Anyone from Oklahoma City, or another tornado hot spot, knows the importance of a storm shelter. Weather conditions can change without warning, leaving no margin for error. A small, windowless, steel or concrete room, in a basement or underground, can ensure your survival when disaster strikes. Reinforced, above-ground safe rooms, in the center of a house, are also an option, since these rooms are usually the ones left standing after a disaster. Does this Spark an idea?
Risk Assessment
Your shelter needs will be determined by natural disasters that are likely in your area, and man-made disasters that could happen. Local and state agencies have done most of the work in determining these requirements and this information is offered as a public service.
There are Federal Emergency Management Agency offices in every state (go to www.fema.gov/). You should also see if a Community Emergency Response Team program is in your area.
Any gaps in your information gathering can be filled in with the records at city hall. While you're at it, find out what community warning and disaster response plans have been implemented.
Design Considerations
A storm shelter should be engineered to withstand as many crisis situations as your budget allows. This means that an underground structure should be your first choice, if high winds are a concern.
A gasketed door and inflammable building materials, like concrete or steel, can protect you from fires and flooding. You should allow 20 square feet per person, and have filtered ventilation, to keep the air fresh.
If you're concerned about debris blocking the exit, make sure your entry doors open in. Don't overlook sanitation, lighting and essential supplies. A crisis can take days to play out, and it's too late then to get what you need.
The Mother of all Shelters
Culverts are galvanized steel pipes that are used to bridge creeks. An 8- by 30-foot culvert makes an ideal shelter because it's very strong, light for its size, rust proof, and relatively inexpensive.
You can weld plates on both ends to seal the culvert, and cut an entrance hole through the top near each end. Smaller sections of culvert can be welded to these holes, and gasketed hatches can be installed in the open end of these sections.
After digging the hole for your shelter, use a crane to lower the culvert into it. Cut 6-inch ventilation holes between the entrances and weld pipes, with 180 degree turns at the free ends, to the holes.
Fill your hole halfway up with crushed rock and the rest with the excavated dirt. Install the wood flooring, shelves and lights, and it's ready to be furnished.
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