Types of Shelter

Having shelter is a huge factor in surviving any situation. It keeps you warm, dry and safe. It also helps the morale and makes you feel "human." Depending on the situation you may have to build your own shelter from local materials. There are many variations and techniques in building a "debris" shelter. Here are a few examples of debris shelters.

Using branches and leaves

Using pine boughs

If you have done a bit of preparation than you may be lucky enough to have a more water tight shelter. I have a tarp in my BOB and each vehicle. They come in very handy and make a great shelter. Again there are many different variations, this is just one example. Remember if you are in a situation where you want to be rescued, having a brightly colored tarp where rescuers can see it, well help greatly.

The next step up would be a tent. There are literally hundreds of different sizes, types and styles of tents on the market. Finding one that will fit your needs could be a daunting task. Things to consider when looking for a tent are... how many people will need to fit in it, will it be light enough to carry with you, what type of terrain/weather will you most likely encounter. All of these will dictate what type of tent to get.

This is a small 2 man tent

Now we get into a little more comfort. Having a truck or SUV gives you many more options for shelter. You can throw a few sleeping bags in there and have instant shelter. Of course this is assuming you have your vehicle. This type of shelter is very useful and I have used it many times.

Finally the most comfortable of all, the camper. Nothing beats having a real bed to sleep in. These have all the comforts of home and can make any survival/disaster situation more tolerable.