Perimeter Security for Your Shelter

Outer zone (50+ meters): early warning only. Middle zone (10-50 meters): detection and delay. Inner zone (0-10 meters): immediate response area. Each zone has different measures.

Tie string or fishing line between trees at ankle height. Attach empty tin cans with small stones inside. Any movement rattles the cans. Use natural chokepoints — paths, gaps in vegetation, stream crossings.

Check your own tripwires every time you leave shelter. Mark their locations clearly to avoid triggering them yourself.

No open fires visible from outside at night. Cover windows with dark material. No shouting, no loud conversation after dark. Keep dogs quiet or secured. Noise and light at night signal: 'people here with resources.'

Minimum group size for 24-hour coverage: 4 people. Two-hour watches prevent sleep deprivation. Rotate so no one keeps the same shift every night. Wake the next watcher 5 minutes early for handover. Log anything unusual.

Position one person with a clear view of approach routes. Elevated positions are better. Establish a simple challenge system: a pre-agreed signal (whistle pattern, hand signal) to identify returning group members.