Step 1. Select Shelter Site.
Investigate various sites. Select a site for the shelter complex that meets the following requirements:
* Above water table.
* Soil that is not water saturated.
* In a clearing away from tree roots.
* Above the 10,000 year flood plain.
* Ideally, the site should be on granular soil such as sand and gravel. (Avoid clay, peat and silt).
* A site that can be easily excavated to a depth of 8 feet. (Large boulders, limestone, solid rock formations can make excavation very difficult).
* The selection of the Stage 1 shelter site should be done in concert with the selection of the Stage 2 shelter site. These two sites should be within 1/2 mile of each other. The driver for the Stage 2 site will be the accessibility to a drinking water supply.