Securing survival shelters will be paramount in the aftermath of a SHTF event. Undoubtedly, the primary survival strategy of those who had not prepared for SHTF will be to find those who did prepare and simply take their stuff.
Suppose your family’s survival depended on stealing food from someone who has enough food stored away for years. Would you honestly let your daughter die of starvation because “Stealing is wrong?” If good people can be driven to do bad things, can you imagine what bad people will get up to in a post-SHTF world?
I often tell my kids that one of the biggest problems we face due to growing up and living in a time of abundance, is that we have no real practical experience of how people react in times of scarcity.
A drowning man will grasp at anything to try and stay alive. In a SHTF world, everyone will be drowning, and your supplies store will be the only lifeboat around. It would take a fearless man not to be scared by the prospect of starving looters coming for your supplies.
Concealment Is Key
While you may not have control over your home’s location, you can make it far less noticeable to potential looters by using clever concealment techniques.
Consider blending your home into its surroundings so that it doesn’t draw unwanted attention during a crisis. Avoid anything that makes your property stand out, like bright exterior colors, visible solar panels, or flashy security systems. Before you rush to build a tall fence for added security, learn here why that could backfire.
You could also enhance concealment by using natural barriers like trees, bushes, or camouflage netting, which can obscure key features of your home from both ground-level observation and drone surveillance.
You can also employ visual tricks, such as using debris, rocks, or fencing to make your home blend into the landscape. The key is to make it look like there’s nothing worth looting.
Reinforce Entrances and Windows
Even if looters find your shelter, making it difficult to break into will buy you time and potentially force them to move on to an easier target. Reinforced doors and windows are critical for this.
Steel doors or heavy wooden doors fortified with metal bars can be nearly impossible for looters to breach. Add deadbolts, crossbars, or even improvised barricades like 2x4s that can be placed across the door when inside.
For added security, install a peephole or small camera that allows you to see who’s outside without opening the door.
Windows, if you have them, should be minimal and located in places that don’t give away your shelter’s position.
Metal grilles or shutters can be installed to keep looters from breaking them. If possible, place windows higher up or in areas where it’s harder to reach.
Maintain Noise and Light Discipline
One of the biggest mistakes you can make during a crisis is inadvertently drawing attention to your shelter. Noise and light discipline are essential to keeping your presence undetected.
At night, any light can serve as a beacon to looters, so blackout curtains are a must. Keep your lights dim and use them sparingly, relying on low-profile lighting that doesn’t leak out. Solar-powered or battery-operated lanterns with adjustable brightness can be perfect for this situation.
Noise discipline is equally critical. Avoid using loud tools or speaking at high volumes, and minimize any sounds that could give away your location. This is especially important if you have a generator or other powered systems running. I recommend building this DIY powerplant, which operates quietly and minimizes any noise that might reveal your location
Build Perimeter Defenses
Physical barriers can deter looters from even approaching your shelter.
Start by setting up a defensive perimeter around your shelter with fencing, barbed wire, or thorny bushes. Even simple deterrents, like broken glass spread across vulnerable areas, can make looters think twice.
For a more advanced approach, consider installing motion-sensor alarms or tripwires connected to noisemakers. These don’t have to be high-tech—something as simple as cans on a string can alert you to unwanted visitors while also scaring off looters.
Another strategy is to make your property look like it’s already been looted or abandoned. Diversion tactics, such as placing decoy supplies in visible areas or scattering debris, can create the impression that there’s nothing left to steal.
You can even tag your property with symbols or marks that indicate it’s already been searched.
Install Hidden Compartments and Escape Routes
Even if looters get inside your shelter, that doesn’t mean they need to find everything. Hidden compartments for storing valuable supplies are a great way to keep looters from accessing your most important resources.
False floors, concealed storage areas, and hidden safes can be easy to install but difficult for looters to locate.
Related: 9 Hiding Spots in Your House Where Looters Always Look First
If things escalate, you’ll need a secondary exit or escape route. Shelters should always have a second way out in case the main entrance is compromised.
A hidden tunnel, trap door, or exit disguised by debris or vegetation can give you a way to escape unnoticed if looters become aggressive.
Trust No One
In a crisis, it’s vital to adopt a mindset of caution and skepticism. Even those who appear trustworthy may not have your best interests at heart when survival is on the line.
Keep your plans and resources close to your chest, sharing information only with those you have thoroughly vetted over time. If someone approaches you seeking help or information, question their motives.
In a world where desperation can lead to betrayal, relying solely on yourself is often the safest bet. Be especially observant of your neighbors; watch for these tell-tale signs that indicate your neighbor could become a looter in a crisis. This awareness will help you stay one step ahead and protect your home effectively.
Prepping is about more than storing food and making fire. It’s about staying alive when SHTF. You better be ready because it will be brutal.
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