In-ground Storm Shelter experiences and advice

[fireant911]

We live in a small community just outside of Huntsville, AL. Unfortunately, the immediate area in which we currently reside has been directly hit by several tornadoes. My wife and I have had several discussions regarding Storm Shelters. We are also planning on building a garage and like the idea of having an in-ground storm shelter inside this garage. I have done some initial research and there are a plethora of different manufacturers that make the best in-ground storm shelters available. Additionally, there are a variety of materials (concrete, steel, fiberglass, ...etc) that is the basis of the construction of these shelters. Does anyone here have an in-ground storm shelter? I would be interested in your experiences, cautions, and knowledge that you have attained with your ownership of an in-ground storm shelter.

Each site I have read seems to downplay the material others' use and amp up the qualities of their particular construction material. Granted, the ground condition has a lot to do with the expected performance (rust, leakage, cracks, and so on). With that said, I am seeking guidance from those that have first-hand experience with in-ground storm shelters. Any help will be much appreciated.

[varmint]

the conventional wisdom was you didn't want an inside/in ground shelter in case the house collapsed on top of it. don't want to be trapped in one of those things waiting for help.

[fingpilot]

I'm out in Athens. Was in Harvest when the big one went thru. I knew I was in trouble when a Cadillac came out of the overcast. Then the clouds parted and a sideways 70MPH cloud that sounded like a freight train went by sucking the row of trees from my back yard.

I moved from Anderson Hills to an old section of Athens with trees over a hundred years old surrounding my house.

Shelter? Find a place with old trees. The tornados travel in historical paths.

[azasadny]

The only time I ever sheltered "below ground" was during incoming artillery during Desert Storm. The best place to be is below ground (except during floods) and there are many, many options available. I have seen shelters that are pre-fab reinforced concrete with plastic benches. Obviously, you need air vents, communication, water, medical supplies and things like that. I would probably reinforcwe the structure with sandbags that are buried around the sides and make a ridge around the top hatch to protect it. Not perfect, but a better solution that hiding in the bathroom in the tub...

[azasadny]

Oh, be sure and notify the police and fire depts that you have a storm shelter and describe (with a diagram) exactly where it's located so the rescuers know where to look after a tornado. Just a suggestion... In a smaller town, this may really help.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by fireant911

We live in a small community just outside of Huntsville, AL. Unfortunately, the immediate area in which we currently reside has been directly hit by several tornadoes. My wife and I have had several discussions regarding Storm Shelters. We are also planning on building a garage and like the idea of having an in-ground storm shelter inside this garage. I have done some initial research and there are a plethora of different manufacturers that make the best in-ground storm shelters available. Additionally, there are a variety of materials (concrete, steel, fiberglass, ...etc) that is the basis of the construction of these shelters. Does anyone here have an in-ground storm shelter? I would be interested in your experiences, cautions, and knowledge that you have attained with your ownership of an in-ground storm shelter.

Each site I have read seems to downplay the material others' use and amp up the qualities of their particular construction material. Granted, the ground condition has a lot to do with the expected performance (rust, leakage, cracks, and so on). With that said, I am seeking guidance from those that have first-hand experience with in-ground storm shelters. Any help will be much appreciated.

My parents have an in ground precast concrete. Its about 8x8x8. Big enough for 4 -6 ppl depending how bad you needed to be down there. . Being in the heart of tornado country, there was FEMA money available for the after May 3,1999 to put in a shelter. Our house took an indirect hit back in 1981, which only damaged the roof and the carport...

So what do you want to know? The thought in OK is that being under ground is the most important for an F5+ monster like we get. Next is that it has a very sturdy steel door, with some type of chains or latches. Even a heavy door will get sucked open if not secured. The pressure changes around a twister are insane. Make sure it has some sort of ventilation.., ours has a whirligig on the top of it that is outside the house. I'm sure that would blow off in a storm, but it's still a 4" vent to the outside.



No I've never been forced into ours, but there have been times we had the door open, and we're just watching to see of we had to run down there... Not a fun feeling....

[ckelly78z]

It seems here in NW Ohio, that all the real nasty storms with the swirling clouds we get build up all day long and hit in the evening when my family is in the house. There have been many evenings that we have the basement door open with the lights on just waiting to make a dive at the last minute. I don't think I would like the idea of running out the door into the storm to get to a shelter out in the yard....just too many things could go wrong.

[Joeaksa]

We have an underground cement shelter with 6-8 bunks, small kitchen and so on.

Its not for tornados (a rare sight in Arizona) but was with the property when we bought it so we use it. It was professionally built and has everything you can think of that would be needed to spend some time safely underground.

[GWN7]

I imagine that a shelter you can access thru the basement and it have a second means of egress at the other end (outhouse/shed structure) would be the way to go. As ckelly78z
points out running out into the yard with a tornado tossing cows and trucks around is not a good idea. Being attached to the house would make running supply lines to it a bit easier.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

We have an underground cement shelter with 6-8 bunks, small kitchen and so on.

Its not for tornados (a rare sight in Arizona) but was with the property when we bought it so we use it. It was professionally built and has everything you can think of that would be needed to spend some time safely underground.

Thats a bug out shelter, not so much a place to hide from a twister...

Originally Posted by GWN7

I imagine that a shelter you can access thru the basement and it have a second means of egress at the other end (outhouse/shed structure) would be the way to go. As ckelly78z
points out running out into the yard with a tornado tossing cows and trucks around is not a good idea. Being attached to the house would make running supply lines to it a bit easier.

Its best just to makes sure that all your friends know where the shelter is, as after a storm, people will be checking in on you....

Also worth noting, that some friends of ours had their house leveled by a twister last year. Their shelter was outside, but the storm had blown a large tree over the door, and they still had to call for help to get out. So being outside isn't a guarantee of safety from the door being blocked when you are talking about a storm that will tumble a car like its a tinker toy....

[red-beard]

Sid, sounds like 2 doors would be a good idea.

[schamp]

I have a company that is doing safe rooms, in ground shelters and now bunkers. In ground bunker, holds 10 people, around 18K. A in ground shelter about 12K. A safe room (above ground) 6-8K. His stuff is tested. I am in Ga. and he is in Panama City Florida. I am going to use his company when I do something. Let me know if you want his information. Schamp

[Jim Bremner]

I thought about a backhoe and Shipping container. We don't have storms but earthquakes. There's NO time to run when one hits. I was thinking emergency living area.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Sid, sounds like 2 doors would be a good idea.

In an ideal world... Yes it would be.... However when the top of the shelter is 8'x8' theres a pretty good chance both doors would be blocked...

[red-beard]

In some of the survival shelters, you have a 3 foot tube which leads away to a second hatch.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

We have an underground cement shelter with 6-8 bunks, small kitchen and so on.

Its not for tornados (a rare sight in Arizona) but was with the property when we bought it so we use it. It was professionally built and has everything you can think of that would be needed to spend some time safely underground.

would it be a security breach if you showed us a picture? this sounds awesome.

i wrote a change order once to install a vault to house a small pump station. we had to do it for a local water utility..their design..their specs. we built it beautifully. it was HUGE!!! probably 15x15..with 10 foot ceilings. once we were done, the water utility came out to inspect it before they delivered their pumps. they took one look and had this stupid look on their faces..they didnt realize (or forgot) that it was a confined space...opps..they abandoned the idea and will put the pumps elsewhere along the line..above ground. idiots!! now we have a bomb shelter..the thing is massive. there is a hatch with a winch system to lower equipment. we were told to backfill it. screw that..we secured the lids..i have a key, if the zombies come. hahah.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Thats a bug out shelter, not so much a place to hide from a twister...

Ahh, there has been ONE reported twister in Arizona in the last 50 or so years, and it was 100 miles North of us, so am guessing that we are covered.

Trust me, its well underground so would be much better than nothing in the event of anything rolling our direction...

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by vash

would it be a security breach if you showed us a picture? this sounds awesome.

As we know each other, I would email you a photo directly for your viewing ONLY but no way will there ever be one posted on the internet... not going to happen.

[enzo1]

Red Zone Storm Shelters : Gallery : Install Process Step by Step

[HiBeam]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

We have an underground cement shelter with 6-8 bunks, small kitchen and so on.

so we use it.

For what, please?
I honor your wishes, but why not post a pic?...a security concern?
Thank you.