DIY Storm Shelter

[shooterdon]

In a non flood region, I would still go with a root cellar. If constructed with walls 18" above grade, adding tornado resistant glass blocks in a wall at 90-180* to expected wind direction will provide light during a daytime event and an emergency escape option if the door becomes blocked (have a chisel and good sixed hammer in the shelter...add an LED battery powdered lantern for the night). An insulating pad can be placed over the window to address light and solar gain when used as a root cellar.

 

[radios1]

What do the people in low areas do for storm shelters, so they don't get flooded? And they can't leave.

I see photos of floods with water up to the eaves on single story houses. These are also in hurricane and tornado areas.

Bruce

in that case, they'd need scuba gear for each person, so that they can exit the shelter and swim to the surface without drowning.. or just move out of tornado/flood prone areas.. you could have 20 feet of water in some areas, I've seen that, and it's EXTREMELY scary.. not to mention where will you be transported to by the force of the water and wind after you reach the surface??..

 

[user.69169]

I had a good start on one few years back when it was "de thing to do" around here. Fellow ver by Batavia had a dealership fer plastic septic tanks wid doors and he was sellin like lemonade in a heat wave.
I got myself a busted fiberglass boat for haulin it off & tipped it upside down so I could mostly bury it in de hillside. Wasn't in no big hurry cause nobody been here for 30 years remembered any tornados. Spent some time talkin about my plan wid summercomers & professors, more than I spent diggin fortrue.

Next thing I know some fellow in expensive pickup knocks on my door and wants to buy my boat. Says he needs parts for his old boat. We worked out price and he came back wid a trailer & some clowns. Might not have been right, but I looked inside his cab and danged if he didn't have signs and brochures fer dem septic tank shelters.
I don't think he sold many tanks cause his sales lot turned into used car lot a year or so later.

 

[FTG-05]

What do the people in low areas do for storm shelters, so they don't get flooded? And they can't leave.

I see photos of floods with water up to the eaves on single story houses. These are also in hurricane and tornado areas.

Bruce

They make above ground storm shelters that meet FEMA-320 and ICC-500 standards.

Here's but one: Storm Shelters for Tornadoes | Valley Storm Shelters

 

[FTG-05]

Above ground defeats the purpose of a storm shelter unless the walls are 4' this reinforced concreate like a bank vault.
They have drop in storm shelters

Unmitigated bullcrap.

https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/safe-rooms

 

[MossRoad]

Links to FEMA and plans to build a safe room yourself.

Safe Rooms | FEMA.gov

 

[TBone]

Totally worthless IMO. If you can稚 access one from your house you aren稚 going to go out in monsoon rain to get into one.

I've only seen one tornado in person. We were under a warning and I was looking in the direction it originated from and saw it coming across the pasture about 3/4 mile away. If I had a storm shelter that day there ain't no doubt I would have gotten in it, monsoon rain or not. This one angled off toward the east and missed us by a wide margin. We get pretty reliable warnings both day and night. If I hear a warning and had a shelter I would head for it.

 

[Doofy]

I would assume that a lot of these folks in tornado/hurricane/flood areas are to poor or to scared to move to safer areas. Makes no sense to me to keep rebuilding in the same old dangerous area.

 

[MossRoad]

Above ground defeats the purpose of a storm shelter unless the walls are 4' this reinforced concreate like a bank vault. ....

4'? No.

 

[TBone]

I live in Alabama but my son lives in MS in a mobile home (by himself). Root cellar is out, safe room is out, his only option is some kind of above ground shelter. I'm going to check on them again. There is only one supplier anywhere near him and he charges whatever he wants to - take it or leave it kind of an attitude.