Constructing a Secure Shelter

Buzz

Content

Steps

Understanding Secure Shelter Construction

Strategizing Your Safe Room

Adapting an Existing Room into a Safe Haven

Outfitting Your Safe Retreat

Your safety, as well as that of your loved ones, is of utmost importance. If you reside in an area prone to severe weather conditions like strong winds, tornadoes, or hurricanes, it’s crucial to designate a safe area within your home or workplace to ensure protection during emergencies. Additionally, it's vital to strategize for safety in the event of a home invasion or burglary. A secure shelter is a fortified, safe, and well-equipped space designed to safeguard you during crises. If you possess construction skills, you can construct a secure shelter to guarantee the safety and security of your family regardless of unforeseen circumstances.

Steps

Understanding Secure Shelter Construction

Prioritize safety planning. Before commencing construction of your secure shelter, it's essential to consider various factors to ensure its effectiveness in safeguarding occupants and to prevent potential hazards.

Begin by thoroughly reviewing the government manual available at https://www.fema.gov/pdf/plan/prevent/rms/453/fema453.pdf. This manual offers insights into design considerations, potential risks, structural design criteria, air filtration information, and other crucial aspects to ensure the safety of you and your family. Neglecting to consult this manual may result in designing a shelter that compromises your family's safety due to flawed design or construction. However, it's important to note that the details provided by FEMA in their P-320 drawing series serve merely as a starting point, particularly for wood-framed construction.

Master the specifics. When constructing a safe room, prioritize reinforcement and durability against storms and potential attacks. Understand the nuances as you plan and construct it. For example, consider the distinct requirements for the 5 levels of tornadoes and 5 levels of hurricanes, tailoring protection accordingly. If your area hasn't faced an EF-3 tornado, opting for an EF-4 rated shelter might seem excessive.

Choose materials capable of withstanding high winds and flying debris, like concrete walls or reinforced wooden walls with steel sheathing.
Avoid large windows; if unavoidable, use small, Plexiglass windows to prevent shattering.
Ensure secure anchoring to prevent lifting or overturning in strong winds or tornadoes.
Design walls, doors, and ceilings to withstand high wind pressure and resist penetration or crushing from debris. While FEMA's P-320 guidelines may aim to protect against EF-5 tornadoes, adaptability is key; consult a structural engineer for precise assessments.
Ensure joints can withstand wind pressure, and isolate the structure from surrounding rooms to minimize collateral damage.
For below-ground safe rooms, consider flood resilience in design.
Opt for inward-opening, heavy doors resistant to intruders or storm damage.

Identify optimal safe room locations. Underground spaces or first-floor interior rooms are safest for safe room placement.

Basements offer ideal protection from tornadoes and high winds, being secure and away from exterior walls.
Garages, with ample space and less risk of debris, are also suitable options.

Strategizing Your Safe Room

Strategize safe room types. Consider factors like capacity, available space, and budget when choosing the type of safe room.

Yard bunker safe rooms, made of steel or concrete, accommodate various capacities and are installed underground with one above-ground door.
Above-ground shelters, concealable or spacious for multiple occupants, can be exterior or interior installations, even integrated into new construction plans.

Acquire or craft a construction plan. Before building, meticulous planning to government specifications is essential for a reliable safe room.

Access free safe room construction plans and guidelines from https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/2009. Use these for DIY projects or collaborate with a contractor.
Invest in code guidelines from the International Code Council for building to standards.

Collect materials and initiate construction. Depending on your chosen plan, gather supplies like concrete, steel bars, a sturdy wooden door, and deadbolts.

Consider using power-driven anchors around the unit's perimeter to prevent horizontal movement and uplift. These are suitable for both masonry and wood framed constructions.
To secure the roof assembly, explore Simpson Strong Tie anchors.
For wood framed structures, ensure secure anchoring of walls and ceilings to the bottom plate. While consulting FEMA's P-320 guidelines, exercise caution due to potential inaccuracies.
Strengthen wood framed structures with plywood against debris. Consider adding sheet steel or kevlar layers for enhanced protection, placing internal protection on the room side and external protection under the outside plywood. Alternatively, fill between studs with masonry units.
Install a door with a 2-inch dead bolt lock.

Adapting an Existing Room into a Safe Haven

Choose the room for adaptation. Converting an existing room is a cost-effective way to safeguard against storms or intruders. Retrofitting can be done for a fraction of the cost of building a new safe room.

Select an interior room with no windows or skylights, and without exterior walls. A spacious walk-in closet serves as an ideal option.

Upgrade the door. A reliable safe room necessitates a door capable of withstanding high winds or forced entry, ideally opening inward to mitigate storm debris accumulation outside.

Replace the existing door and doorjamb. Install a steel doorjamb and reinforce surrounding wood with steel angle iron to prevent intrusion or damage.
Opt for a sturdy, solid wood door or heavy steel door, mounted to open inward.

Install security measures. Choose between traditional deadbolts or keyless deadbolts, considering the advantages and risks associated with each, particularly in households with small children.

Prior to installing new locks, reinforce surrounding wood with steel or brass strike plates, readily available at hardware stores.
Position locks for internal locking. For traditional deadbolts, keep duplicate keys in separate but easily accessible locations for emergencies.

Strengthen walls and ceiling. When integrating a safe room into new construction, reinforce walls and ceiling with materials like concrete, chicken wire, or steel sheeting before adding drywall and paint. For existing structures, removing drywall is necessary for reinforcement.

A cost-effective method is pouring concrete between wall cavities, then attaching plywood or oriented strand board to 2x4s on each side before covering with drywall and paint.
Alternatively, screw steel sheeting to 2x4s and cover with drywall and paint. Use steel sheeting or chicken wire for the ceiling, accessible from the attic in single-story homes or applied directly for less visibility.

Consult a contractor. For complex or standalone structures, ensuring compliance with building codes is crucial. If inexperienced, seek assistance from contractors or storm shelter companies for planning and installation.

Seek recommendations from acquaintances or industry associations like the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Local building inspectors can also provide valuable referrals.

Outfitting Your Safe Retreat

Explore upscale amenities. While a basic safe room guarantees safety, consider premium features for upscale security, especially for high-value homes prone to burglary:

Invest in a professional-grade camera monitoring system for real-time home surveillance from within the safe room during intrusions.

Provision your safe haven. In prolonged emergencies like storms or attacks, ensure adequate food and water supplies for your family and potential guests sharing the space:

Allocate a minimum of three gallons of water per person, scaling with room occupancy (e.g., fifteen gallons for a five-person safe room).
Stock nonperishable food items such as canned goods, cookies, crackers, granola bars, and infant formula or powdered milk.
Plan for an extended stay by storing surplus supplies, aiding not only your family but also neighbors in need until assistance arrives.
Regularly rotate supplies to prevent expiration or spoilage.

Prepare additional supplies. In storm scenarios, ensure you have necessary provisions to sustain your family until the storm passes or aid arrives.

Include a battery-operated radio, a large flashlight, and spare batteries.
Pack changes of clothing and blankets for each family member.
Equip a comprehensive first aid kit with essential medications, bandages, antibiotic ointment, scissors, gauze wrap, and ibuprofen.
Store duct tape and plastic sheeting in the safe room for door sealing and ventilation cover in the event of chemical or nuclear threats.
Consider placing a power generator inside the room, ensuring proper ventilation and utilizing LPG gas tanks for fuel convenience.

Guidelines

Explore funding options for community safe rooms at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/safe-rooms/funding.

Important

Ensure thorough understanding of FEMA codes and guidelines before attempting to build your safe room independently. Familiarize yourself with building codes and regulations to ensure compliance and safety.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I consider before constructing a secure shelter for severe weather?

Before constructing a secure shelter, prioritize safety planning by reviewing FEMA's guidelines to ensure proper design and materials, which will effectively safeguard occupants from potential hazards.

How do I identify the best location for a safe room in my home?

The best location for a safe room is typically an underground space or an interior first-floor room. Basements provide excellent protection from tornadoes, while garages are also suitable due to their space and lower risk of debris.

What materials are recommended for building a storm-resistant safe room?

For building a storm-resistant safe room, use materials such as concrete walls or reinforced wooden walls with steel sheathing. Avoid large windows and ensure secure anchoring to withstand high winds and flying debris.

Can I retrofit an existing room to serve as a safe room effectively?

Yes, retrofitting an existing room can effectively serve as a safe room. Choose a windowless interior space and reinforce the door and walls with strong materials to ensure adequate protection against storms and intruders.

What are the essential supplies to stock in a safe room during emergencies?

In your safe room, stock essential supplies including at least three gallons of water per person, nonperishable food, a first aid kit, flashlight, batteries, and items for communication like a battery-operated radio to sustain your family during emergencies.

How can I enhance the security of my safe room against intruders?

To enhance the security of your safe room against intruders, install a heavy-duty steel door with a secure locking mechanism, reinforce doorjambs with steel, and utilize security measures like cameras for monitoring.