HomePosts Tagged "Survival Bunker"

When it comes to surviving TEOTWAWKI, nothing is more important than choosing your shelter whether that is your bunker situated near your home, or somewhere more remote like a bug out location. But there’s much debate circling around which is actually the best. Both bug out locations (BOLs) and bunkers have their benefits and pitfalls. Which is right for you?

Bunkers

Pros

Preppers who consider bunkers the best way to survive the apocalypse like shelters for good reason. Bunkers are not only discreet — hidden out of the sight of enemies’ eyes and from the watchful eye of the government — these shelters also offer a low energy cost, they are bulletproof and excellent for surviving high-impact storms.

But, when you’re spending the apocalypse in an underground bunker, there’s not much outdoor visibility. When outfitting your bunker, put up camouflaged and hidden HD security camera system, so that you can keep an eye on what’s happening outside of the bunker.

 

 

Cons

Although some survivalists think that a bunker is the best way to go, there’s also a large group of preppers who consider the bunker a death trap. These folks make a good point. Many bunkers do not have enough oxygen flowing through to keep you alive for very long. And, let’s face it, air is important when it comes to survival.

And, once your bunker is found, there’s no escaping. Whoever, or whatever, is outside waiting will stay there until you’re forced to come out.

underground-container

Prepper experts advise survivalists who’ve already bought bunkers to consider turning them into root cellars to store fruits, vegetables and canned goods throughout winter.

Bug Out Locations

Pros

Getting a BOL is not hard. Getting the land for a bug out location is cheap and it will pay off when you need it. Just make sure the land you choose is accessible to you, not too vulnerable and in a spot where you can live off of the land with your own skills.

Having your own land away from civilization and the watchful eye of neighbors will allow you to stock up on survival supplies and grow your own food. You should use your land to build shelters, traps and everything else that’s needed to survive when the apocalypse hits.

deck

Cons

Even if you’re already living in a rural area, it still may be too close to highly populated areas. When you’re thinking about your BOL, you’ve got to have a plan. Many survivalists take to the mountains since there are plenty of natural resources available there. But if you and your family aren’t trained and you don’t carry the necessary skill set to survive, you’re not going to last long. In some cases, if you’re not prepared, it’s just best to stay put to avoid a self-inflicted demise.

 

BOLs aren’t always easy to defend. If you’re not far enough away from the population center, you’ve got to plan for a siege or an attack. Make sure you’ve got the proper training for this.

When it comes to surviving TEOTWAWKI, nothing is more important than choosing your shelter whether that is your bunker situated near your home, or somewhere more remote like a bug

 

I want to talk about what I believe to be the most critical necessity in the event the SHTF: The ability to shelter in place, in a shelter that provides protection from radiation, bombs, attacks, tornadoes and numerous other threats to safety.

While there are above ground shelters that do offer protection from some of the above mentioned threats, hands down, the best place to be is UNDERGROUND.

That said, with the exception of a line of Tornadoes passing through, you need to be psychologically and physically prepared to go underground for at least 2-3 weeks.

The amount of time will of course depend on the extent and type of event that has or is occurring.

Let’s assume you have a bunker and did your homework and have an adequate supply of MRE’s, water and other necessities for what could be your INITIAL 2-3 week stay.

What is the best bunker design?

I want to address the psychological aspect of being underground, in a confined space, and the issues/considerations faced by the occupants with regard to the Type, Shape and Utility of your surroundings.

Let’s face it, practical and usable space quickly becomes a valuable commodity when you are going to spend a significant amount of time in the shelter before venturing topside, and that environment should be comfortable, healthy and space efficient. You are going to be stressed enough if you are in there, and the last thing you need is the additional stress of a cramped, unfriendly environment.

I present this question for your consideration: Would you rather be in a claustrophobic steel pipe or in the open area provided by a square-shaped reinforced concrete bunker that is already finished with non-toxic material?

If steel pipes and steel boxes were the best shelter platform, the Military would be using them, and they’re not….they are still using reinforced concrete. There has to be something to be said about that, and there is: Mass, Density, Thermal Resistance, Sound Attenuation and Cost, to name a few.

 Related: Build a survival bunker

All the information you need to implement a high security and self-sufficient residence or retreat.

Furthermore, steel shelters, which are typically 3/16- 1/4 of an inch thick, need to be buried DEEP, in order to provide the proper comparative level of protection against radiation. They are typically installed with 8-10 feet of earth covering the top and this presents a considerable number of challenges with regard to the costs for excavating, the need to hire a crane and other issues.

For example, a 10 foot Pipe that is 20 feet long will require an 18-20 feet deep hole and provides a gross interior area of 1,570 cubic feet. Keep in mind that the interior surface is curved ( similar to being in a submarine ), and therefore requires a floor to be installed, which reduces headroom. Simply put, a pipe doesn’t lend itself to being space efficient and comfortable.

Comparatively, a 10 foot tall, 10 foot wide and 20 foot long Concrete shelter will only require a 12-13 foot deep hole, provides a gross interior area of 2,000 cubic feet, does not require a floor to be installed, has no loss of headroom anywhere inside the structure and only needs to have 2-3 feet of earth cover overhead.

If the height of the Concrete shelter is decreased to 8 feet ( the same height of the ceilings in your home), the required depth of the hole is reduced to 10-11 feet and the gross interior area is 1,600 cubic feet. This is still more than a 10 foot pipe of the same length while also providing complete use of the space, as the side walls are not coming in toward the center as they do in a pipe.

Space Comparison of a 10 ft Pipe to a 10ft Square

In my opinion, the 2 feet of headroom throughout is more than adequate.

Having adequately addressed the space issue, I’d like to make a quick point on the use of ICF’s (Insulated Concrete Forms) for long-term underground shelters.

ICF’s are made of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam blocks that are put together like Leggo’s, a double row of rebar is installed as the foam blocks are connected and when the walls are completed, concrete is pumped into them.

Of biggest concern with these systems is the fact that the Polystyrene contains toxic chemicals. Not only because they are made of petroleum-based foamed plastics, but also because they contain fire-retardant chemicals that are also toxic. Among these chemicals is HBCD (Hexabromocyclododecane).

HBCD has been classified as a category 2 for reproductive toxicity.[6] Since August 2010 Hexabromocyclododecanes are included in the EPA‘s List of Chemicals of Concern.[7] On May 2013 the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) decided to include HBCD in the Convention’s Annex A for elimination, with specific exemptions for expanded and extruded polystyrene in buildings needed to give countries time to phase-in safer substitutes. HBCD is listed for elimination, but with a specific exemption for expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) in buildings.

Additionally, EPS is labeled a flammable material and MUST be covered with a non-flammable material such as fire rated sheetrock or masonry to limit surface exposure to possible ignition sources. This covering also reduces exposure to the off-gassing of other chemicals considered to be toxic that occurs without exposure to fire.

When it burns, EPS produces heavy, acrid and toxic smoke. This obviously presents another serious problem when you are in a confined space, from which there is no escape. Even a small event in which this material merely smoldered with no open flame can/would have dire consequences for the occupants. Exposure to the heavy smoke generated, even if only for a few minutes, has been shown to be lethal.

In short, you are looking for your shelter to provide you a safe, healthy and fireproof refuge from a multitude of disaster scenarios. The dangerous and potentially lethal points made above should not be overlooked when making a decision in choosing a bunker or shelter.

  I want to talk about what I believe to be the most critical necessity in the event the SHTF: The ability to shelter in place, in a shelter that provides

Many people have become invested in the survivalist lifestyle as of late, and who could blame them? Every day you hear about another terrifying development in the world at large, whether it’s a threat of natural disaster, war, or simply some sort equipment malfunction that causes large scale destruction. The truth is that it’s very hard for families to feel any sense of peace or security in this day and age. These intangibles are hard to come by in a time when most people can’t even trust their next door neighbors.

For this reason, doomsday prepping has become quite attractive to those who want to be ready for anything. This includes occurrences such as natural disasters, economic collapses, and just about everything in between. One thing we can learn from the state of things today is that anything can happen at any moment, and those who are prepared for disaster will have a real advantage over those who are not.

Ordinary People Performing Extraordinary Feats

For the most part, doomsday preppers are just ordinary people. Often they have families, and they genuinely fearful for their children’s future given the ever increasing instability present in the world. Preppers are comprised of various age groups, social statuses, political beliefs, and all ethnicities and philosophical outlooks.

The common thread amongst preppers is that they actively take precautions in the event of a disaster. This can include things like floods and tornadoes, enemy attacks with biological weapons and similar tactics. The disaster needn’t be on a large scale to be threatening. Smaller scale disasters, which are more common due to the shifting economy, as well as odd weather patterns causing adverse conditions, can also be devastating.

Doomsday prepping is a lifestyle that is available to anyone who isn’t afraid of a little hard work and sacrifice. While we frequently hear of exorbitantly priced shelters and bunkers, this isn’t always the case. For a relatively reasonable sum of money, you can create your very own safe haven in the event of an attack, and this shelter can include all the items necessary to your survival until the initial threat subsides.

Shelter the Things You Love

Underground bunkers are quite popular with the survivalist set, and creating your own underground shelter is much more attainable than it seems. A bunker can be constructed for a relatively reasonable price. All you need to undertake the task are basic construction materials and some elbow grease. You can also enlist the help of a professional if you are unsure of how to go about constructing a safe and secure bunker on your own. There are many cost effective ways of building a bunker, it may just require a little research on your part.

The next step is to purchase supplies. Fortunately, most of the food you will need to buy is rather inexpensive. Canned items, like fruits and vegetables, are able to be purchased in large amounts for very little money. For this reason, when stocking your underground bunker you should definitely consider buying food in bulk. Foods such as rice, beans, and other staples are also available at extremely affordable prices. You may even want to consider stocking seeds to be used for planting when the time is right.

Water is equally important. Fresh water should be plentiful, but so should the means to purify unclean water should your source become depleted. This can be accomplished through chemical means, such as iodine tablets, or by purchasing a water purification system. Boiling water is also an option, but this can be difficult if you are left without the means to do so.

Clean Air is Crucial to Survival

While much is said about keeping adequate food and clean water supplies, little is ever mentioned regarding the quality of one’s air in a survival scenario. All over the world, terrorist groups and the like use biological and chemical weapons as a means of waging war. The effects of these weapons are long lasting. Chemical weapons typically have a faster onset, while biological weapons can cause untold suffering for years to come.

If you choose to go the underground bunker route, air purification should be a top concern, along with food and water. Bunkers tend to have insufficient ventilation, which can actually be beneficial depending on the air quality outside the bunker. However, insufficient air flow can be a detriment to those subsisting in a bunker, and can negatively impact health, as well as general quality of life.

For this reason, it’s crucial that air purification is part of your survival plans. An air purifier can be extremely beneficial to those in such situations. These devices can filter the air of harmful chemicals and agents, allowing you and your family to breathe easier, no matter where you may be. This is especially important if the disaster scenario is ongoing. You’ll want fresh, clean air at your disposal, and this can be afforded by an air purifier.

Don’t Forget an External Power Source

In order to be a fully functioning survival unit, a power generator is a must. Batteries are important for smaller items, such as flashlights and radios. But to power large items, such as the aforementioned air purifier, as well as things like cooking implements, heating systems, and other vital needs, you’ll need a larger, more reliable power source. Generators are great in this respect. A portable generator is the ideal, as you will be able to take it with your should your bunker become compromised.

Expect the Unexpected

Real safety is hard to come by these days for many reasons. Unrest is a fixture all over the world, due to economic collapses, brutal governments taking advantage of their citizens, as well as fringe groups threatening the very fabric of society. You can’t take risks like these lightly, given the state of the world today. Doomsday preppers face these risks head on through their various prepping methods. By being prepared for unforeseen circumstances, preppers can rest assured that they have a sound plan to follow in the event of unmitigated disaster.

Many people have become invested in the survivalist lifestyle as of late, and who could blame them? Every day you hear about another terrifying development in the world at large,