Winterization and Fire Safety

This is the main page for Winterization issues.

There are 3 primary concerns for winter:

• People - keeping us warm (clothing, etc.)
• Shelter - needs to be warm and sturdy (resist snow load, wind, etc.)
• Safety - snow removal, preventing slipping on ice, etc.

People

Ideas:

• Polypropylene layers under regular clothing. Look for items with a NSN number (military issue). Look for wool and thermals underwear too.
• Waterproof shoes/boots
• Hot beverages available
• Warming stations .. propane heaters.
• We can also use solar heat gain for daytime comfort. Clear plastic roofs with windbreaking sides make for good comfort on sunny days.

Shelter

Concerns:

• Will it hold up in strong winds?
• Will it keep water out, both on top/sides and floor?
• How do we hold tents down - can't drive stakes very deeply in the ground here; can't drive stakes through the paved areas at all.
• What are Fire Department concerns?
• City may not allow tents larger than 10x10 without a permit
• Can we provide any kind of safe heat source (don't want open flame)?

Ideas:

• Floors made with a layer of hay with plywood or tarps over it. This will allow water to flow under the floor.
• Floors made with pallets stuffed with hay, with plywood over top.
• Large military issue tents - can be used for kitchen, other working groups, group sleeping (need to provide separate sleeping areas based on gender). Could put small tents inside larger tents. Look for NSN number for good, 4-season tents
• Cots - get people off the ground while sleeping. What about hammocks?
• Shelters can be weighted down with sandbags, buckets filled with concrete, containers filled with water.
• Kitchen tent needs to be fully enclosed - not just warmth but to help keep rodents out.
• Little well insulated sleeping pods .. with wheels .. tiny house on wheels .. not a "structure" but a sleeping-barrow. example: [[1]]
• Heat: "catalytic propane heaters" do NOT have open flames and provide heat. I think the fire department warned against open flames. Well catalytic may be our answer.
• Carbon monoxide detectors are cheap and will protect against CO poisoning. This will satisfy the fire department, and will prevent any of us from dying, both of which are good.
• Inflatable structures... custom made or purchased .. dead air space can provide insulation .. flexible, not rigid structures, may avoid troubles with authorities, can be combined with other ideas, such as wheeled platforms.

Safety

• Where will all the snow go?
• Removing snow from gravel path could be special challenge; not so easy to shovel.
• Paths made of pallets and plywood will probably be slippery.

Resources

• Government surplus - auction sites. Use our funds to acquire lots of tents this way.
• Donations - ask for items with NSN numbers
• Hilton's Tent City? Need to visit in person to see what they have:http://www.hiltonstentcity.com/store.htm

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Based on: Winterization at wikispaces