Survival: Shelter and Clothing
Depending on your situation, the topic of shelter can be daunting. There have been several TV shows in the last several years focused on “bugging out”, especially in the case of a catachlysmic event. More likely, though, the shelters you need to care about fall into three areas: Your house, your vehicle, and your clothes. We’ll dig in depth into each of these topics eventually, but for now let’s just consider a few key pointers.
Your House
With the events of 2020, nearly all of us have spent far more time at home than in the past. The reality is, your home is your fortress. From a shelter perspective, your home needs to provide you and your family protection from the elements, protection from unwelcome guests, and a comfortable and peaceful reprieve from the insanity of the world around us. With winter upon us, this is a good time to address issues with the roof, siding, or other projects you’ve been putting off for too long. Make sure your doors seal well, and if you haven’t already, replace the screws in your hinges and door jamb with some that are at least 2 ¼” to 3” long. This will make it quite a bit harder for a burglar to kick in your door. You may also want to invest in additional cameras, security lighting, or even a security system if you don’t have those things in place already.
Finally, and this may be the most difficult, work to develop your home as a safe haven with your family. Whether you live alone or have little kids running around everywhere, you need your home to be a place where you can rest, recharge, and encourage one another. Be intentional about developing that atmosphere.
Your Vehicle
Again, with winter upon us, this is a great time to make sure your vehicle is in great condition. Make sure your tires have good tread and hold pressure; top off the fluids and change the oil. Make sure you have a good first aid and trauma kit, jumper cables, blankets and warm clothes (including boots matching weather conditions), and food and water for everyone in your vehicle. In a bad snowstorm, some highways have been shut down, stranding many vehicles and their occupants on a highway with nowhere to go. If that is your vehicle, you want to be sure you can stay warm while you wait or perhaps even walk to an exit and come back for your vehicle later. Having essential resources buys you time and options.
Also make sure you know how to change a flat tire and that you have the jack and lug wrench that work for your vehicle. Discovering on the side of a busy highway in the middle of a snowstorm that your vehicle doesn’t actually have its jack is never a good thing.
Your Clothing
Finally, the most likely form of shelter that you’ll have available are your clothes. If you’re going to be away from your home, in a vehicle or not, you should have at least one change of clothes, and layers that you could put on if you had to walk some distance, perhaps to get gasoline. Accounting for the following layers will allow you to match your conditions and stay warm and dry, even in inclement weather.
- Wicking Layer: This layer draws moisture away from the body so that moisture can’t suck heat away from you. There are many synthetic fibers that make great “long underwear” today, but this layer should be light and thin.
- Clothing Layer: Most of your clothes are going to fall into this category. Shirts and pants that are designed for your environment are ideal. Keep in mind that blue jeans, though comfortable, make for a terrible option if they get wet and cold!
- Insulation Layer: This could include things like a sweatshirt or fleece, and is purposed to keep your body heat inside this layer of clothing. Think of it like fiberglass insulation for your body.
- Shell Layer: Finally, outside of the insulation layer, you need something that will keep the wind, rain, snow, sleet, and sun from getting to your skin. Dark colors will absorb the sun’s energy while light colors will repel it. Windbreakers, parkas, and other outerwear will go a long way toward protecting your body from even the coldest wintery day.
If you have already put all of these things into place, now might be a good time to review this information with your friends or family. For example, most drivers are very underprepared while on the road for the situations they may suddenly find themselves in. Even in a world of cell phones, you may find yourself stranded for hours in a place you’d rather not be. Preparedness is essential!