When you find yourself in a bug out scenario and have to get away from a disaster area, finding proper shelter will be one of your top priorities. A good shelter can protect you from the elements, provide security, and allow you to get necessary rest. Here are 10 key things to know about locating and setting up shelter when bugging out:
1. Plan Ahead - Having the right shelter supplies ready in an easy-to-grab bug out bag is crucial. At a minimum, pack a lightweight tent or tarp, 50 feet of nylon rope, a utility knife or multi-tool, heavy duty trash bags, and emergency blankets. Also consider packing a small folding shovel and hand saw to help gather materials.
2. Assess Your Environment - Look for natural hazards like dead trees that could fall, potential flooding areas near rivers/streams, unstable rocky slopes, or insect/animal hazards like nests. Note any potential sources of water nearby as well as the wind direction. In winter, find a spot sheltered from wind with access to dry wood for fires.
3. Look for Natural Shelters - Don't automatically build a shelter from scratch if you can modify what's there naturally. Overhanging cliffs, caves, or hollow trees/logs give you a head start with walls and overhead cover. Use sticks/branches/pine boughs for additional insulation.
4. Stay Dry - Nothing is more miserable and dangerous than being cold and wet. Avoid low lying areas and place a waterproof ground cover or tarp under your shelter floor. Use a tarp, trash bags, or poncho for the roof angled to shed rain/snow. Insulate the walls as much as possible.
5. Find Security - Don't make your shelter visible from roads or trails if possible, and pick an elevated spot for visibility of your surroundings. Have a single entrance/exit and consider trapping skills to catch food and be aware of any predators.
6. Build a Fire Pit - Locate this 10-15 feet from the shelter entrance, using a shallow pit ringed with rocks or an elevated fire platform if needed. Have a way to extinguish fires fully and an alternative way to cook in the shelter during bad weather.
7. Insulate What You Can - Beyond the walls and roof, insulate the floor of your shelter with pine boughs, tall grasses, or anything you can find for a moisture barrier and added warmth. Also insulate your sleeping situation as much as possible.
8. Build an Angled Roof - A roof with a slope of at least 30 degrees is needed to shed precipitation and prevent pooling. Reinforce roof ridges and stake down corners to handle wind and snow loads. Leave roof vents as well.
9. Stay off the Ground - Use pine boughs, wood platforms, camping pads, etc. to insulate you from the ground and provide cushioning. Elevate yourself several inches if possible.
10. Don't Go It Alone - Having multiple people means more warmth from combined body heat, the ability to gather more insulation materials faster, keeping a watch easier, and accomplishing tasks more efficiently.
The right temporary wilderness shelter protects you from hypothermia,wind, rain, and temperature extremes when bugging out. Practice and preparation are key, but use all materials you can scavenge as well. Your life depends on it.
Comments