How to Choose the Best Emergency Shelter

What matters most

Every shelter is a trade between weight, protection and comfort. Before you buy, decide where and when you will use it. Then judge each option on these points:

1. Weather protection. Can it handle wind, rain and snow where you go?
2. Ground insulation. Does your system include a pad that keeps the cold ground off your body?
3. Weight and size. Will you actually carry it on every trip?
4. Setup time. Can you pitch it with cold, wet hands in the dark?
5. Space. Does it fit you, your gear and anyone with you?
6. Skill needed. A tarp is light but takes practice to pitch well.

Ground insulation and R-value

A sleeping pad’s warmth is rated by R-value. Cascade Designs, the maker of Therm-a-Rest, describes R-value as a measure of resistance to heat loss. A higher number means a warmer pad.

The ASTM F3340 test standard was published in 2019. It lets you compare R-values fairly across brands. Look for pads that state they are tested to this standard.

A closed-cell foam pad cannot puncture. Placing one under an inflatable pad adds warmth and gives you a backup if the air pad fails.

Shelter options compared

Shelter	Weight	Setup	Weather protection	Ground insulation	Best use
Tent	Medium to heavy	Easy with practice	Good to very good	Floor only; add a pad	Planned trips, families
Tarp	Light	Takes skill	Fair to good	None; add ground sheet and pad	Light packs, group cover
Bivy sack	Light	Very fast	Fair	None; add a pad	Solo, fast trips
Emergency blanket or bivy	Very light	Seconds	Poor to fair	None	Day packs, car and go-bags
Hammock with rain fly	Light to medium	Needs two anchors	Fair to good	Cold from below without a pad or underquilt	Warm, wooded, wet ground
Vehicle	Already there	None	Good	Fair	Stranded drivers

The National Park Service lists a tent, tarp, bivy sack or emergency space blanket as lightweight emergency shelter options. Pick at least one for every outdoor trip.

Tents

A tent gives you a floor, walls, bug netting and privacy. It is the easiest shelter for beginners and families. It is also the heaviest option.

• Three-season tents handle spring, summer and fall rain and wind.
• Four-season tents have stronger poles and fewer mesh panels for snow and high winds.
• Freestanding tents stand up without stakes, which helps on rock or sand.
• Trekking-pole tents save weight but need stakes and a good pitch.

Pitch your tent at home twice before a trip. Count the stakes and check the poles each time.

Tarps

A tarp is a flat sheet you pitch with cord and stakes. It is light, cheap and can cover a whole group. It has no floor, so add a ground sheet and pad.

Pitch the tarp low and angle the closed side into the wind. Carry at least 50 feet (15 m) of cord for guy lines and a ridgeline. Practice two or three pitches at home until you can set them up quickly.

Bivy sacks

A bivy sack is a waterproof cover that slips over your sleeping bag. It adds warmth and blocks wind and light rain. It packs very small.

Moisture from your breath and body can build up inside, so the bag can get damp. A bivy also feels tight, and you have no space to sit up. Many people pair a bivy with a small tarp.

Emergency blankets and emergency bivies

These are thin, reflective sheets or bags. They weigh very little and fit in a pocket or glove box. They are a last-resort backup, not a plan for a night out.

• Thin sheets tear easily on branches and in wind.
• Condensation builds up inside, so your clothes can get damp.
• An emergency bivy (bag shape) wraps you better than a flat blanket.
• Pair one with something between you and the ground, such as a foam pad, a pack or dry leaves.

Hammocks

A hammock keeps you off wet, rocky or sloped ground. It works well in warm, wooded areas. You need two strong trees or anchors, a rain fly and wide straps that protect bark.

Air moving under you pulls heat away even in mild weather. Add a sleeping pad or an underquilt below you. Without one, a hammock can be cold on a cool night.

Your vehicle as a shelter

If you are stranded in a winter storm, the NWS says to stay in your vehicle. Leaving can disorient you quickly in blowing snow. Follow its steps:

1. Run the engine about 10 minutes each hour for heat.
2. Crack a window while the engine runs to prevent carbon monoxide buildup.
3. Keep the tailpipe clear of snow.
4. Leave the dome light on at night while the engine runs, so rescuers can see you.
5. Tie a bright cloth, preferably red, to the antenna or door.
6. Raise the hood once the snow stops falling.

Keep a sleeping bag or warm blankets in the car in winter. Ready.gov lists a sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person in an emergency kit.

Disaster shelter: home, friends or a public shelter

In a city disaster, your best shelter is usually a building. Follow official orders first. If you are told to evacuate, leave.

Option	Good points	Downsides	What to bring
Your home	Your own supplies, beds and pets	Only if safe and not under evacuation order	Your full home kit
Friends or family	Private, familiar, often pet-friendly	Must be outside the danger area; you need a ride and a plan	Go-bag, bedding, medications
Public shelter	Free, staffed, food and first aid	Crowded, little privacy	Bedding, clothing, medications, ID, emergency kit

What Red Cross shelters provide

The American Red Cross says its shelters offer a safe place to sleep, meals, snacks and water. They also provide first aid, emotional support and help reconnecting with family. You can find open shelters on the Red Cross shelter map or by calling your local chapter.

The Red Cross says pets are welcome, though they may be housed in a separate area. Service animals are always welcome and are not counted as pets. Do not bring alcohol, illegal drugs or weapons.

Bring your own bedding

Shelters that open just before a storm may not have a cot and blanket for every person. The Red Cross South Florida region notes these usually house people for 12 to 72 hours. Bring:

• Bedding or a sleeping bag
• Clothing for several days
• Prescription and emergency medications
• Photo ID and cash
• Water and non-perishable food
• Pet kennel, food and medications
• A comfort item for each child
• Your emergency kit

Plan your options ahead with our guide to creating an evacuation plan.

Match the shelter to the situation

Situation	Good choice
Day hike	Emergency bivy and a small foam sit pad
Summer overnight	Three-season tent, or tarp plus bivy, with a pad
Winter camping	Four-season tent and a high R-value pad, or two pads stacked
Car kit	Sleeping bag or blankets, plus an emergency bivy
Go-bag	Tarp, emergency bivy, 50 ft (15 m) of cord
Home evacuation	Friends or family first, public shelter as backup

How to pick a campsite

1. Find flat ground that is slightly higher than the area around it.
2. Stay out of dry creek beds and low spots where water collects.
3. Look up and avoid dead trees and hanging branches.
4. Put the narrow end of your shelter into the wind.
5. Clear rocks and sticks from under your pad.
6. Pitch before dark, while you can still see.

You will also need warm clothes and a way to make fire. See our guides to survival clothing and fire-starting techniques.

Common mistakes

• Buying a shelter and never practicing the pitch.
• Sleeping straight on the ground with no pad.
• Relying on a space blanket for a planned night out.
• Taking a hammock into treeless country.
• Leaving the car on a long walk during a blizzard.
• Arriving at a public shelter without bedding or medications.

Sources

• Ten Essentials — National Park Service
• What To Do If You’re Caught in a Winter Storm — National Weather Service
• Build a Kit — Ready.gov (FEMA)
• Disaster Shelters — American Red Cross
• Evacuation Centers vs. Shelters — American Red Cross, South Florida Region
• The ASTM R-Value Standard: Rating Sleeping Pad Insulation — Cascade Designs