Emergency,
Survival,
Camping
And
Preparedness
Equipment
Clothing and Shelter
In this section we’ll discuss shelter. Shelter can be easy to take care of simply by planning ahead, and includes not only a roof over your head but clothing as well.
Most folks first option for shelter would be their own homes, and this is in fact your best bet if it’s available. In your own home, your supplies will be handy, you’ll have access to help from neighbors if necessary, and you’ll just generally be more comfortable. You should consider making some sort of "safe" room in your home. This would be a room or other easily enclosable space where you could ride out any worst-case scenario for a short (perhaps 3 day) time.
Some basic things to store in your safe room are: several rolls of heavy-duty plastic sheeting and duct tape (to seal this room airtight if necessary), canned food and some water, flashlight (and/or Krill light), fresh batteries, radio, blankets, toiletries (be sure to make arrangements for personal elimination (bathroom) needs, since you may not be able to leave this room for awhile), trash bags, basic tool kit, reading materials and small board games, and any tools that might be needed to shut off utilities such as water, gas or electricity. If your safe room is in your basement or in a room with concrete floors, store your old newspapers here too (stacked neatly inside grocery sacks), as they can be spread in layers on the floor to help keep you warm.
Take time now to make sure that everyone in your household knows a few basics, such as: location of utility shutoffs and how to turn them off, exits from each room, where to meet if you had to leave your home, who to contact if you become separated, and rules about what circumstances might force you to "abandon ship"... leave your home and seek shelter elsewhere.
Keep a pair of sturdy shoes or boots and a WORKING flashlight next to your bed. If you are awakened in the middle of the night, you’ll need both of these things to safely escape. Make sure that your house number or address is clearly visible from the street (don’t make the police or firemen waste time hunting for your home). If you don’t know your neighbors, now might be a good time to introduce yourself and exchange phone numbers. Keep your "bugout bag" where you can easily grab it and run.
Spend about $3 and get some brightly colored (florescent) poster board, 22 x 28 inches. On a green or yellow sheet write in large, dark block letters "WE’RE OK". On a red or pink sheet, write "NEED HELP". Now tape them back-to-back, so if there is some kind of disaster in your neighborhood, you can let neighbors and emergency crews know quickly who needs help and who doesn’t, simply by propping this up in a front window or on your door. Store this behind a sofa, chair or other furniture so it's there but out of the way.
If you do have to leave your home, your next best shelter is your car. It may be cramped, it may be an old clunker, but it will protect you from the elements. Keep your car stocked with some basics, so if you get stranded along the road you can stay safe and secure. Items to keep in the car are a basic tool kit (even if you have no idea which end of a screwdriver to hold, there may be someone that comes along who does know!); 50 feet of paracord or strong rope; spare tire and jack; jumper cables; a gasoline can; a bottle of water; blankets and/or sleeping bags; a change of clothing (including shoes, gloves, poncho and hat); granola bars or other snack-type food that won’t melt in the heat; a basic first aid kit; and a coffee can with lid that contains wooden matches and a large candle. If you cannot easily see a safe place that you can walk to and almost certainly get help, do not leave your car.
Now think of what other options you might have for shelter. Something as simple as plastic sheeting or a tarp may have to do. In rural areas, bales of straw or hay can be stacked into a snug little shelter. In the woods, evergreen branches, sticks plastered with leaves or vegetation, a cave, or even the base of a large uprooted tree could provide decent shelter.
Clothing is another form of shelter that should be carefully considered. When choosing clothing, plan to dress in layers. You’ll want something lightweight as a first layer. Products made of Stormkloth are by far the very best, but if you can’t afford that then silk, polypro, CoolMax, wool or acrylic are good second choices. This inner layer should be able to wick away moisture from your skin, or at least retain warmth if wet. Cotton is a poor choice, because if it becomes wet or damp in cold weather, it may cause hypothermia. The key to staying comfortable in cold weather is to keep moisture away from your skin, keep wind from robbing you of body heat, and provide adequate insulation to retain body heat.
Outer layers should be of wool, acrylic, down, or nearly anything that will help you stay warm. Down is perhaps the best insulator there is, but be aware that it loses all insulating properties if it becomes wet. In a pinch, stuff layers of newspapers inside your clothing
My personal emergency clothing consists of shirt, pants, gloves and balaclava, all made of Stormkloth; two sets of underwear; three pair of socks (one polypro, two wool); one cotton tee shirt, one pair of sweat pants, and one pair of shorts. A set of longjohns and a couple of pairs of sweatsuits would be nearly as good. Don’t scrimp on protection for hands and feet, though. It will be difficult, is not impossible, to do much of anything if your hands and feet are frozen. Don’t forget to protect your head as well. A person loses about 70% of their body heat through their head, so keeping your head warm and covered is essential.