flooding in your shelter

[coon4492]

what are some solutions (if any) to stop your shelter from flooding. When I first built this shelter by my house we hadn't had any rain in weeks so the area was really dry naturally I assumed it would be a good spot now were getting pounded with rain and the floor inside gets flooded. I had laid down bark for flooring when I first built it would more bark help? Is it time to abandon this shelter?

[LDS]

Valuable lesson. You are learning that campsite selection is an art in itself. It is the same with all real estate: location, location, location!

It is much easier to locate in a place that will not have standing water than to try to dry out 2" of water from an ill chosen site.

This might be the only place in your yard for you to locate the shelter. If that is the case and you want to keep the shelter then build up the ground with aything you can find.

You would be better off finding another spot.

In the wilderness do not use a low spot no matter how good everything else around the spot is.

[dixieangler]

This might be the only place in your yard for you to locate the shelter. If that is the case and you want to keep the shelter then build up the ground with aything you can find.

And cut side channels or ruts on either side for the water to run off rather than build up.

You would be better off finding another spot.

Tree platforms or maybe standing platform (or hammock) A-frames might be better where there is just no getting away from standing water. Otherwise I would try to find slightly higher ground above low lying areas. Not too close to brush but far enough away that creepy crawlies will not want to cover open ground to the shelter. Oddly enough, I think of protection right along with slightly higher ground. Some place where there is dense wood or natural wall to the rear so that anything coming to the shelter will have to do so from the front or risk making noise or not be able to approach from the rear. The old rule still applies. When sitting in a room, do so with your back to the wall and the door to the front. Yes I constantly think about rabid animals. I don't like the idea of anything sneaking up on me from the rear so I watch and protect my six o'clock. At least if it comes from the front where I can see it coming, I have a little more time to react. If I can hear it coming from the rear through the brush, I can still have a little more time to react.

[coon4492]

I'd hate to build another shelter especially since this one turned out so well. If I add logs and then more bark my floor will be dry and stay dry I'm also going to do what Dixieangler said and dig a small ditch to let the water run off and that should work. The more I think about it a swamp bed would have been a better idea for this area I'm going to build one just to practice and learn it incase I find myself in need of a shelter in a swampy or flooded area.

[LDS]

Digging the dictch will be a waste of time unless you have proper dranage in the first place. If your shelter is in a low area it may not work. I have used ditching successfuly when the lay of the land was in my favor.

building up the floor is posible and practical in some instances. Soldiers all over the world have used that method in extreme situations. Brush or logs are usually the first material of choice.

[coon4492]

yea I'm planning to lay logs down then brush then bark it should work if not then I'm making a swamp bed

[LDS]

You could always just give up and practice being a Marine.

Sit in the mud and grumble.

[dixieangler]

Digging the dictch will be a waste of time unless you have proper dranage in the first place. If your shelter is in a low area it may not work. I have used ditching successfuly when the lay of the land was in my favor.

Very true. Or if you build up the area first like LDS said so the water will run off better.

[coon4492]

I fixed the shelter theres no use in throwing more crap down on the floor the water gest higher every rain fall. I took 4 strong fat logs and laid strong sticks across them to make a sort of bed like structure now the shelters floor is off the ground and it holds my weight very well. Now I just have to take the parts of my old shelter and build a roof. Its going to work really well