Chapter 5: How To Create A Basic Shelter

 

After air, shelter becomes the most important basic need.  Since this is such an important component to survival, we shall now take a few moments to discuss the various types of basic shelters that Doomsday event prepper's would find useful. 

 

The Basic Tent:

 

Tents are a popular choice among prepper's who plan for short term stays in the wild.  Depending upon the construction of your tent, it might be suitable for tropical climates or the icy tundra.  In some cases, survivalists pack their kits with a commercially produced tent included while others are forced to create rudimentary tents with the materials on hand.  In either case, the tent is not intended as a permanent shelter but it serves the purpose of deflecting the sun, wind and rain while providing a measure of protection from insects and other creatures in a temporary setting very well.

 

For many people, weekend family vacations at primitive campsites are one of the first introductions they get to learn the skills required for survival in Doomsday scenarios.  Learning to live comfortably in a tent for a few days, without the luxuries of electricity and modern conveniences, is a great way to develop the survivor's mindset and hone your survival skills before your life depends on them.

 

A primitive tent structure can be made from a sheet of heavy plastic or a tarp and a length of rope in an emergency situation.  Emergency tent stakes can be fashioned from sticks, screwdrivers or similar objects.  The technique for building the tent is simple.  Find two trees that are situated within a few feet of each other and tie the rope a few feet above ground level on one of the trees.  Then stretch the rope taut and tie it around the other tree at the same height from the ground.  Place the plastic across the rope where the rope runs across the midway point of the sheet.  Now grab one side of the plastic and stake the corners down firmly a few feet from the rope.  Now, go to the other side and stretch the plastic taut before staking the corners down on this side as well.  The finished tent should look like an inverted V when viewed from the end. 

 

This type of tent can provide shelter from the sun, rain and wind while you are awaiting rescue or constructing more permanent structures.  Due to the open end construction, this tent will only block weather from two sides.  An additional blanket or a pile of vegetation can provide a wind block at the opening you do not intend to use as an entrance.  While caution must be used with flame inside a temporary structure of any kind, a small can of Sterno or a candle can provide a modest degree of warmth and comfort in this setting, as well as a method for cooking food.

 

The Lean-To

 

This structure is a popular variation on the tent in areas where large rock outcroppings abound or where a larger fire is needed for warmth and safety.  The lean-to should be built where the open face is towards a rock bluff or other natural object that can block the wind because, otherwise, the structure does not provide much protection from wind.

 

A campfire can be situated between the front opening of the lean-to and the wind blocking natural structure.  This arrangement provides a great deal of warmth, the ability to cook and a measure of safety from wild animals.  Since the fire is shielded from view on two sides, this structure is also a bit more stealth than just building a fire in the middle of open land.  This ability to hide your fire may be useful in a Doomsday event where you have been isolated in possibly hostile territory.

 

Constructing a lean-to is very simple.  Tie a length of rope about six feet above the ground between two trees to form a cross bar.  If rope is not available, a long stick laid across limbs of the two trees can be used.  Throw a tarp or blanket across the cross bar and use clothes pins, rope or shoe strings to secure one edge of the tarp to the cross bar.  Then pull the other end of the tarp out and secure it with stakes.  In just these few simple steps, you have built a quick shelter from the sun, rain and some wind.  (In emergencies where tarps or blankets are not available, these structures can be built using fallen tree branches and similar materials.  While this does not block the elements as well as solid sheet goods, it does a reasonably good job and provides an amazing level of camouflage.)

 

The Cave

 

If you find yourself stranded in a blizzard, the snow itself may be your best asset.  A small cave dug into the snow gives you a place to get shelter from the wind and, in this small enclosed space, even the body heat from just one individual can create a very warm place to wait out a fierce attack by mother nature.

 

The construction of a snow cave is a simple process of finding a snow bank or piling fallen snow into a drift.  From there, dig a small pocket in the snow which is big enough to fit your body inside.  Dig from the bottom of the structure in an upward direction, making sure the floor of the inside compartment is higher than the top of your entrance tunnel.  This keeps the wind out of the structure while still providing ample air for breathing.  Like all emergency shelters, the smaller the interior space of the shelter, the easier it will be to heat.  For the sake of safety, pack the walls of the snow cave to prevent cave-ins.  Sticks or other natural items can also be used to shore up the ceiling and walls of the structure.  Leave an opening just large enough to allow for the free flow of air and you have constructed a warm den to wait out any storm.

 

Natural Shelters

 

Mother Nature takes good care of those who are willing to utilize her gifts.  Humans and animals have been using natural shelters to find a reprieve from harsh weather for eons and these shelters still provide great comfort in times of emergency.  Caves, rock overhangs, hollowed trees and other natural shelters all provide a place to get out of the weather.

 

When using a natural shelter, there are a few important considerations to take into account for safety and comfort:

 

-        Current Residents - Just as you are seeking shelter from the weather, local wildlife may already be residing in the structure you are looking at.  While spending the night in a cave with a few bats isn't a particularly dangerous undertaking, waking up with a mother bear and her cubs or in a rattlesnake den could be quite a different story.  When scouting out shelters, always pay attention to your surroundings to make sure that you are not encroaching on a dangerous animal’s territory.  Also remember that a wild creature doesn't have to be large to be extremely dangerous.  Scorpions, spiders, ants and various biting insects can present real dangers to individuals who are allergic to their bites.

 

-        Safety of the Structure - Overhangs, caves and other structures are excellent places to seek shelter but they also come with the danger of instability.  Falling rocks, mud slides and rising water can all create dangerous situations for the survivalist.  Before entering any structure, look carefully at the surrounding area to ensure that there is nothing that poses an immediate danger.

 

-        The Urge to Explore - While the back of a long cave may sound like an intriguing place to venture into while you wait out a storm, this urge should be ignored.  It is easy to get lost in a long and winding cave system and most individuals will not have the proper equipment for cave exploration in their prepper's kit.  If you must explore, wait until the emergency situation has subsided and come back with the proper equipment.  Who knows?  You might even find the perfect future bug-out shelter in case a global Doomsday event happened and you needed someplace for a long term stay.  A deep cave with a water source could provide an excellent location to spend several years in relative comfort if the need ever arose.

 

 

 

Shelter is an important component to survival in a Doomsday situation.  Understanding how to build your own shelter or make use of the naturally available shelters in your area can go a long way toward ensuring your survival and comfort during the ordeal.  Still, shelter cannot provide for all of your needs.  Anticipating these other needs and providing for them is a necessity so we will now move our discussion to the next point; How to find water.