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A standalone shelter is a separate building that is designed to withstand natural disasters or man-made weapons or attacks. An internal shelter is a room within your home that has been designed to protect you from the elements or other hazards. In an economic collapse, power systems may fail and looters and scavengers may threaten your home. Take precautions to protect yourself. One source could be solar. Hook it up to your home and then run the system discretely underground. The second source might be an underground generator. You will use this in the event of a total loss of power. Keep your energy sources hidden underground to protect them. The size of your shelter depends on how many people you need to protect and the size of your food stockpile. An adult needs 10 cups of water and 1,200 calories per day. In addition, each adult needs 10 cubic feet of natural atmosphere to have enough air to breathe, so you will need an air system that lets in and filters fresh air. If you are planning to stay in the shelter long-term, invest now in making it large and comfortable enough for everyone. If it is only going to be a short-term living space, you don't have to make it as comfortable. Protect yourself from others who were not prepared and may want to take what you have. Don't let your neighbors see you creating a shelter. You can choose a remote location, but it may be difficult to access it later. If you choose to make a safe room in your home, create a secret entrance from within your house. This way others will not be alerted to your shelter. Self-defense tools are generally non-lethal. They are used to fend off an attack by rendering the attacker ineffective. You can use everyday objects, such as baseball bats or keys. But these may not be as effective as tools designed for your protection. Mace and pepper spray can be sprayed into an attacker's face to give you time to get away. Hand-held stun guns deliver a large electrical shock to stun the attacker. Taser devices shoot two small probes a distance of up to 15 feet that transmit an electrical charge to the attacker. Sonic alarms create a loud noise to let others know that you are in trouble. Wireless security systems are easy and inexpensive to install and maintain. Home alert alarm systems notify you if an intruder is approaching your home. Hidden cameras allow you to see internal and exterior areas in your home where an intruder may be present. Phone dialing alarms can be installed inside or outside your home and allow you to contact authorities with the push of a button. Child monitoring alarms notify you if your child goes beyond a certain perimeter of your home. Weapons can be used for either self-defense or for hunting. A crossbow is easy to shoot and aim. It's also quiet, so it doesn't alert people or animals to your presence. A long-range rifle allows you to hunt game from a distance. A machete can clear brush or fend off a dangerous animal. A slingshot is good for hunting small animals. Have pistols on hand and teach others to shoot, reload, shoot from cover and work as a team for protection. If you plan to have lethal weapons, be sure to train everyone who has access to them in the proper use of these weapons. Stockpile appropriate ammunition and arrows for your weapons. Having the right tools on hand can make the difference between surviving and not surviving during any kind of disaster. You not only want to be able to protect your home, but you also need to be able to build anything you might need. Have a bolt-cutter on hand to cut through fences and wire. Picks, shovels, axes, chain saws and bow saws allow you dig and gather and cut wood. Rope and paracords are essential for assembling simple and complex survival systems. Tarps are necessary as ground covers or for weather-proofing. Stock pile nails and plywood for building and repairs. Keep large trash bags for waste disposal. Have gasoline for fuel or a fire starter. Get a propane stove for cooking. Have a fishing rod for catching fish.
Choose your shelter type. Create two sources of electricity. Choose the size of your shelter. Keep the location of your shelter secret. Purchase self-defense tools. Set up an alarm system in your home. Purchase weapons. Gather necessary tools.