Being prepared isn’t as hard as you may think. Once you have taken care of the basic food items (temporary and long term), water (including storage and purification methods), and covered your basic health needs the next item you will need to cover is shelter. Shelter needs range from temporary needs to those which are more considered more permanent. One of the best forms of temporary shelter are poly tarps.
Tarps are large sheets of various types of materials which usually have the ability to resist the damaging effects of heat from the sun, water damage due to rain, protection against wind damage and a variety of other beneficial uses. With the advent of modern technology, tarps have become extremely lightweight, inexpensive, and a fairly durable means of protection against environmental hazards. The manufacture of polyethylene tarps has enabled people everywhere to have affordable protection against the weather and its effects. They are more commonly called poly tarps.
While there are other types of tarps (canvas, plastic, etc.), poly tarps offer the most diversity and allow this simple means of protection from the elements to be affordable for everyone.
Uses of Poly Tarps
1.) Poly tarps can be used to cover your equipment from harmful weather conditions.
2.) Poly tarps can be used as an expedient shelter for you and your family from various weather conditions.
3.) Poly tarps can also be used as an effective means of providing privacy when needed.
4.) Poly tarps can be used to protect items while being transported.
The variety of uses for tarps is almost endless and is limited only by your imagination.
Advantages of Poly Tarps
1.) Lightweight and easily carried or transported
2.) Extremely durable – available in a wide range of strengths
3.) Lower in cost than most other types of tarps
4.) Available in a wide range of sizes to fit your needs
Disadvantages of Poly Tarps
The main disadvantage of poly tarps is that they are only a temporary means of protection. They should be considered only for short term shelter needs until a more permanent type of shelter can be obtained.
Got poly tarps?
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
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5 comments:
Good post: I will suggest also rain catchment set ups and hasty stretchers. Can't have too many.
To: anonymous
Great ideas! There are probably quite a few more that haven't even been thought of yet. The stretcher part is a really good one.
Thanks
Riverwalker
Yup, I gots poly tarps, and I had thunk of the catchment thing too. Good call anon....
Enjoyed your Preppin 101 blog posts. I would like to add that when building a temporary shelter with a poly tarp it should be securely anchored and constructed to deflect the wind. Poly tarps will act much like a kit or parachute when the wind catches them. Also, check out this document on how to choose a poly tarp.
To: Dan
Thanks. Glad you've enjoyed the Preppin' 101 series - I've more to come. Poly tarps are handy things to have around and depending upon their use, you will need to take additional steps (securing properly, etc.).
Riverwalker
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