How to Build a One Person Emergency Shelter
Pack a one person tent., Build a shelter from branches or debris., Build a snow cave., Keep shelters small if it's cold.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Pack a one person tent.
A lightweight, portable tent takes up little room in your car.
Setting one up is much easier and faster than building a shelter from scratch, if you end up lost or caught in a storm.
This is also a good solution if you may need to leave your home at a moment's notice.
Keep food, water, and fuel in the car as well, or in a handheld pack as portable as you can make it. -
Step 2: Build a shelter from branches or debris.
Even flimsy material can greatly increase your odds of survival in stormy or wintry conditions.
Refer to the linked article for full instructions, or follow this quick checklist:
Clear a patch of relatively dry ground.
Insulate it with a layer of branches or dry clothing.
A good rule of thumb to have is
0.91 metres (3 ft 0 in) or more of debris in autumn and fall and about
0.30–0.91 metres (1 ft 0 in–3 ft 0 in) of insulation in warmer weather and
0.61 metres (2 ft 0 in) in rainy weather.
Cover this with a simple lean-to structure.
If you have time and rope, lean branches against together and tie them together.
If not, just lean branches, cardboard, or anything else against a tree trunk or boulder.
Cover the structure with branches or other debris as well as you can for insulation (or a tarp if available).
Pine branches with the needles facing down trap additional air pockets for insulation.
A top layer of leaves or trash increases rain resistance. , Even a bare field of snow can provide shelter if you are able to put in a few hours' work, and the snow is packed enough to form a structure.
Pile up the snow into a hillock large enough to fit you, leave it two hours to harden, then dig out a tunnel into the interior.
Pack a compact snow shovel to make this more feasible in emergency situations.
If the snow is too powdery or if temperatures are too high (which could cause a collapse), dig a trench in the snow instead and cover it with a tarp. , Whichever type of shelter you use, it should be just large enough to fit you.
The less space there is, the faster your body heat will warm it.
In warm conditions, you want a big shelter so it will keep you protected and cooler than a shelter that is a few centimeters/inches from your face. -
Step 3: Build a snow cave.
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Step 4: Keep shelters small if it's cold.
Detailed Guide
A lightweight, portable tent takes up little room in your car.
Setting one up is much easier and faster than building a shelter from scratch, if you end up lost or caught in a storm.
This is also a good solution if you may need to leave your home at a moment's notice.
Keep food, water, and fuel in the car as well, or in a handheld pack as portable as you can make it.
Even flimsy material can greatly increase your odds of survival in stormy or wintry conditions.
Refer to the linked article for full instructions, or follow this quick checklist:
Clear a patch of relatively dry ground.
Insulate it with a layer of branches or dry clothing.
A good rule of thumb to have is
0.91 metres (3 ft 0 in) or more of debris in autumn and fall and about
0.30–0.91 metres (1 ft 0 in–3 ft 0 in) of insulation in warmer weather and
0.61 metres (2 ft 0 in) in rainy weather.
Cover this with a simple lean-to structure.
If you have time and rope, lean branches against together and tie them together.
If not, just lean branches, cardboard, or anything else against a tree trunk or boulder.
Cover the structure with branches or other debris as well as you can for insulation (or a tarp if available).
Pine branches with the needles facing down trap additional air pockets for insulation.
A top layer of leaves or trash increases rain resistance. , Even a bare field of snow can provide shelter if you are able to put in a few hours' work, and the snow is packed enough to form a structure.
Pile up the snow into a hillock large enough to fit you, leave it two hours to harden, then dig out a tunnel into the interior.
Pack a compact snow shovel to make this more feasible in emergency situations.
If the snow is too powdery or if temperatures are too high (which could cause a collapse), dig a trench in the snow instead and cover it with a tarp. , Whichever type of shelter you use, it should be just large enough to fit you.
The less space there is, the faster your body heat will warm it.
In warm conditions, you want a big shelter so it will keep you protected and cooler than a shelter that is a few centimeters/inches from your face.
About the Author
Natalie Diaz
Brings years of experience writing about organization and related subjects.
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