Car Shelter

Why not use a car or a van as a shelter during the pole shift? Burying it 3/4 or fully underground and protecting the windows with plywood or sheets of metal under a thick layer of dirt. The car could even been reinforced by a strong box of poles around it. The space between the car and the poles could be filled with debris. A window in the roof could be used as an entrance and escape hatch. During the few 'heaviest' days the seats with its security belts and the car suspension should do well to protect you against the earthquakes. You can even take your supplies with you in your car. After the stormiest days you can get out and raise the tents. A problem could be the amount of oxygen that would be needed to rest some days underground. That car-shelter could be a fast and cheap alternative for all those people, who are preparing too late or have not the possibility to buy land and build concrete domes on it. Another important point is that with your car you can be mobile up to the last day before the time gets rough and you decide to dig in like a battle tank in war. All in all it would be the last but lifesaving service from your car!

Offered by Jörg.

Real good idea Jorg. I would suggest that preparations be made to include:

1. Proper ventilation; a snorkel device and capped in such a manner to prevent debris from entering but letting (If it's available) oxygen in. I would recommend a very sturdy device, an iron pipe or even some PVC and set firmly or welded onto the roof of the car. The snorkel would function similarily to the "thing" that is on top of a chimney.
2. If you're going to be digging holes then dig one where the inhabitants will have at least a relatively sanitary place to attend to body functions namely - elimination. Killer diseases arise to strike at opportune times and the poleshift will give those maladys cause to raise their ugly heads. The area should be sealed off with a door. Lye should be kept in the room and used to speed decay, but sealed tightly as it's fumes are caustic. Definitely, the room, or space, should be adequately ventilated. In the Marine Corps we would dig a deep and narrow hole about "arms width and length" in a foxhole for two purposes; grenades and waste.
3. Watch out for battery acid fumes. I don't know what to do about that. Ventilate the battery to outside also?
4. Include with essential equipment an AC/DC converter (plugs in to the cigarette lighter) and a small electric fan to aid in the elimination of stale air. Radio Shack can supply components to rig the fan to adapt to the converter.
5. Some type of berm around the hole may be necessary as there will be downpours. And a roof. We don't want the car to "float" out of it's hole and/or soak or drown the inhabitants. I would dig the pit with about a 2-4 degree slope in order for water to drain outward and downhill through some kind of drainage pipe as the possibility of leakage into the pit can occur. In fact, it may be useful that some leakage should occur which would help in the nasty job of discharging waste, as in a sewer system, to the outside.
6. If we're going to bury a car, bury a van and a big one; they're roomy with space to store essentials.

Offered by Mike.

If you're going to bury a vehicle, make sure you have a slight downward slope to your "garage", and proper drainage. There will be a lot of rainfall after the pole shift and you don't want to find yourself buried in a mudhole! Also, once you get your vehicle "parked", It would be a good idea to drain engine fluids and the gas tank, and bury them a safe distance away. Best to eliminate the possability of fire or explosion while you are buried in your vehicle!

Offered by Brent.