Try to select stable ground where trees and buildings won’t fall on your shelter. If you’re in a city, you can build a reinforced shelter in a basement. The concrete can protect you from fallout and falling debris. Research the topography of your area. Your government’s local land survey office will have them available. Also, check with the emergency response office. Avoid positioning your shelter downhill from bodies of water or below steep slopes. Keep it clear of flammable buildings.
You can also get blueprints by consulting an architect or drafter. They can provide guidance on what shelter best suits your needs. Most building construction companies can build a shelter for you. Even if you don’t want to hire someone to design a shelter, sketch your own plans before beginning construction. You can try using a computer program like SketchUp.
Clear the land about 10 ft (3. 0 m) beyond the shelter’s perimeter so you have plenty of space to work with. The shelter’s size is up to you. Expect to add about 3 ft (0. 91 m) to the shelter’s length for every person who will hide there. A basic 4-person shelter is about 10 × 10 × 10 ft (3. 0 × 3. 0 × 3. 0 m) in size.
For quicker work, rent a backhoe from an equipment company near you. This can get pricey, but speeding up the excavation process is often worth it. Digging a deeper trench means more space and blast protection for your shelter.
You can build dirt steps as needed to reach the surface. Pile dirt near the entryway, then begin digging into it with a shovel. Shape the dirt into small steps. Lay threshold boards over each steps, connecting them to side boards with 10 in (25 cm) lag bolts. Always have a second exit in your shelter to guard against emergencies.
The main entrance will not have air pumps or ventilation pipes running through it, so it may appear larger by default.
For example, try using 9 ft (2. 7 m) poles over a trench 5 ft (1. 5 m) wide. Roofing poles are basically long, uncut pieces of timber. You can get them from lumber yards. Roofing suppliers and home improvement stores may also be able to help.
These entryway poles hold back the dirt you will use to create the shelter ceiling. If you don’t have them in place, the dirt can slide into the entryways, blocking them.
You can also fill the gaps with cloth, leaves, clay, or other alternative materials.
For extra radiation protection, make the dome deeper. Try placing a second plastic tarp layer over the dome, then pile up another 18 in (46 cm) of dirt.
Make the slopes on all sides of each entryway to ensure that rainwater never enters the shelter.
Make sure the tarps form a tent shape. They need to form a consistent slope so water rolls away from your shelter.
Always use a pump with an option for manual operation. The pump will run on its own most of the time, but in case of an emergency, you can operate it to keep the shelter’s air clean.
To install the ventilation pipe, run it through the nearest entryway, if possible. You may need to dig through the dirt so the pipe exits above the plastic canopy over the entryway. You can also try joining the pipe to the air pump’s ventilation pipe. Many shelters do not feature running water, so a regular toilet isn’t usually an option. You may not be able to get clean, running water in an emergency, so you may need to install an expensive system of tanks, pipes, and filters if you want more comfort. Another option is to use small plastic toilets or buckets. It isn’t ideal, but it is an effective way to keep your shelter safe and sanitary. Seal the buckets and carry them to the surface as needed.
You do not have to buy bulky furniture. Get creative and craft your own furniture or assemble makeshift bedding. For example, you can make a “bed” by piling blankets. Even packing together leaves, pine needle, or hay is a fast, inexpensive way to create a bed.
You will generally need to be in the shelter for around 3 days, but plan on staying up to a month in case of a serious emergency. Get a good first-aid kit that includes bandages, tape, splints, scissors, rubbing alcohol, and any medication you need. For food, bring things that don’t require a lot of preparation, such as lentils, jerky, and military MREs.
If you have to make an indoors shelter, try to choose a room closer to the middle of the building. This will put as much space between you and the fallout as possible. You can also build a separate concrete room or shelter outside.
A radio is handy, and you can use it to listen to updates. It may help you decide when leaving the shelter is safe.
Also consider installing an air ventilation pump. You may be able to connect it to ventilation pipes already installed in the building.
