What kind of storm shelter is best?

Question

I live in an area that is very prone to tornadoes. We've been getting hit especially hard this year. My best friend of 15 years lost her parents and her 3 year old daughter to an F3 tornado that hit their house about 3 weeks ago. I've always had the mentality that it couldn't happen to me or anyone I know, but I've most definitely changed my views now. A week after that happened we had tornado warnings again and a funnel cloud was spotted right above my house, no one was home at the time, thank GOD! So now I'm seriously looking into getting a good shelter. Anyone know of any companies in Arkansas or surrounding states that manufacture shelters? I just found out that FEMA will pay a percentage of the cost if you don't have a shelter and you live in an area that gets hit frequently. Money is not really a problem, this is a top priority right now so I'll find a way to scrape it together. Any info on types of shelters, manufacturers, installation, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Underground cement.  Like a basement.  It could be some above ground.  If so cover it with 2-3 feet of dirt and seed it.  Make the entry from inside your house.  It could double as a pantry and cool storage.  Keep it stocked with foodstuff, water, lamps, etc.

During the Cold War many people had bomb shelters like that.

Answer 2

something that built like a bomb shelter.

Answer 3

► Last yr I built one that an architect designed. A hole underground 8x10 ft moisture control heavy duty plastic. Walls are 6 inches thick, re-bar #4 every foot horizontally and vertically reinforcing the concrete. Roof the same as walls but re-bar every 1/2 foot and a hatch with a ladder, electrical connection and 2 pipes coming out of the roof that is level with the ground.. It cost me 500$ in wood, 250$ re-bar, 130$ someone to make hole,70$ moisture barrier,575$ cement,  60$ pipe and conduit,350$ heavy steel hatch and ladder,  100$others expenses nails etc. KNOWING THAT IS THERE, PRICELESS...... I live in tornado alley ....♀♀♀

Answer 4

A large square hole about 8 to 10 feet deep is dug up with heavy equipment and maybe 30 feet by 30 feet length walls.

Inside the bottom of the floor are at least 4 to 6 deep holes to enclose steel i beams.

The depth of the hole has to be at least 2/3 the length of the final length of the beam for the optimal holding power.   These are called footings, and then the I beam is placed and centered into each hole, then back filled with 6000 pound concrete.  

Then a super structure has to be made above the i beams.   Horizontal larger beams can be welded to the vertical "weight bearing beams" like a box structure and then forming the base of a floor.

Make a set of steps that leads down to the bottom from the top.

Pour concrete over the steel ceiling area which can also be reinforced before hand with rebar ties.

This forms a basement which has a fully enclosed ceiling that is itself strengthened by thick concrete.

Get into it by walking down steps and a heavy metal door with very strong latch.

Finish the floor by tamping it with a machine u can rent called a tamper, floor flattener, then  plan out pipes for an underground bathroom and electrical conduits  then add a layer of  gravel, usually  6 inches, and fill in with concrete.  Plan also for making a space for a center drain and sump pump, and possibly an emergency exit, in case the main door is blocked.   Sealed windows in the sides of the walls too  if the glass can be made strong enough.

When the walls are fully cured, paint them over with UGL waterproofing paint and i've used it before very successfully to keep out moisture and water.