Premade Storm/Disaster Shelters?

**doug1980** · 02-17-2010, 05:04 PM

Anyone have one that was premade or homemade? I'm thinking of installing something for tornado evacuation. It would only need to hold 4 people max and some basic supplies to wait out the storm.

**2dumb2kwit** · 02-17-2010, 06:01 PM

Premade Storm/Disaster Shelters?

I must confess, that I had not thought of sheltering myself , from a "Premade storm/disaster".

LOL

(Sorry, I couldn't help it. LOL)

**Rick** · 02-17-2010, 09:04 PM

My cousin installed one a couple of years ago. It's fiberglass with a metal door. He has a pretty high water table so they had to do some extra work to keep it in the ground.

One thing you might want to consider is a sliding door rather than one that opens out. If debris lands on the door you can probably slide it open at least part way but if it opens out, you might not be able to budge it. The only other option is to keep a hydraulic jack and some timbers in the shelter so you can jack the door open. Just some things to consider.

**crashdive123** · 02-17-2010, 09:19 PM

They were all the rage in the 50's and 60's.

**Rick** · 02-17-2010, 09:21 PM

You'll find quite a few dealers now throughout the Midwest. I've seen a number of dealers' web sites for Ok. and Tx., too.

**welderguy** · 02-17-2010, 09:24 PM

There is a huge amount of company's that make and install them here in TX.
As a matter of fact one of the local septic company's now makes and installs storm shelters too. I would be Leary of them tho.LOL

**your_comforting_company** · 02-17-2010, 11:08 PM

In the case of a high water table, here is something to consider.
A tornado does not tear a trench in a hillside, it rides over the landscape, right?
It takes a lot of earth moving, but you could actually build a storm shelter in a man-made hill that wouldn't flood. We have a high water table and have had a lot of rain lately. you can dig 6" deep in my yard and it will fill up with water. underground shelter is not an option.

I've been looking into building an earthen house in the same manner.. a built-up hill, with the home inside. short of an earthquake splitting it in two, it should stand most anything. and just think of all the extra growing space on the roof!

**welderguy** · 02-17-2010, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by your_comforting_company

In the case of a high water table, here is something to consider.
A tornado does not tear a trench in a hillside, it rides over the landscape, right?
It takes a lot of earth moving, but you could actually build a storm shelter in a man-made hill that wouldn't flood. We have a high water table and have had a lot of rain lately. you can dig 6" deep in my yard and it will fill up with water. underground shelter is not an option.

I've been looking into building an earthen house in the same manner.. a built-up hill, with the home inside. short of an earthquake splitting it in two, it should stand most anything. and just think of all the extra growing space on the roof!

Thats interesting to know, Thanks for that bit of info

**Rick** · 02-17-2010, 11:17 PM

Many of the storm shelters I saw as a kid were only half buried. The entrances were usually well above ground and then sloped down until they were just slightly below grade as you suggested then covered over. I never talked to anyone that got killed in one so it must have worked.