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Emergency Shelter Site Selection and Construction Guide

Quick Summary

When facing an emergency situation outdoors, proper shelter can mean the difference between life and death. This guide covers how to choose safe shelter sites and construct various types of emergency shelters using common materials like tarps, natural materials, and found items.

Why This Matters

Shelter becomes a critical priority in emergency situations:

Your car breaks down during a winter storm on a remote highway
You become lost while hiking and need to spend the night outdoors
A natural disaster damages your home and you need temporary protection
The power goes out during extreme weather and your home becomes uninhabitable

Exposure kills faster than dehydration or starvation. In cold conditions, you can lose consciousness in as little as 30 minutes without proper protection.

Choosing Your Shelter Site

Essential Requirements

Every good shelter site must have:

Available materials - Natural materials for construction or space for your equipment
Level ground - Large enough area where you can lie down comfortably
Safety from hazards - Protection from falling rocks, dead trees, flash floods, or avalanche zones

The BLISS Method

Remember BLISS when selecting your site:

Blend in with surroundings
Low profile (doesn't stand out)
Irregular shape (natural looking)
Small footprint
Secluded location

Environmental Hazards to Avoid

Flash flood areas:

Dry creek beds and washes
Low areas in hills and mountains
Areas below the high-water mark near rivers or lakes

Mountainous terrain risks:

Avalanche paths (look for broken trees pointing downhill)
Rockslide zones (loose rocks above)
Ridge lines exposed to wind

Wildlife and pest concerns:

Dense brush that harbors insects
Areas with animal droppings or tracks
Locations near water sources where animals drink

Seasonal Considerations

Cold weather priorities:

Protection from wind and cold
Access to fuel for fire
Available water source
Natural windbreaks like rock formations or dense trees

Warm weather priorities:

Shade from sun
Air circulation for cooling
Distance from standing water (reduces insects)
Higher ground for better breeze

Quick Shelter Options

Poncho Lean-To (15 minutes)

What you need:

Waterproof tarp or poncho
7-10 feet of rope or cord
Three stakes (or substitute with tent stakes, sharp sticks)
Two trees 7-10 feet apart

Construction steps:

Prepare the tarp - If using a poncho, tie off the hood tightly
Set up ridge line - Cut rope in half, tie each piece to corners of one long edge
Add drip sticks - Tie 4-inch sticks to ropes about 1 inch from corners (prevents water from running down rope)
String between trees - Tie ropes at waist height using bowline or clove hitch
Anchor to ground - Pull tarp tight and stake down back edge

Improvements:

Add center support line to prevent sagging in rain
Place brush or equipment on sides for wind protection
Layer pine needles, leaves, or grass inside for insulation

Heat Loss

You lose up to 80% of body heat to the ground when lying down. Always insulate underneath with natural materials.

Poncho Tent (20 minutes)

What you need:

Same materials as lean-to
Six stakes instead of three

Construction:

Prepare tarp - Tie off hood as above
Create A-frame - Tie ropes to center grommets on each side
String between trees - Attach ropes at knee height for lower profile
Form tent - Pull both sides tight and stake to ground

Pros: Better weather protection, lower visibility Cons: Less space and observation area than lean-to

Advanced Natural Shelters

Debris Hut (1-2 hours)

Best for: Cold weather when insulation is critical

Materials needed:

One long ridgepole (8+ feet)
Two short support stakes or one sturdy tree
Multiple support ribs (6+ poles)
Large quantity of dry debris (leaves, pine needles, grass)

Construction:

Build frame - Create tripod with ridgepole or lean against tree at waist height
Add ribs - Prop poles along both sides to create wedge shape
Create lattice - Lay smaller branches across ribs to hold insulation
Add insulation - Pile debris at least 3 feet thick over entire structure
Prepare interior - Layer 12 inches of soft material inside for bedding
Make door - Pile extra debris at entrance to drag inside
Weatherproof - Add branches on top to prevent insulation from blowing away

Critical: The debris layer must be at least 3 feet thick - more is better in cold conditions.

Field-Expedient Lean-To (2-3 hours)

Best for: Wooded areas with abundant natural materials

Materials:

Two trees 7 feet apart (or upright poles)
One horizontal support pole (7 feet long)
5-8 beam poles (10 feet long)
Cordage or vines
Covering material (brush, leaves, grass)

Construction:

Set horizontal support - Lash 7-foot pole between trees at chest height
Add beams - Lean 10-foot poles against support (back facing wind)
Create lattice - Weave saplings or vines across beams
Apply covering - Layer natural materials from bottom up like shingles
Add bedding - Place soft materials inside

Cold weather upgrade:

Build fire reflector wall 6 feet from entrance
Stack green logs between stakes to reflect heat
Add drying rack between lean-to and reflector

Swamp Bed (1 hour)

Best for: Wet or swampy ground, areas with standing water

Construction:

Create frame - Find or cut four poles to form rectangle
Add cross supports - Cut two poles spanning width, lash to frame above water level
Build platform - Lay poles lengthwise across supports
Add comfort layer - Cover with broad leaves or grass
Fire safety - Create fire pad in corner with clay or mud

Desert and Hot Weather Shelters

Above-Ground Shade Shelter (30 minutes)

Rocky areas:

Anchor tarp to rock outcropping with stones
Extend other end for maximum shade coverage

Sandy areas:

Use sand dune or build mound for one anchor point
Create 12-18 inch air gap between double layers for better cooling

Below-Ground Desert Shelter (1-2 hours)

Temperature reduction: Can be 30-40°F cooler than surface

Construction:

Dig trench - 18-24 inches deep, long and wide enough to lie down
Build walls - Pile excavated sand on three sides
Create entrance - Dig out sand on open end for easy access
Add roof - Stretch tarp over trench, secure with sand/rocks
Upgrade - Add second layer 12-18 inches above first for additional 20-40°F cooling

Desert Construction

Build desert shelters before the heat of the day. Construction effort increases dehydration in hot conditions.

Natural Shelter Locations

Good Options:

Caves (check for animals first)
Rocky overhangs on lee side of hills
Thick brush clumps
Large fallen trees with intact branches
Dense evergreen trees (natural umbrella)

Avoid:

Low ground (ravines, valleys, creek beds) - collects cold air and moisture
Areas with animal signs
Under dead or damaged trees
Locations where coconuts or other items could fall

Safety Considerations

Before Building

Check for poisonous snakes, scorpions, or stinging insects
Look up for loose rocks, dead branches, or falling hazards
Verify you're above flood levels and away from avalanche zones
Consider wind direction - place entrance away from prevailing winds

Ventilation

If planning a fire inside any shelter, ensure adequate ventilation (12-20 inch opening at top) to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Common Mistakes

Site selection errors:

Mistake: Building in the first spot you find
Why it's wrong: You might miss better locations nearby
Instead: Scout 2-3 options before choosing

Construction shortcuts:

Mistake: Skimping on insulation thickness
Why it's wrong: Inadequate insulation fails in cold conditions
Instead: Use at least 3 feet of debris for cold weather shelters

Poor weatherproofing:

Mistake: Not considering rain runoff
Why it's wrong: Water will pool around or inside shelter
Instead: Build slight drainage around shelter and ensure roof slope

When to Seek Help

Immediate evacuation needed if:

Hypothermia symptoms develop (shivering, confusion, drowsiness)
You cannot maintain body temperature despite shelter
Weather conditions exceed your shelter's capabilities
Any signs of carbon monoxide poisoning from indoor fires

Get professional help for:

Frostbite beyond superficial skin changes
Heat exhaustion that doesn't improve with cooling and fluids
Any injuries sustained during construction
Understanding exposure risks
Next level: Advanced Shelter Techniques - Snow caves and long-term construction
Essential for heating shelters

Modern Alternatives

Emergency Bivvy Sacks

SOL Escape Bivvy - $19.95

Reflects 70% of body heat
Weighs only 5.5 oz
Good for: Car emergency kits, day hiking

Ultralight Tarps

Aqua Quest Defender - $39.95

100% waterproof, 7x5 feet
Multiple setup configurations
Good for: Backpacking, car camping