Bomb Shelter/Tornado shelter

[galaxie428]

I don't recall many details about it but an old landlord of mine bought some government plans for an above ground tornado shelter. It was something like 8'x8' and required a lot of concrete and rebar. I want to say he told me the walls/ceiling was 16" thick and full of rebar. The door was a metal door, I think 1/2" thick. They put it outside their back door in hopes that they could get to it if there was bad weather coming.

 

[Combustix]

I bought a military storage box made out of aluminum which I plan on burying in the ground here to use as a root cellar. The box is 15x8x8 and it has all the electrical in it. I just need to water proof it real well and then toss the dirt back over it. Don't get any storms were I am so I'm not to worried about that, but you can find these boxes on govliquidation.com they are pretty cheap

 

[Gary Fowler]

Lots of ways you can home engineer it but simple enough to find your tested and approved design for about any situation, Just go to this website and look at the plans. They are free or you can spend about 4500-6000 and buy one from a storm shelter builder that uses the same designs to build, paint deliver and install and qualify for the government rebate (assuming the government has any money in the fund)

FEMA: Taking Shelter From the Storm

 

[jake98]

Up here we need something like that to keep the taxman out.

 

[Jeepnford]

The only above ground tornado shelter I've seen was at a campgrounds in Iowa and it was at least 12" reinforced concrete walls.

 

[sandman2234]

I bought a military storage box made out of aluminum which I plan on burying in the ground here to use as a root cellar. The box is 15x8x8 and it has all the electrical in it. I just need to water proof it real well and then toss the dirt back over it. Don't get any storms were I am so I'm not to worried about that, but you can find these boxes on govliquidation.com they are pretty cheap

Aluinum usually doesn't last nearly as long buried as it does in open air. Might want to spray it down with tar or roof sealer b/4 covering.
David from Jax

 

[bighead51]

Nice Build BHD ! just a few questions -How big across was the tank? Have you had any ground water problems ? Anything you would do differently now? Thanks!

 

[BHD]

It was a 10 foot tank,

I would put the stairs entirely out side of the tank, if doing again, currently it is about 50% 50% as I used the stem wall as a step,

I am not sure if I could fine the correct tank, 10 to 12 in diameter if I would not just roll the whole tank in the hole on a level bed of gravel, (water poof ed, tared first) and then put a floor in it and weld on some brackets for shelving, Would have been less work, may be even fill with gravel and a cement floor.

we like the cellar, and have no water problems, but we are 280 feet deep to water,
we did need to add some aeration to the system as condensation was some what a problem, added a intake vent of about 6" and a exit, with a wind powered ventilator on it,

I did put a sump pit in the floor never have needed it (yet), fingers crossed,

I do like the square walls on the base of it tho, but

but using the tank some thing like this would not be to bad.

Utah Shelter Systems - Because Survival Is The Highest Priority

Underground Shelter, CAT 25, Bomb & Disaster Protective Shelter, TX