[Shelter] Storm Shelter

kpeavey · Expert Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 1322

This one started with the tornadoes in Pops' area of the world. See the Anybody heard from Pops thread.

There is an existing thread: A simple bunker idea..."the tube". It seems rather focused on fallout and a particular design-good information to be sure, but not exactly what I'm looking for.

There is also:
Anyone dig out crawlspace? Which is more targeted for a small root cellar.

With all the tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, mudslides, blizzards, general mayhem and extreme weather going on, a storm shelter may be a prudent project, and therefore a fine thread topic.

Does anyone have a storm shelter? Tell us about it. Size, shape, construction, location, what you stock it with, other uses. Do you have any problems with the thing-water/flooding, too darn dark, spiders/snakes/gypsies, mildew/musty/dusty. Do you perform any regular maintenance on it. Did you build it? Cost? Time? Materials? What's this I hear about a rebate from the govt? Does it have systems-water/sewer, electric, heat, sump, cooking, appliances?

My idea of what a storm shelter is:
I'm thinking a storm shelter would be a high durability structure, possibly at least partially underground to protect from high/extreme wind, likely windowless-maybe a small one for ventilation, with a capacity to hold 5 or so people, figure 10'x10' for the duration of a storm-30 minutes to 2 days max.

Supplies
Having of limited emergency use, little would be required for systems, although lanterns, bottled water, canned food would be simple enough to stock, along with a deck of cards or a monopoly game, and a radio.

Systems-Electric
Electricity sure is a handy thing. The reason for using a storm shelter brings with it a high probability that the grid would be undependable. During non-emergencies, running an extension cord can offer all the power you would need to light up the place, clean, stock, and be active. I'm thinking grid power with battery operated devices available.

Systems-Water
It takes very little to run a hose. A hose and a bucket give you the essentials for cleaning. If an electric pump goes down, bottled water for drinking would be desired.

Systems-Sewer
Have you ever had a BBQ with a bunch of people who spend half the day waiting in line to use the bathroom? Sure would be handy to have a half bath. If the place is underground, a pump would be needed to lift sewage. I can see this as part of a Deluxe storm shelter.

Systems-HVAC
a short storm like a tornado is not too bad, but after a few hours with only a handful of people, the temperature and humidity can reach uncomfortable levels. The ability to open a window or run a vent fan would make a big difference. I don't think heating the place would be so much of a concern, as the more violent storms requiring a shelter would tend to occur in the summer.

Furnishings
Depending on the nature of the storm expected, furniture would be desirable. Chairs and a card table for all day severe thunderstorms? A couch or air mattresses to make it through a hurricane.

Location
I think close to the house, possibly connected to it in some manner, would be a fine spot, say zero to 100 feet away. Close enough to get to it in a hurry. Far enough the house collapsing wont crush or block escape from the shelter

Construction
concrete slab, formed/poured walls, reinforced concrete roof, steel door. add in a well drained surround.

Alternate Uses

This is where a simple storm shelter takes on new life.
-Storage is a simple matter of moving stuff in. A storm shelter serves its use best without a lock on the door, so keeping the stuff secure may demand a 2nd room in the shelter.
-as a root cellar, the cooler earth of a shelter that is at least partially underground offers potential
-how about a kids clubhouse sort of thing. a simple shelter would not have much for them to get into trouble with. Might want to keep the teens out.
-could be a fine place for the chicks for their first couple of weeks. Ventilation would serve well here.
-a fireplace offers heating/cooking, as well a potential romantic escape
-If you could add on to the shelter, I think it would be possible to develop a fine compound over time. I have an uncle who paid for his house as he built it. For the first 3 years he lived in the basement, because there was nothing else built on top of it. Disclaimer: I'm not saying you should create a dungeon like that Fritz guy.
-Grid power lets you do all sorts of things with the space. Guest bedroom comes to mind, especially if the sewer issue is solved and a half bath added. And a window with strong shutters.
-I can't think of a finer cover story for building an underground fallout shelter.
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Pops · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: [Shelter] Storm Shelter

Great thread kp.

The very first thing on the list moving here was a shelter - the perched water table made basements impractical 100 years ago when our house was built.

Like most pre-made plans we found other things more pressing things to do with what cash we had available.

I'll post up some of the links I have but there are lots of other ideas (not necessarily store-bought) like steel and concrete closets or just framing your house in 100 year old oak and making sure it is well attached to the foundation and running to the closet when the wind blows!
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patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1749

The best we have now, here in tornado alley Indiana is a full basement. Since we store our food in the basement, and I have over half of it full of shop stuff, it is crowded. But all that castiron machinery means that I think I can find a crawl path out of it, even if the house topples. We keep an AM-FM battery radio and a weather radio, a phone, wireless internet, and a couple battery powered CB walkie-talkies there. By the end of this year the solar power will be up and running, somewhat hardened to withstand storms.

A root cellar is on the agenda, and I finished hauling home the (free) concrete blocks for it today, but that may not happen until next year.
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