Planning
Compare several level or gently sloping locations. Observe runoff after rain, visible slope movement, dead or damaged trees and access for help. An independent secondary exit must be physically possible.
Emergency preparedness · 18 min
Select a site for an earth-and-timber refuge
Dry, understandable ground matters more than maximum remoteness.
Depressions, stream proximity, steep slopes, loose fill, root plates and unstable ground can make a small structure life-threatening. Site choice follows water, soil, rescue access and inspectability—not a desire for invisibility.
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Decision compass
Decide safely
Four questions lead from observation to a clear, safer action.
What needs to be clarified now?
What must I notice first?
- Record household needs, dependencies, current official information and available safe locations.
- Agree responsibilities, communication rules and a fallback before time pressure develops.
Remember: Observe → assess → choose a safer option → act.
Dry, understandable ground matters more than maximum remoteness.
Learning goals
- Reject sites with water, slope or rescue hazards
- List nearby hazards and every connected system
- Record the test result, responsible person and maintenance date
Inspection
A walkover provides clues only; earthworks require competent assessment of soil, capacity and water. Reject recurring saturation, unresolved drainage, rockfall, unstable slopes or unmanageable wildfire exposure.
Operation and maintenance
Inspect after heavy rain, storms, frost and long periods without use. Changes to trees, soil or drainage can make a previously acceptable location unsafe.
Practical check
- Reject sites with water, slope or rescue hazards
- Record conditions with photographs and a plan
- Assign responsibility
- Test function under realistic conditions
- Document results and maintenance date
Important
- Do not build without required specialist design
- Never trade escape routes or safe air for storage
- Do not present unverified assumptions as protective performance
Decision training
What must be checked before work begins on “Select a site for an earth-and-timber refuge”?
- ABuild immediately by improvisation
- BDocument conditions, obtain the required assessment and then test
- CPostpone the issue until an emergency
Show answer
Correct: B. Photographs, plans, specialist checks and a functional test show whether the proposed solution works safely at the actual site.