What are Survival Shelters?
Temporary shelters designed for emergency situations, which can be erected quickly by a single person, are known as survival shelters. These structures help to improve your chances of surviving in a situation where you are stranded away from home, lost in the woods, or in an isolated area. A survival shelter serves as your base of operations where you can store your water, food, and essential survival equipment.
Why Is Shelter Important for Survival?
While some consider shelter to be a luxury, it is a fundamental physiological requirement that should be prioritized along with food and water. In fact, it is imperative to establish a secure and safe shelter before searching for food and water to ensure protection from unforeseeable and uncontrollable elements.
In the event that you become disoriented in the wilderness or experience a sudden negative change in circumstances, it’s possible that you won’t have the ability to reach a secure destination on that particular day. Consequently, you’ll require a method of shielding yourself from harsh weather and potential health hazards in an emergency scenario. Additionally, your shelter will serve as a safeguard against creatures that pose a threat such as predators, pests, insects, and snakes.
Getting Started On Your Hidden Underground Survival Shelter
Finding the Perfect Underground Spot.
To begin the construction of your concealed underground shelter, you must first locate a suitable piece of land. Without a designated location for your survival shelter, its creation is unattainable.
Consider seeking out someone you know who owns land which could be suitable for building your underground shelter before searching for a plot. This could potentially result in a more affordable option.
It is important to keep in mind that choosing the appropriate location is crucial in constructing your concealed subterranean refuge.
It is important to ensure that you have fast access to the appropriate soil composition.
Excavation and Structure Planning
In order to complete the excavation process on schedule, heavy machinery is required, but this option comes at a cost. To save money or adhere to a budget, using a shovel is a viable, albeit traditional, alternative.
If you believe that you cannot spare unlimited time for constructing your bunker, you can choose to rent excavation equipment or hire contractors to complete the job for you; however, this alternative comes with a cost.
No matter what, excavation expenses will make up a sizable portion of your construction budget, hence it should be factored into your planning. Your plan can accommodate your desired structure, provided it is in line with your budget.
Ensure that when carrying out excavation work, you allocate sufficient space for air vents to operate effectively. In times of high temperatures, utilizing filtered air will not only deliver essential fresh air but also maintain a cooler underground shelter by allowing air circulation.
Take into account investing in a top-notch gas mask and an ample supply of filters in case the air quality continues to be hazardous.
Installing a well would be ideal if feasible. Except for regions with extremely arid conditions or soil excessively rich in clay content, a driven well can be installed by hammering it into the ground like a lengthy spike.
Underground shelters are available in various forms and sizes, ranging from basic storage bunkers to fully equipped living spaces with sleeping and food preparation areas. Regardless of your specific requirements, an underground bunker is guaranteed to surpass your expectations. Check out some secret underground shelters that will aid in your survival during an unexpected crisis.
1. Shipping Container Underground Shelter
You can construct your own subterranean survival sanctuary with a self-made shipping container as it is the most economical option. However, it may not be the best choice due to certain complexities. Among them are problems like soil corrosion and inadequate wall support, which can pose serious dangers. In addition, the shelter would require air ducts to prevent suffocation, although such ducts may impede airflow.
The cost of a shipping container can be determined by its level of wear and tear. For excavation projects, most businesses opt to rent a machine and operator for a flexible range of tasks, paying on an hourly basis. Generally, companies offer bids for the entire residential excavation job based on the amount of dirt that needs to be relocated.
2. Galvanized Steel Underground Shelters
Atlas is one of the most well-known names in pre-fabricated underground survival shelters that are suitable for use as a bunker, and they are typically made from galvanized steel.
There are numerous benefits to using Atlas galvanized steel shelters. Some of the features include the ability to attach generator pods underground for hidden power sources, as well as models with both an entrance and escape hatch. Additionally, these shelters have undergone rigorous testing to ensure effective air filtration systems and provide underfloor storage. Perhaps most impressively, Atlas galvanized steel shelters are built to last up to 200 years.
3. Vivos Survival Shelters
Renowned for its vast underground survival bunkers capable of accommodating entire communities, Vivos survival shelters are luxurious shelters distinguished by their numerous rod-like structures, enabling the bunker’s expansion by combining several of these structures.
If you are looking to construct or possess an underground shelter on your property, the ideal selection for you is the Vivos Quantum. It has a vast length and width and can house approximately 6-8 individuals.
The Vivos Quantum shelters boast yet another impressive capability – it can be connected to an underground well, allowing you to manually pump water into the tank. This feature emphasizes the shelter’s dependability in the event of an apocalypse.
4. Radius Engineering Survival Shelters
Fiberglass shells are a beneficial material for constructing an underground survival shelter due to their utilization in Radius Engineering. These shells prevent rusting and cracking, unlike concrete shells, making them more durable.
The underground shelter designed by Radius Engineering is equipped with a remarkable air filtration system comprising three distinct purifiers. The air purifier incorporates a sterilisation system that employs UV radiation, making it well-suited for military and government applications, particularly for protection against nuclear warfare.
5. Natural Nuclear Bunker
There are numerous underground shelters in the United States that are naturally nuclear-protected and at no cost. Your task is to discover the one located nearest to your residence.
Keep in mind that although these natural nuclear shelters can shield you from the initial radiation burst and nuclear explosion, they will not provide lasting protection during emergencies or any calamities. Therefore, you must venture out to secure sustenance like food and water, leaving you vulnerable.
Common Types of Survival Shelters
Although not an all-inclusive list, these survival shelters are the most widespread styles and types used for survival purposes, whether it be short-term or long-term. We will provide details on the materials used, construction techniques, and necessary equipment for each shelter mentioned.
Bough Bed
At times, a survival shelter may not be necessary, but a comfortable place to sleep is still needed. If sleeping outdoors is not an issue, a bough bed could be an ideal solution. The primary elements for this bed include evergreen branches, foliage, grass, moss, and other materials that are soft to the touch.
Place two logs horizontally on the ground, with a distance of approximately three feet between them. Stuff the gap with branches of different sizes, laying them down in groups. This method of adding branches not only enhances the cushioning of the surface but also furnishes better protection from the chilly ground.
Tarp Tipi
A tipi shelter structure with no covering – unplash.com
With just a handful of poles, some cordage, and a bit of time, you can construct a fairly strong tipi made of tarp that will provide protection from various elements, such as rain, wind, and sun. Because the tipi is incredibly adaptable, you can build it quickly by using any kind of material to cover it.
Utilize ropes to fasten lengthy and even rods at one end, but permit them to expand at the other end. Incrementally add rods in a circular formation until you have constructed the walls of the tipi. Subsequently, envelop a tarp around it and tie it in place at the peak. Keep a section open at the base as an entryway.
Wickiup
There are three wickiups located in the forest – unplash.com.
The wickiup is akin to the tipi, but has a bigger entrance and is shorter and wider. It is prevalent in the southwest, yet one can come across it across the globe. Commencing its construction entails having a handful of poles, ideally ones that have forked tips.
Create a tripod by leaning the forks of the first poles together, and then gradually add more poles to the structure. As you continue building, it will become stable enough for you to cover the exterior with grass, leaves, or a tarp. In case the weather is damp, using sizeable moss blankets to absorb precipitation and provide insulation for the inside might be a good idea.
Leaf Hut
An image of a shelter made of leaves on unplash.com.
The design of a leaf hut is comparable to a lean-to, although it is constructed as an A-frame that sits closer to the ground and contains more insulation. To construct this shelter, begin by obtaining a lengthy pole measuring a minimum of 9 to 10 feet. After laying the pole on the ground, raise one end and position sticks against it to form walls, and subsequently apply leaf coverage to these walls as a form of insulation.
Snow Cave
USMC Winter Shelter Snow Cave – Offgrid Recoil
If you are in an area that experiences heavy snowfall, constructing a winter survival shelter that is not made from snow may not be effective. This is where the snow cave becomes useful. Although it is the most hazardous type of shelter you can create in the snow, it might be your sole option in an emergency situation.
For the shelter to work effectively, it’s important to find a solid and extremely deep snow bank. Create a “cold well” on the side of the bank by digging a low spot where cold air can be trapped. Then, dig upwards to make a spacious shelf above the well, which should be the highest point of the shelter. By doing so, all the warm air will accumulate on the shelf.
It is essential to create a small hole with a diameter of only 6 inches somewhere on the roof to ensure proper ventilation. This step becomes even more critical if you plan on sealing off the entrance of your snow cave.
Quinzee
Willow Haven Outdoor constructed a quinzee using branches to reinforce the integrity of the structure.
Constructing a quinzhee is one of the easiest snow structures you can make; it is a dome-like shape similar to an igloo, but with a lower profile. Unlike an igloo, which requires a certain depth of packable snow, a quinzhee can be made with almost any type of snow that can be compacted.
To construct a quinzee, begin by creating a heap of your equipment underneath a tarp. Utilize backpacks, rucksacks, coolers, or anything else that is available. Next, accumulate snow on top of the tarp and firmly compress it. It is necessary to have a minimum of two feet of snow to allow for some clearance.
Place 12-inch sticks at the periphery to mark the distance of 12 inches from the interior. Dig your way inside and remove snow towards the exterior until you have cleared all the marker sticks. Create an opening in the roof’s center to allow ventilation and you’re finished.
Ramada
A ramada is a straightforward structure suitable for regions that need only partial shade to shield the occupants from hot and sunny weather. It comprises of four posts and a flat, rectangular roof, which does not provide shelter from sudden showers but works well in tropical or arid climates that experience high temperatures and little rainfall.
After the placement of the corner beams, the materials used for constructing the roof can vary widely. Often, branches are used to frame the roof and a tarp is added to provide crucial shade. If necessary, walls can be put up, but they must be able to be taken down to permit fresh air to circulate during the daytime.
Round Lodge
Round lodges combine elements from various cultures, including wickiups and tipis, with a focus on practicality. These structures provide protection from inclement weather conditions such as wind, rain, snow, and sun. Though they are similar in construction to tipis, round lodges feature a solid doorway created by securing horizontal supports between two of the vertical posts to maintain a specific distance.
To ensure proper ventilation for campfire smoke, it is necessary to leave a hole in the center of the peak while laying the poles for the structure. After placing the poles, the sides can be covered with materials such as grass, leaves, or matting. For increased insulation and stealth, the structure can also be buried beneath forest debris and litter.
