DIY Storm Shelter

[TBone]

Anybody out there ever built an above ground outside storm shelter? My son needs one just big enough for 2 or 3 people in case of a tornado. A couple of companies around him build them out of pre-cast concrete but they are well above his budget.

 

[4570Man]

Totally worthless IMO. If you can’t access one from your house you aren’t going to go out in monsoon rain to get into one.

 

[FTG-05]

There's a number of them that will fit in your garage. Check HD, I think they sell a phone booth sized version. Since your in AL, check Valley Storm, they have an office in Huntsville, and have a ton of interesting videos on their web site.

You didn't mention your son's budget, but a 2-3 person shelter shouldn't be all that expensive.

 

[shooterdon]

Maybe consider a root cellar. In ground structure should be safer and less expensive. Plus a root cellar is useful.

 

[jaxs]

I've sheltered in homemade storm/root cellers for years. The favorite material is Bois-D-Arc and white oak. Excavate below grade,stopping short of water table. Structure doesn't have to be completly below ground,soil canl be mounded over and around it. Construct 4 walls and gable roof concentrating more on resistance to crushing than water tight,it can be waterproofed after constructed. Ask around about pits where clay suitable for brick making and stucco can be had. Diferent clays benifit from varous additives such as mason sand and lime. If none can be located,buy bagged material at a masonary supply house. Parge cracks in walls. Roof can be waterproofed with sheet metal but structure must be capiable of supporting a car or pickup. The door only need's to resist wind and rain. If and when door is ripped off by a twister,occupents are not in danger of being sucked out. That's one way of building a safe place. Options for methods and material are limitless. Welded I-beam and steel plate are popular..

 

[bcp]

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

 

[fatjay]

Dig a 10x10x10 hole, line it with concrete and exposed rebar on the perimiter, 10x10 1/4" steel plate roof, cut a 3x3 hole and make a door. Put the plate on top of the concrete attaching it to the rebar exposed. Probably a good idea to put a snorkel or two, fan, car battery down there. Maybe some basic supplies. It's not terribly complicated and the corporate companies charge $$$ for them. Tornado's aren't very effective against anything under ground unless it has something exposed above ground. The risks of something under ground is debris left by a tornado on top of the door. A jack and FRS radio's are a good idea so that if something is blocking the entry way. the ability to survive for a day or more is useful. Tornado's aren't long events, they're fairly brief, but cleanup can go on for days. I lived in tornado alley for years, and went through a couple, and i can tell you for certain, I don't live there anymore.

 

[Wagtail]

Maybe consider a root cellar. In ground structure should be safer and less expensive. Plus a root cellar is useful.

This is not meant to be snarky, but (in TBN tradition) if a root cellar is like a shed/barn, after 2-3 years after its been built, there won't be any room left in it to shelter in!

 

[Cat_Driver]

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

 

[2LaneCruzer]

In this part of the country, it seems most tornadoes tend to come in from the SW moving NE; consequently, poorly located in ground shelters have been know to get covered by debris during a severe storm, making it difficult, or impossible to exit. Scary, at best, especially if they fill up with water. My daughter's new home has a "safe room" built in just for such an occasion; if I were building one today I would do the same thing.

 

[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.