An Overview of Possible Shelters

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Family Camp,

near Kenel, South Dakota (ca 1939)

source

National Archives and Records Administration

Shelter
Repeat after me, ...

'We have three to five hours to live (maybe a lot less) without proper shelter for the environment.'

Debris Hut (ca 2005)

photograph by

Matt Pinkham

So, ... You and your partner need to learn those bushcraft skills for making a primitive but effective shelter for your family and teach them to your children or grandchildren, so they can survive an event.

A Soldier from Company E., 2nd Bn., 10th Inf. Regiment,

sits in his poncho shelter (ca 2013)

photograph by

Michael Curtis

Next, you and your family should practice making improvised shelters using ponchos, blue tarps, plastic sheeting, and other similar items.

A Shanty Town

in Soweto Township, South Africa (ca 2005)

photograph by

Matt-80

Next, do some research on building shelters out of 'found' material such as corrugated metal roofing, bits and pieces of plywood, and other material that might be available after an event, like the items used to make a shanty town.

A Sami Family (ca 1900)

published by

Detroit Publishing Company

Lastly, find out what the natives did to provide shelter for their families because it worked for them, so it will probably work for you and your family.


Disaster
Needless to say, you and your family (Well, at least you) are preppers, so you're probably thinking that you would like to be a little bit prepared when it comes to shelter.

That's all well and good, but remember ...

Ruins of the Ludlow Colony,

near Trinidad, Colorado (ca 1914)

source

George Grantham Bain Collection,

of these United States’ Library of Congress

Sometimes bad things happen to good people : - (


Tents
Needless to say, the first question is 'What's your budget?'

The next question, 'What are you preparing for?'

And, ... The last question, 'How many people?'

Pitching a Tent, at Bear Creek State Park,

in Virginia (ca 2011)

source

vastateparksstaff

'Cause all those questions and more will determine your final choice on tents.


Travel Trailers
Now, some of y'all are going to have a bigger budget, so you might want to investigate the various travel trailers or travel homes. These 'homes on wheels' are then parked in a safe place ready to use, after an event.

Motor Camp,

at Mount Maunganui, Tauranga (ca 1968)

photograph by

Mr. R. Anderson

Just like tents, the sky is truly the limit because some of these travel homes can cost over $2,500,000.


Permanent
Of course, some folks have the resources to purchase a more permanent solution for their family's shelter needs after an event.

So, ...


The Cabin in the Woods
Most people think this is the ideal choice for their families, a remote cabin or home in the woods.

A Log Cabin,

in the woods (ca 2012)

photograph by

YvesSch

Probably not, for many reasons, like ...

Where's the nearest Doctor, Nurse, or other Medical Professional? Don't forget that well equipped hospital. Oooh, and the pharmacy, too.

Where do you get groceries? In town. How far away is it?

The electric goes out, who's gets fixed first, town or ... country? If you said country, you don't live close to me 'cause the town always has power first, around here ; - )

I have to stop, but one more for you to think about, 'Who's pulling security while you sleep?'

Oooh, ... Can you say 'Forest Fire!!!"


A House in a Small Towns
Mel Tappan, an early 'survival guru,' suggested folks move to a small town with good facilities because there just isn't enough of you and your family to go around to cover all the skills you will need to survive during an event.


Mel Tappan
Lastly, because I have to go to sleep, here are three links to Mr. Tappan's two books and his survival newsletter.

Link:
giltweasel - Tappan on Survival
http://giltweasel.com/stuff/Tappan%20on%20Survival.pdf

Scribd - Survival Guns
https://www.scribd.com/doc/122390419/Survival-Guns

Bushcraft USA - Personal Survival Letter
https://bushcraftusa.com/forum/threads/mel-tappans-personal-survival-letter.137187/