DIY Storm Shelter

[radios1]

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.

I'm sure it's one or both of those reasons.. add maybe they like the thrill of it!..

 

[MossRoad]

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.

Here's a 9 year old map showing tornado tracks in the U.S. from 1950-2011. Just where do you think they should go to avoid tornadoes? :confused3:

 

[TBone]

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.

If you know of a place in the lower 48 that is completely tornado safe, please share that with us down here.

 

[Doofy]

Here's a 9 year old map showing tornado tracks in the U.S. from 1950-2011. Just where do you think they should go to avoid tornadoes? :confused3:

West! The odds certainly look better.

 

[TBone]

Here's a 9 year old map showing tornado tracks in the U.S. from 1950-2011. Just where do you think they should go to avoid tornadoes? :confused3:

AMEN MOSS

 

[MossRoad]

West! The odds certainly look better.

 

[Doofy]

Good one!

 

[TBone]

I'm sure it's one or both of those reasons.. add maybe they like the thrill of it!..

Just so you know. I'm not poor and I'm not scared and watching people die during tornados was far from thrilling. My son lives on land that has been in my family for several generations. He's not going anywhere, just trying to be safe where he is. I can understand why you have personal trolls following you.

 

[Doofy]

Just so you know. I'm not poor and I'm not scared and watching people die during tornados was far from thrilling. My son lives on land that has been in my family for several generations. He's not going anywhere, just trying to be safe where he is. I can understand why you have personal trolls following you.

Sorry, not trolling. Just trying to understand the "Why" of people continuing to rebuild after such devastating losses time after time.

 

[JethroB]

Concrete septic tank with a hinged door & ladder?

North = cold
East = crowded
South = hot, humid, gnats
West = earthquakes, fires, granola

 

[TBone]

Sorry, not trolling. Just trying to understand the "Why" of people continuing to rebuild after such devastating losses time after time.

I'm 72 years old and lived where my son does most of my life. I have NEVER had a devestating loss, just some shingles blown off and damage to a little workshop I had one time. However, within about a 10 mile radius, there have been numerous tornadoes over the years, destroying homes and killing several people. That's why I would feel better if my son had a storm shelter, especially since he lives in a mobile home with trees all around. Several years ago a lady in a neighboring community left her mobile home with her small child and went to her parent's house, thinking they would be safer. The house was completely destroyed and all but one lost their lives. Tornados are very scary things.

 

[kcflhrc]

I have lived in Kansas all my life. Lots of tornado's here for sure. I have seen some of these above ground shelter's. For the life of me I can't understand anyone wanting one. I have seen the below ground concrete shelter's and that looks like a whole lot better idea to me. I have a full basement so not too concerned about it but if I didn't have a basement I would be digging me some kind of shelter below ground, not something above ground. An above ground tornado shelter is kinda like going to the basement during a flood. You would be better off outside laying in a ditch than being in a Mobile Home during a Tornado.

 

[MossRoad]

Just so you know. I'm not poor and I'm not scared and watching people die during tornados was far from thrilling. My son lives on land that has been in my family for several generations. He's not going anywhere, just trying to be safe where he is. I can understand why you have personal trolls following you.

If you own the land, you can dig a shallow hole just 2' deep, put in a cement slab and walls and bolt a steel sheet over the top with a door that chains shut from the inside. Have plenty of air vents. Only problems to watch our for are drowning if it gets flooded and being trapped inside if debris lands on it. That's why above ground would be preferred if he's in a low-lying area.

Look at that FEMA link I and several others have posted to. There's lots of good info on constructing your own survivable safe room.

 

[Doofy]

I'm 72 years old and lived where my son does most of my life. I have NEVER had a devestating loss, just some shingles blown off and damage to a little workshop I had one time. However, within about a 10 mile radius, there have been numerous tornadoes over the years, destroying homes and killing several people. That's why I would feel better if my son had a storm shelter, especially since he lives in a mobile home with trees all around. Several years ago a lady in a neighboring community left her mobile home with her small child and went to her parent's house, thinking they would be safer. The house was completely destroyed and all but one lost their lives. Tornados are very scary things.

Understandable. I would want my Son to be safe too. Glad you have escaped the wrath of Mother Nature.

 

[TBone]

If you own the land, you can dig a shallow hole just 2' deep, put in a cement slab and walls and bolt a steel sheet over the top with a door that chains shut from the inside. Have plenty of air vents. Only problems to watch our for are drowning if it gets flooded and being trapped inside if debris lands on it. That's why above ground would be preferred if he's in a low-lying area.

Look at that FEMA link I and several others have posted to. There's lots of good info on constructing your own survivable safe room.

Thanks Moss. He's not in a low lying area but the water tables are not very far down, especially in the spring. I doubt that you could go down much more than 2' without hitting water. Where is the FEMA link you are referring to?

 

[MossRoad]

I've lived in the same area for almost 60 years here in northern Indiana. I've been within 1/4 mile of 6 tornadoes, yet I've never seen one in person. There are too many trees to see the horizons around here. I have seen the destruction.

Home is where you live, work, play. Maybe your family is close by. The chances of being wiped out by a tornado more than once, while it has happened, are astronomical. So I can easily agree with people rebuilding in the same place after a tornado, as long as they take into consideration storm shelters.

What I can't see is people that keep rebuilding in flood plains. That goes for rivers, streams, shorelines, etc... especially rivers and shorelines along the ocean in hurricane areas. Yikes!

 

[MossRoad]

Unmitigated bullcrap.

Safe Rooms | FEMA.gov

Here's a link from FTG-05

 

[MossRoad]

It's the same link I posted to.

 

[MossRoad]

Good reading and lots of ideas.

 

[MossRoad]

West! The odds certainly look better.

In all seriousness, no one lives in those areas because there's little water, little infrastructure, and poor job opportunities. That map shows the tornado paths AND population density.

Also, the people that live there already made if very clear they don't want us. :laughing: