TARPS
by Tim "Nomad" Piper
(Louisville,KY& the road)
Emergency Preparednes Article # 1 TARPS
I camp every chance I get so this series of articles is based on tried methods and equipment. Sometimes I camp for a week to ten days at a time so this information can be used wihtout modification for extended disaster recovery,or to "BUG OUT".
With tornado season starting early this year and in my opinion tornado alley creeping east I felt this information needed to be shared. It will however require a means of transport for the required equipment. Whether it is a canoe, automobile, a motorcycle with a trailer or an ATV with a trailer.
SHELTER is one of the basic necessities for survival and needs to be attended to first. In this article I will cover a tarp system.
Over the years I have watched the "CAMPING TARP" evolve from many failures to ones that work. I currently use a heavy tarp that is 20'x20' square and of my own set-up design. A person could use larger ones but I have found that physics comes into play. The wind dynamics changes a lot even on 20'x30'. It becomes much harder to keep the corners from tearing out and the anchor pegs from pulling out of the ground.
I used a 20'x30' for a week long camp out in Alabama when Hurrican Katrina came ashore. It head up in 70mph winds, I did have one corner tear out but that was it. A lot of the store bought systems failed completely.
The tarp needs to be a heavier grade tarp preferably with reinforced corners and 1/2" grommets. This type can be bought at a TRACTOR SUPPLY store for about $80.00. The cheap ones just can't hold up to the wind wipping them. Mine is a silver/black one and a poly type not canvas. I haven't tried the canvas ones but I'm sure they would do well.
Next are the poles,mine are 1"x8' for the corners and sides and 1"x9' for the center and made of aluminum. The 1" is a must for the corners and center as anything smaller will buckle in the middle. The 1/2" steel ones will hold until the wind comes and then they fail miserably. I used the steel on the sides until I found the 1" on sale and bought four more 1".
I put a pole at each corner and another at the halfway point on the sides. You will need to add new grommets at the halfway point so the tarp tightens up squarely(kit is available at LOWE'S). This prevents sagging and flapping during gusty winds. The tallest pole goes in the center.
To keep the poles from pushing through the grommets you will need some washers with 1/2" holes in them. It requires 2 per pole x 8 poles = 16.If it is possible I like 8 of them to be cupped and 8 flat. The cupped one goes on the pole first cup down,then the tarp,then the flat washer and finally your guy line.
In the center of the tarp I place a 6" round x1/2" thick piece of plywood on top and bottom of the tarp. I then screw these together and drill three holes in them to thread a guy line through. This is important as without it the wind will lift your tarp up off of the center pole. When this happens the center pole falls over and then pierces the tarp as the wind pushes it back down. The guy line is tied through the discs and then pulled straight down to a peg in the ground.
The guy lines for the corners and sides need to be cut about 20' long. I tie a permanent loop in the middle and then a prussik knot on each of the free ends.This allows for easy adjustment without the need to untie and re-tie.
My choice for pegs are the 12" orange military pegs, they are a v pattern and get down into the solid soil below the soft topsoil in wet weather.They are also aluminum which saves some weight.
I set the tarp up in a pyramid fashion as I feel it gives the most rain protection and shade. It can also be set up as an A-frame to get more breeze. If you prefer this set up I would advise buying three 9' poles. One for the center and two for the ends.
During heavy wind and rain you will need to lower your 8 side poles as low as possible. This makes the pyramid steeper and more rigid.
My guy lines I keep in a shaving kit bag,and I use a second one for the pegs and washers. All of this then fits into large duffle bag with the tarp and a mallet for driving in the pegs.
I had a ballistic cloth bag custom made to keep my poles in.($30.00 Howie's Harnesses)
"SAFE JOURNEY'S"
Emergency Preparednes Article # 1 TARPS
Emergency Prepardness # 2 TENTS/SHELTER
Emergency Preparedness #3 WATER
Emergency Preparedness # 4 LATRINE/ HOT SHOWER
Emergency Preparedness #5 PORTABLE KITCHEN
Emergency Preparedness # 6 BEDROOM
Emergency Preparedness # 7 COMMUNICATION
Emergency Preparedness #8 TRAVEL/NAVIGATION
Emergency Preparedness #9 DEFENSE/HUNTING
