Basic Prep 1: Shelter
Shelter is the first on the list of things you should focus on. Whatever is going on around you, no matter how quickly it takes place, it will most likely not be focused on you directly, but it can impact your health and wellbeing the most upfront. You need to be able to shield yourself from the elements and every negative aspect of the event unfolding. For example, if you are trapped outdoors in wet or windy conditions with temperatures of 60-degree Fahrenheit or under, you will begin experience hyperthermia rather quickly. Shielding yourself from weather, flying objects, or even other people who mean you harm is extremely important. If you don’t take care of this first, the rest will not matter. The main goal of shelter is to be warm, dry, and shielded from harm! My basic recommendations are:
Have several options for shelter. Do not assume you can always return home. A friend or family members house, cabin in the woods, bugout location for camping etc. should be considered. Each option should be relevant for where you could be during an event, work, home, vacation, etc.
Plot on a map several routes to reach each shelter location. Do not assume you can drive there. Think about and plan what it would take to bike or walk to your destination. Consider alternate routes away from main paths of travel. If you are on the move, most likely others will be too! The last thing you need is to be trapped in traffic.
Keep items on hand or readily available should you not be able to reach your main shelter, or should your planned shelter be compromised. Reflective heat blankets are a great tool to fit this need! They are tough, can be made into a shelter, and will protect you from hot and cold environments. Have one large blanket, and one individual one for each member of your family. Keep one in your car and the larger one in your home or bugout bag (a separate conversation in itself!). The second option of course is a camouflage tarp. Why camouflage? Why not? During an event, you want to stay unseen and in the shadows!
Make sure to have materials to repair or fabricate a shelter. This is like the point I made above, but this includes tape, glue, various fasteners, flex seal, Paracord, items such as large rolls of 2mil thick plastic. Various tools to cut wood, plastic etc. is also something to give energy to.
For the more experienced prepper, research and be knowledgeable of various ways to erect a shelter in the wilderness: Lean-to, wedge tarp, Teepee, round lodge, quinzhee etc. Understand what it would take to fabricate a shelter in an urban environment using materials laying around.
I can’t stress enough how important a good shelter and a plan to reach a form of shelter is! If this is failed, the rest will not matter. You can survive for a day or two without water, food, or toilet paper. However, if you get wet and cold, your chances of injury, sickness, and even death go up greatly.