Put the pillar at the heart of the shelter
For a shelter against roaming chaos storms, start with a crystal pillar and put the structure within the radius around it. Build the part you will actually occupy during the warning close to the pillar. The developer’s building spotlight explains that the pillar both defines the base area and shields it from roaming storms.
Keep the footprint inside the covered area
Lay out a compact shelter first, then check where an addition will sit relative to the pillar before extending the walls. If you are adapting an existing structure, set the pillar where it can cover the room you plan to use. A sheltered path between that room and your supplies is more practical than placing supplies at the far edge of the base.
Get inside when the warning appears
Head back to the protected area when the game warns of an approaching chaos storm. The shelter gives you a place to wait while the event moves through. Demo patches also documented fixes for local tornadoes passing through storm shelters and for objects thrown by storms passing through shelter shields.
FAQ
Where should the crystal pillar go?
Put it at the heart of the part of the base you need to protect. Keep the shelter within its radius.
Do I need to build a huge shelter?
Start with a footprint that fits inside the coverage. Expand as space allows rather than assuming the shield covers an extension.
What should I do when a chaos storm warning appears?
Move into the covered area before the storm reaches you.