My grandfather used to say, “The oldest shelters survive the longest.” Watching this story, I finally understand why. When towns froze, the earth stayed calm. Anyone else grow up hearing wisdom like this?

A survivalists dream. A cave system that can be expanded and extended underground. Plenty of water and protection from bullets and arrows. Love it!

I’m Australian and this story reminded me of the underground homes or dugouts in the town of Coober Pedy or “Umoona” (as known by the indigenous people.) The town lies in northern South Australia. The temperature there can get so hot that it melts truck tyres. Cheers from Australia.

Gee I wonder how cavemen survived?

Could call it TRIAL and ERROR. INGRID was Trial and Towns folk were Error @

You SEEM to forget - or not Know -that more people in a small room give extra heat > NOT THE OPPOSIT

"I was laughed at at first, but the snowstorm proved everything."

Very interesting story . It makes you wonder how many desperate people living in America when it was young built in unconventional ways so they could prosper and thrive. This lady had a lot of knowledge to pass on. ❤

I have Danish & Norwegian ancestry. It's very interesting to hear about these  bits of knowledge to build  in ways from where they had come from. I live in Wausau,  Wi.  Thanks for sharing!!!

They laughed at Ingrid for living in a cave… then 14 people survived because her “crazy idea” stayed warm while their proper cabins failed. Funny how fast mockery turns into gratitude at -40°F.

Watching in Rosiclare, IL. on the Ohio River love these stories might have 2 go back 2 the good ol' days

My Dad & Mom built the first underground home in Mo. Of course it too was facing south. It is still there and going strong.

Around 26:05–26:24, knowing none of the 40+ earth homes ever failed makes this feel like lost science, not folklore. It’s wild how proven systems vanish. What other “solved problems” do you think history quietly dropped?

17:27 when Ingred calmly says “How many people can we fit in here?” and turns her shelter into a lifeline—that moment gave me chills. She didn’t just prove them wrong, she saved them with quiet confidence and smart design. I love how wisdom beat fear here. Do you think the town would’ve survived if she had followed their doubts instead of trusting her own knowledge?

20:49–21:35 the data after the blizzard surprised me most—heating costs cut 60–70% just by working with earth, not fighting it. This feels incredibly modern for 1888. Why do you think efficiency knowledge keeps getting forgotten and rediscovered?

My Great Grandfather told me, that the first thing you do, when you when you get your claim, is * Dig a Hole*!
It will help you make it through the first winter.
You can build your cabin as you can afford it. AND when the Tornado Does come, and they Will!   you move back into the Hole ( basement)

Interesting story❤

Ingrid ?  Norwegian   true knowledge. about COLD

This story is so darn cool!

I went to see lights in a limestone cave in Lousiville, KY. It was the coldest day of the year and I had 3 layer of pants on and two hats. It was about 15 degrees warmer in the cave and I took off both my hats. I was so surprised it was warmer since I thought it would be colder. A group of us were pulled on an outside tractor trailer and I thought I would freeze for the hour ride but only put on my hats on when we got closer to the entrance of the cave and could feel that cold wind!