When a catastrophic event happens, there is a very good chance you will be forced out of your home. You will need to find shelter in the woods, prairie or desert depending on where you live and where you are when things go sideways. Shelter is considered one of the top priorities especially in extreme weather. You only have three hours to maintain your core body temperature.
You have to get out of the rain, snow, or glaring sun to do that. A shelter is going to be what saves your life if you are forced outdoors for any longer than a few hours.
You need to know how to build a shelter out of the things you have in your bug out bag and the environment. There are several different structures you can build depending on what kind of weather you are trying to hide from and the number of people in your group. Of course the supplies you have with you will also play a huge role in deciding what kind of shelter you will construct.
Tips to Finding a Place to Build Your Shelter
It is important to place your shelter in an area that is as safe as possible. If you are trying to be rescued, you will want to make your shelter visible. Unfortunately, this can expose you to the elements. If you are using debris to create your shelter, you will blend into the terrain. You can draw attention to yourself by tying a brightly colored bandana or other material to the top of your shelter.
- Avoid placing your shelter on the tops of hills—this exposes you to more wind.
- Do not place your shelter too close to streams or other bodies of water—flooding is possible.
- Check out the bug and animal activity before choosing your site. Avoid areas that have heavy activity.
- Try to find an area that provides a natural barrier like a rock wall or the base of a hill. Under trees provides natural cover as well.
- Choose a location that is near as many resources as possible i.e. firewood, water, food. You don’t want to waste energy walking long distances gathering what you need.
- Position your shelter so that the opening is open to a large rock or other natural barrier that will trap the heat from your fire and reflect back into your shelter.
- Choose a place that is flat and as rock free as possible so you can lie down as comfortable as possible.
A-Frame Shelter
This is a quick and easy shelter that will protect you from the wind, rain, snow or heat. It is suitable for one to two people depending on how big your tarp or blanket is. You can also use leaves, branches and what not if you don’t have a tarp.
You will need to find 4 medium length branches that will be used on each end of your shelter. You are making the legs. Leaning two sticks together to form a triangle, use cordage (vines if no rope) to hold the branches together. Do this for each end. Place another long branch on top of your two end frames. You will need to try and push the end frames into the ground to make the shelter a little sturdier. You can also use rocks to support the branches.
Once you have you’re A-frame, drape the tarp or blanket over it. If you are using debris, you will want to do your best to cover all of the gaps. If you are in high winds, simply laying the leafy branches on the frame may not work. You will need to use cordage to tie the pieces to the frame.
With this particular shelter, both ends are open. You can place your fire at one end and if the weather is extremely cold, you can certainly use debris or a poncho to cover one end for more warmth. Use rocks or heavy branches along the edges to prevent the wind from coming in under the sides of your blanket.
In high winds, you will need to place the shelter so one side is facing the prevailing wind. If you place one end into the prevailing wind, you will create a wind tunnel inside your shelter.
Lean-To Shelter
A lean-to is a fairly common structure and is pretty simple to build. You can use a tarp, blanket, poncho or debris to shelter yourself from the elements. A lean-to is also ideal for those in a group. The shelter provides enough space for up to four people. The shelter is fairly quick to make and doesn’t require a lot of time looking for branches or sticks.
Use cordage to tie two corners of the blanket or tarp to two trees that are spaced apart about the same width as your blanket. You will want to tie it about three to four feet high. Use rocks or tent stakes to hold down the opposite side of the blanket. This makes for a nice shelter that provides protection on one side.
If you are using debris for your lean-to, you will need to have at least two long branches to create a frame to lay the leafy material on. Prop the branches against a tree trunk or a rock wall. Cover the branches with your leafy material. You can also use branches places close together to create a cover. Make sure the shelter has plenty of support to hold the weight of the branches.
You can place a fire near the opening of the shelter for added warmth. Place the back of the shelter against the wind to keep the wind off of you.
Teepee Shelter
Teepee shelters are ideal for groups of three to four people. If you plan on being outdoors for several days, this is a good shelter to build. It provides the most protection from the elements and allows for a fire to be inside the shelter.
You will need a minimum of three branches at least 6 feet long. Use cordage to tie the three branches together near the top to create a triangle shape. For better support, use five to six long branches. Wrap a tarp or blanket around the shelter. Secure the material with rope or duct tape if available. If you are using leafy branches, you will want to add more poles to the structure so you can weave the debris into your shelter.
Place rocks, leaves or dirt around the base of the structure to add more insulation. If you are planning to have a fire inside the structure, make sure there is an opening at the top to allow the smoke to escape.
You can use a tree as a center pole for this structure, but you will not be able to have a fire. The tree will add sturdiness to the shelter.
Shelter Tips
Every situation will be different. Not every shelter will work in certain conditions. Before building a structure, consider your situation carefully.
- Always put a barrier between yourself and the ground. Use pine needles, dry leaves or even a garbage bag as the floor of your shelter. You risk losing body heat by sitting or lying directly on the cold, damp ground.
- You don’t want a big, roomy shelter. The smaller and more compact the shelter, the warmer it will be. Body heat will help keep you warm especially if you cannot build a fire. When you have several people in a small space, you will generate more body heat and be able to stay warm.
- The more debris you can add to the “roof” of your shelter the better. Think of it as insulation. If you are in an area where large leaves are abundant, add several layers. Add the debris even if you have a tarp or blanket.
- Avoid lying directly against the sides of your shelter if you are using a tarp. You will end up getting wet from the moisture on the outside of the tarp.
- Create a firewall is a natural one isn’t available. You can pile up rocks or stack wood to create a wall. If you have an extra reflective emergency blanket, hang it so it can be used as a reflective shield. You can also use a space blanket on the inside of a lean-to to reflect the heat back onto you.
Making a shelter is a skill. Like any skill, it requires some practice to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Don’t wait until you absolutely need a shelter to survive to figure out how to build one. Practice making all three of these shelters so you have the skills and the knowledge when you need it. Time is always a factor in a survival situation. The quicker you have your shelter built, the faster you get out of the elements and have a better chance of surviving.
