Emergency Shelter Types
Overview
Shelter buys you time by slowing heat loss or gain. Prioritize ground insulation, wind control, and moisture management before fancy roofs. Build fast, small, and strong; add comfort later. Ventilate to control condensation and avoid CO risk.
Skill Level: Basic–Intermediate
Debris Hut
Insulated, low profile, good for cold still nights with minimal kit.
- Materials: Ridgepole (body length + 30–60 cm), two sturdy supports (Y‑sticks or tree), ribs (arm‑thick), heaps of dry leaves/duff/grass.
- Steps: Build a low A‑frame entrance just wider than shoulders; lay ribs down to ground; pile 30–60 cm of dry debris (more in cold/wet); add a thin weather layer (bark, evergreen boughs) if available.
- Floor: Thickest insulation under you (duff, boughs, pad if you have it).
- Size: Just big enough to crawl in and turn—smaller warms faster.
- Door: Plug with a debris bundle after you enter; leave a fist‑size vent.
⚠️ Caution: Never use live branches from protected species; follow Leave No Trace and local regulations.
A-Frame Tarp
Fast, weatherworthy shelter for rain/wind.
- Ridgeline: Between two anchors (trees/trekking poles). Pitch low and narrow for storms; higher/wider for ventilation.
- Orientation: Narrow end toward prevailing wind; leave lee side slightly lower.
- Edges: Stake taut; add mid‑panel guylines for strength; dig a small drip trench only where permitted.
- Ground: Use a groundsheet; slope away; add a pad and extra insulation.
📝 See also: For fast pitching and adjustments, tie ridgelines with a trucker’s hitch and use taut‑line hitches on guylines (see: Tools, Knots & Improvisation → Cordage & Knots).
Anchors & angles (sand/snow)
- Deadman anchors: Bury sticks/stakes/stuff sacks filled with snow/sand at least 20–30 cm deep with guylines attached; tamp and let set.
- Guyline geometry: Aim for ~45° between guyline and ground for best holding; add two guylines in a “V” on the windward ridgeline when gusts rise.
💡 Tip: Add a short beak/porch by offsetting one corner or using a second small sheet.
Lean-To
Useful when you have a heat source or need an open face for visibility.
- Structure: Upright supports and a slightly angled roof sloping away from wind.
- Wind: Put back to wind; use natural windbreaks; add side walls from brush or extra tarp edges.
- Heat: With a safe, controlled fire and a reflective wall (rocks/foil blanket) in front, radiant heat reflects into the shelter.
⛑️ First Aid: Avoid smoke inhalation; coughing and headache can indicate poor ventilation or CO exposure.
Snow Trench / Quinzhee
Snow shelters insulate well if built and ventilated correctly.
- Snow trench: Dig a narrow trench just longer than you; roof with skis/branches and a tarp/snow blocks; cover with ≥30–60 cm of snow. Add a small vent hole.
- Quinzhee (snow mound): Pile snow into a dome; let sinter 60–90 minutes; tunnel in and hollow to 30–40 cm wall thickness (check with sticks). Cut a vent; raise a sleeping platform above floor to trap cold air.
- Entrances: Small, low entrance on leeward side; create a cold‑air sump near the door.
💡 Tip: Smooth the interior ceiling of snow shelters to reduce dripping as it warms.
⚠️ Caution: Collapse risk. Probe roof regularly; never build where roof failure buries you in hazard (tree wells, over streams). Keep a shovel inside. ⛑️ First Aid: Candles can create CO and deplete oxygen in snow shelters. If used at all, keep a clear vent, monitor constantly, and extinguish before sleep. Prefer warm clothing and proper insulation over open flame.
Vehicle Sheltering
Vehicles are solid wind/rain shelters with major caveats.
- Ventilation: Crack windows on the lee side; avoid running engine for heat due to CO risk. If you must run it, do so intermittently with tailpipe completely clear of snow/debris and CO detector if available.
- Heat retention: Insulate windows with foil-faced bubble insulation (e.g., Reflectix)/foam/clothing; block convective drafts; use sleeping bags/pads on seats or floor.
- Signals: Place reflective triangle/lights; conserve battery; avoid draining to 0%.
⚠️ Caution: Never sleep with engine running. Check tailpipe frequently in snow.
Urban Shelter Strategies
Staying put safely in buildings.
- Stairwells: Often reinforced; good temporary refuge in quakes and fires (unless smoke‑filled). Don’t block egress.
- Interior rooms: Use rooms without exterior glass for wind/hail/tornado; add soft protection (mattress/helmets) from debris.
- Sealing doors/windows: For smoke or dust, seal gaps with wet towels/tape; for heat, hang reflective barriers on sun‑facing windows.
☑️ Checklist — Shelter Priorities
- Ground insulation under you
- Roof/tarp pitched to shed wind/rain toward lee
- Ventilation gap present (reduce condensation/CO risk)
- Site drains; no overhead hazards
- Signal plan visible from shelter (mirror/light/panel)
Examples
- Cold rain, minimal gear: Low A‑frame with all edges tight; thick bed of duff; hot drink; set whistle/flash schedule.
- Deep snow: Snow trench with tarp roof; vent hole; raised bed; candle for minimal warmth (monitored, ventilated).
Narrative — Emergency Tarp Night
The forecast lied. Wind veered, rain thickened, and the first pitch flapped like a flag. You dropped the ridgeline a forearm and slid the windward stakes a handspan toward the ground until the tarp became a low, tight wedge. One corner flipped forward as a beak; the lee edge came down just enough to keep a palm‑wide gap for airflow. A trash bag under your pad stopped ground‑chill; your spare clothes stuffed into a pillowcase became a door plug. The world shrank to a dry, warm triangle—quiet enough to sleep.
Common Mistakes
- Pitching too high and wide in storms; flappy tarps leak heat and water.
- Ignoring ground insulation; cold ground robs heat faster than thin roofs save it.
- Setting up in drainages or depressions; sites become streams at 02:00.
- Zero ventilation; condensation soaks gear—leave a small gap or vent.
- Burning stoves/fires in enclosed spaces; CO risk is real even with small flames.
- Cutting live branches or damaging protected areas; violates rules and ethics.
- Skipping the overhead scan; widowmakers and ice fall at night.
Key Takeaways
- Insulate the ground first; a warm back beats a fancy roof.
- Pitch small and low in storms; add ventilation to control condensation.
- Vehicles and buildings can be excellent shelters if you manage ventilation and CO risk.
Scenarios
🧭 Scenario (Squall line): Wind shifts and rain hits hard.
🔍 Decisions: Low A‑frame vs lean‑to; beak or not; vent gap.
✅ Outcome: You pitch a low A‑frame, beak one end, keep a small vent, and sleep dry.
🧠 Lessons: Small/low/vented beats flappy palaces
🏋️ Drill: Time yourself pitching low in 3 minutes.
🧭 Scenario (Deep snow, calm):
🔍 Decisions: Trench vs quinzhee; venting; platform.
✅ Outcome: You dig a trench with a tarp roof and a raised sleeping shelf; vent hole open.
🧠 Lessons: Cold‑air sump + raised bed = warmest sleep
🏋️ Drill: Build a mock trench without snow using gear layout.