Prepare Shelters™

Shelter Systems’ Tents have been sheltering people for over 30 years and has been making Disaster Relief Tents for over 20 years. We are now proud to offer Disaster Preparedness Shelters to County Health Departments, Fire Departments, Schools, Classrooms, Neighborhood, Churches, Hospitals and Businesses.

Worlds Strongest Dome Tents Since 1976

Shelter Systems’ Prepare Shelters are dome shaped patented Geotensic™ structures that are stronger than any other structure made of the same materials. Because of its curved shape with no corners, there are no weak points. They are made of a strong, tear-resistant fabric and non-puncturing tarp fasteners, and are guaranteed leak proof. Our patented structure is drum tight, waterproof and wind-resistant. Shelter Systems’ domes perform very well in strong wind and rain.

Easy Set Up

Shelter Systems’ Prepare Shelters can be set up by most people in 30 minutes without tools.

Insert the interchangeable poles into factory-attached connectors spaced evenly over the cover. The poles bend slightly when inserted, tightening the cover into a wind- and waterproof shelter. The cover is freestanding requiring no guy lines and can be moved into the desired position or location without disassembly. The YurtDome can be taken down in 5 minutes: just remove the poles and roll up the covering.

Set up of 30-foot preparedness dome:

Sturdy design

Shelter Systems’ patented Prepare Shelters are very strong and well supported in multiple locations for balanced freestanding strength. Their drum tight domed shape sheds the wind well and offers the minimal surface area for the wind to push against. They are the strongest structure available for the materials used. We strive to make a durable, highly portable shelter at an affordable price that will out preform all tents but those made of much heavier and or expensive materials.

Prepare Shelters have the poles on the outside with the covering suspended under the frame via Shelter Systems’ own Grip Clip tarp fasteners, such that the frame and the covering are not in direct contact. Because the covering is under constant and even tension, the tent will not flap or shred in high wind, poles cannot rub against the covering, which would eventually wear holes in it, and water and leaf debris cannot get caught in dips between poles.

The shingled panels of our Prepare Shelters overlap each other by 6″, making the structure very strong and completely leak proof (we have a leak-proof guarantee for all of our domes). The shingling design allows the structure to breathe for excellent air circulation and so moisture is driven out by vapor pressure, preventing condensation. Shelter Systems’ patented Grip Clips™ tarp fasteners are used to join the dome’s cover to the pole frame and to fasten the shingled panels together. Grip Clips remove the need for sewn seams or grommets that puncture the cover, which would allow rain to enter.

We do not rate our domes for wind as the wind comes in gusts. Shelter Systems’ domes have withstood storms that gusted in excess of 60 mph for two hours (How To Deal With Wind). We do not recommend our domes for constant or extreme wind or areas known for extreme wind such as certain hill tops or valleys. Wet snow can be very heavy, thus snow build up must be brushed or melted off. Our domes most often recover from failure in high wind or heavy snow. If a well anchored dome fails from extreme wind what usually happens is that a small number of poles fail and the cover collapses. After the storm passes the broken PVC poles can be easily field repaired or replaced and the dome put up again with little harm to the covering.

Durable Materials

Shelter Systems’ Prepare Shelters have a covering made wholly of a super strong, tear-proof, white multi laminate woven ripstop film which will not rot or mildew. It is UV stabilized to withstand up to 3 years full sun exposure and treated with fire retardant. The fabric is a super strong, high tensile strength, rip-stop, completely waterproof, mildew resistant, and cannot be torn by hand even after it is cut. The white color of the covering reflects the heat of the sun and provides 40% shade. This US made, proprietary material is the finest material we could find to make our tents from.

The Poles are of high quality US made PVC that is admirable for its strength, resiliency, long life, natural UV stability for a long sun life, and its strength to weight and cost ratio. The poles we use are Class 200, 3/4″ to 1 1/4″-diameter (3.5 cm.) PVC tubing.

Shelter Systems’ Patented Grip Clips that we use to join the domes cover to its poles are molded of a UV stabilized resin blended specifically for it high strength and durability.

Affordable

Shelter Systems Prepare Shelters are reliable and affordable emergency and disaster preparedness shelters. Our waterproof design does not require a rain fly and the particular geometric shape utilizes material efficiently. The high performance covering is affordable and the design and tarp fasteners used mean our tents are labor efficient to build.

Comfortable Living Space

Shelter Systems’ Prepare Shelters are light filled and well ventilated. The white covering creates a pleasingly bright interior. Shelter Systems’ 14′, 18′, and 20′ Prepare Shelters have four flap doors evenly spaced around the dome for good cross ventilation and light. The 30′ and 31′ domes have eight doors. The door coverings close automatically so you can go in or out quickly. There are no zippers to fumble with or break. Over each door is a translucent skylight window which allows 90% of the sunlight to pass through it while preserving the privacy of the people within.

Shelter Systems’ Emergency Prepare Shelters Are Winter Ready Tents

They do not require a fly or liner (for extreme cold we do offer a liner). Our Prepare Shelters are completely water tight and will not leak. The shingled construction allows moist air to be driven out through the by vapor pressure. Shelter Systems’ Prepare Shelters have a minimal surface area for their volume and are thus easy to keep warm with a stove (Stove installation instructions are included with each tent).

Overhead ventilation is easily attained by inserting a lightweight object (e.g., an empty can) between panels. This ventilation is shingled and sheds rain. When the can is removed, the panels snap shut. For maximum ventilation the walls themselves can be rolled up.

The dome shape has other comfort features: The interior can be divided into “rooms.” The tent has more volume than a flat-sided one and therefore feels, and is, more spacious. The shape is more heat efficient requiring less fuel to heat it. Air circulates more evenly in the dome shape than any other shape. The cover of the dome is easily cleaned with a damp cloth.

Complete and Adaptable

Shelter Systems’ Prepare Shelters come complete with poles, high quality 12″ Durapeg stakes, guy lines for extreme wind settings, ventilation tubes, spare parts (Grips Clips and pole connectors) and a Instruction Manual that details floors, site selection, anchoring, cooling, winterizing, and stove installation.

Shelter Systems’ Prepare Shelters are ideally suited for most climates; however, they can be further adapted for use in extreme climates. For the extreme cold, where fuel is in short supply, we offer a full liner. For extreme heat, we offer net doors and a sunshade which blocks 70% of the sunlight. Other accessories available include rain porches and floors.

Shelter Systems’ Relief Domes were featured in the 2011 Emergency Shelter Exhibition at the Customs House in Sydney

Comparing Different Domes

You get a lot more volume for your money as you go up in diameter. When you step inside the 18′ Prepare Shelters after being in the 14′ , the 18′ feels twice as big. The 20′ feels twice the size of the 18′. This is because the extra feet in diameter extends out in all directions (including up) creating a large increase in volume. Since the surface area of the covering does not increase as rapidly as the volume, the larger Prepare Shelters are less expensive for the space you get. Our drawings effectively illustrate the different sizes we offer.

The different Prepare Shelters have different numbers of doors. The 14′, 18′, and 20′ Prepare Shelters each have four flap doors evenly spaced around the dome for good cross ventilation. The 30′ and 31′ Prepare Shelters have eight doors.
Shelter Systems’ Prepare Shelters perform excellently in strong wind due to their many, evenly space anchor points, the fact that the covering is drum tight and that they are shaped to shed the wind. The 14′, 18′, and 20′ Prepare Shelters each 12 anchor points. The 30′ and 31′ have 20 anchor points.