Shelter

Immediate Shelter

In the short-term, seek out sturdy existing structures if available, such as:

• Abandoned buildings
• Caves
• Dense foliage or tree cover

If no structures exist, create a basic lean-to shelter:

1. Find a long, sturdy branch or fallen tree to serve as the main beam
2. Prop one end up on a tree or rock about waist high
3. Lay smaller branches or sticks close together on one side of the main beam to create a wall
4. Cover the wall with leaves, grass, pine needles, or other vegetation for insulation
5. Lay more branches, leaves and soft vegetation inside the shelter for bedding

Longer-Term Shelter

As soon as possible, begin constructing a more permanent shelter:

• Use sturdy materials available in the environment, such as:
  • Clay, adobe bricks, or wattle and daub in grasslands and near rivers
  • Stone in rocky areas
  • Wood and logs in forests
• Build on high ground to avoid flooding
• Include a heat source like a fire pit with a chimney to vent smoke
• Create raised sleeping platforms to stay dry
• Construct a sloped roof to shed rain, with an overhang to keep walls dry
• Allow ventilation and some natural light
  • Include cross-ventilation with a small opening near the floor on one wall, and a larger opening up high on the opposite wall for air flow
  • Include a smoke hole in the roof to vent smoke and allow light
• Build near clean water and other key resources, but avoid natural hazards like cliffs, flood zones, and insect breeding areas
• Orient the shelter to maximize natural heating from the sun in cold climates, or to align with prevailing winds for cooling in hot climates

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