PORTABLE SHELTERS TAKE ONE VERY IMPORTANT CONCERN OFF YOUR LIST.

BY DANA BENNER

In most emergencies, having an effective shelter is more important than everything else, other than access to potable water. Contrary to what some people like to believe, setting up or acquiring shelter—a proper shelter—requires some thought before it’s time to use one.

If you find yourself in a situation where you won’t be able to make it home, you’ll be forced to either find or build a suitable place to be safe, protected from the weather and get some rest.

If there is a chance you will find yourself out there without a place to safely lay your head, you should realize the importance of making a plan, even a basic one, ahead of time. At any given time, you should know (at least, in general) what you have available for shelter-making and, hopefully, how to use it to your advantage.

1.0 TENTS

Tents can offer a great deal of protection from the elements. The new materials and designs available have greatly cut down on weight and have increased comfort and effectiveness.

1.1 Options

There are many types and sizes of tents available, from small, one-person units to large models that can house many people and their belongings. Cabins and domes are common, and many can offer protection through three or four seasons of the year. Materials vary from super-lightweight, easily packable designs to models with heavier, treated canvas and other materials that allow the structures to remain in place for months or years.

Most of us would not be lucky enough to stumble across a secluded cabin when the demand for shelter strikes. Be prepared with your own shelter so that you’ll have a dependable haven from the weather at all times.

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IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME, YOU’LL BE FORCED TO EITHER FIND OR BUILD A SUITABLE PLACE TO BE SAFE, PROTECTED FROM THE WEATHER AND GET SOME REST.