chord usually comes in rolls of 100 feet.

 

ITEM #35 - BLANKETS

As well as light-weight technology, it is also a good idea to invest in plenty of good, old-fashioned blankets.  Fleece blankets are the best.  Store them in your home and in your vehicle. 

 

ITEM #36 - HEAVY DUTY TARPS

Whether you stay in your home or bug-out there are some items that are essential for helping to maintain a good level of shelter.  The first is a heavy duty tarp.  The standard, polyethylene, waterproof tarp measures around 12 square feet.  It should have be fitted with aluminum grommets and come with a polypropylene rope. 

 

The most common disasters are natural disasters such as earthquakes and storms.  These occur every year somewhere in the world and frequently affect the United States.  These events often result in serious damage to homes and property.  This means you could very well find yourself having to cope with damage to windows, roofing, doors and walls.  Damage caused by earthquakes and storms can severely compromise your ability to find shelter-in-place.  The damage may be so severe that it requires you to evacuate.

 

Heavy-duty tarp is also ideal for making a lean-to shelter.  If you can no longer shelter in your home, you can build a lean-to against any wall.  This will protect you from the elements and provide a temporary shelter.  Use nylon chords tied to nearby trees to support it. 

 

ITEM #37 - PLASTIC SHEETING

Plastic sheeting can be bought on rolls of 20 x 100 feet and is an essential item for making your home secure in the event of a chemical or biological incident. 

 

There are many types of plastic sheeting available, make sure you invest in the heavy duty material, even if it is heavier.  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security advises that the material is more than four mils thick.  This provides protection in when having to shelter after an event such as toxic explosion. 

 

If you are buying tarp that is not for bugging-out and is only for repairing damage to your home, then you can look for something over 16 mil thick.  The thicker the sheeting the more expensive it is.  Do not consider sheeting less that 6 mil thick.  If possible go for at least 10 mil.  Sheeting is also useful for when you need to create shelters away from your home, but bear in mind the extra weight.

 

Toxic attacks or accidents are specific types of emergencies that require particular preparation.  For this incident it will usually be best to shelter-in-place.  Identify one room of your home that is the optimum for providing protection.  It should have few windows, doors etc, yet also have access to running water. 

 

Do not seal this room in advance, instead you should prepare carefully so that you will be able to seal it completely at very short notice.  To do this you will require a combination of duct tape and plastic sheeting.  Measure all the openings in the room – windows, doors, vents etc – and add six inches in each dimension.  Next cut pieces of the tarp to cover these openings. 

 

Make sure you have included all air-conditioning and heating vents.  In an emergency you will need to duct tape these sheets to the openings.  Carefully label each piece so you know which opening it should cover.  Take a moment to check for any other small openings you may have missed, including cracks in walls and ceilings and between floorboards.  Turn of any ventilation systems.

 

When you have to seal the room, use duct tape to securely fasten the plastic sheeting to the walls. Duct tape around heat pipes or any cables that enter the room.  

 

ITEM #38 - DUCT TAPE

With the plastic sheeting you should always keep two rolls of duct tape.  Duct tape is a fantastic item for preppers.  It is incredible flexible and must have at least a million uses!  It is perfect for helping shore up your shelter and protecting windows etc from damage.  Remember to always use duct tape when it is dry because you will have problems trying to keep it sticking in wet weather. 

 

The Department of Homeland security advices that duct tape more that is more than 10 mils thick should be used.  Although more expensive, it is well worth investing a little more in this essential item.  The chances are you find many uses for it. 

 

ITEM #39 – BASIC HAND TOOLS

No SHTF stockpile is complete without your basic hand tools.  This should include all the essential tools, including hammers, nails, screws, screwdrivers, saws, axes, a range of knives knives and scissors. You should also be sure you have anything else you need to build a shelter and do any running repairs.

 

After collecting your stockpile, your next job is to make sure you have a main tool chest, for your shelter-in-place.  Everything you need should be in this.  It should be kept in a secure and safe location.  You will also need a secondary tool bag for bugging-out.  This will contain just the essentials.  Of course, a good-quality Swiss-army knife is going to come in very useful.