We are surrounded by many unforeseen disasters. From extreme weather conditions, wars, and natural disasters, there’s much worse that can happen that warrants a safe room. A safe room is a secure place where you can shelter from hurricanes, tornadoes, and war. It can help you survive such unforeseen disasters or protect your valuables from damage. This article highlights how you can build a well-fortified safe room.
Why You Might Need a Safe Room
Here are some genuine reasons to build a safe room:
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To protect yourself from severe weather conditions
The USA is no stranger to severe weather conditions. From winter storms and tornadoes to hurricanes, the country experiences weather conditions throughout the year. In 2023, the US experienced 28 climate and weather disasters according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. They caused significant damage amounting to 1 billion dollars.
Having a safe room allows you to protect your belongings from damage. For example, you can store your electronics, kitchen appliances, and other household items in the safe room. Once the weather disaster is gone, rebuilding your life will be easier. Furthermore, you’ll be protecting your loved ones and pets during these disasters.
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To protect yourself from home invasions
Another reason to build a safe room is to protect yourself from property crimes. As you’d know, property crimes have increased in recent years. More homeowners are susceptible to home invasions and armed robbery. In 2022, there were 269.8 burglary cases per 100,000 of the population. And the rate is only increasing.
To protect yourself and your loved one from risk of property crime, you can build a safe room. It offers a secure space to retreat to. And if it is equipped with an emergency system, you can easily and safely alert the police.
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Add value to your home
Besides protecting yourself from invasions and weather disasters, you can build a safe room to increase the value of your home. Besides, any home buyer would like a home with a safe room. It provides a sense of safety and security.
This is especially crucial in areas susceptible to severe weather conditions and armed robberies. Make sure to equip it with the necessary emergency and safety equipment.
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To protect yourself from toxic substances
As a homeowner, you are always at the risk of hazardous material releasing toxic fumes. For example, some of the chemicals used in farming can lead to bodily injuries if inhaled accidentally. And if you live near an industrial area, you are more susceptible to release of toxic gasses in the event of an accident in the plant.
With a safe room, you can protect yourself and your loved ones against incapacitation, disorientation, or death should there be a chemical release or blast.
Can You Build a Safe Room?
Yes, with the right skills and equipment, you can build a well-fortified safe room. While it might seem a daunting task, with the right planning, you can build one within a few months. That said, building a safe room is time and money consuming. Furthermore, you need to get the right permits from your local authority.
Fortunately, there are companies that sell pre-made safe rooms, making the process cheaper and less cumbersome. On the same token, you can renovate an existing room to serve as your safe room.
Ideally, the safe room should be built away from the main house. Most homeowners tend to build them underground, but you can build yours on the ground. Just make sure to use reinforced concrete for improved protection.
The exterior should be resistant to weather elements and knocks from flying debris. Otherwise, it will be as weak as your primary house and it will not offer much-needed protection during a weather disaster.
Can You Remodel an Existing Room into a Safe Room?
Yes, you can turn an existing room into a safe room. In fact, it is cheaper than building one from scratch. The best part is you can turn any room into a safe room. Ideally, you should turn rooms in your basement into a safe room.
They are easier to add reinforcement without affecting the structural integrity of your house. While at it, make sure the room meets FEMA requirements and check with your residential building code if it is legal to remodel a room into a safe room.
When remodeling a room, consider accessibility. You want it to be at a level or area where everyone can access it. This may require installation of flatter stair cases or an elevator. In short, you want your loved ones to access the room as quickly as possible. We recommend using rooms with less windows and doors as they are cheaper to remodel.
How To Build a Safe Room
So how do you build a practical safe room? Let’s find out.
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Read the FEMA guideline book
Before building your safe room, you need to determine its structural integrity and what it should have. And the only way to find out is to consult the FEMA manual. It contains information about structural design, design considerations, and others.
The manual helps you choose the best material for your safe room. For example, the walls, doors, and ceiling should withstand high wind pressure and prevent penetration by falling debris.
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Choose an ideal location
Once you determine how your safe room should look, it is time to choose a location. If you are building a safe room against burglary, consider building it in the basement. This is also an ideal location to build a panic room to protect yourself against weather disasters.
The garage is also an ideal location as it offers more space to construct spacious and more equipped panic rooms. If you, however, want to build a safe room to safeguard your valuables, you can build it away from the main house. You can disguise the location for improved safety.
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Choose the right materials
Ideally, you should use reinforced concrete as it offers better protection against penetration by debris or ammunition. Reinforced concrete slabs are also stronger and cost-effective than other construction materials. Avoid installing windows with fragile material.
Instead, consider using steel-framed windows. If possible, avoid using wood or other flammable materials. And if building one is daunting, consider consulting a professional builder or buying pre-assembled safe rooms.
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Determine possible disasters or dangers
What dangers or weather disasters can you face in your area? Answering this question will help you determine the extra features your safe room will require. For example, if you live in an area prone to home invasions, you might consider reinforcing the door and windows. If hurricanes and floods are the common disasters, consider installing airtight doors and windows.
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Install a robust door
The door is the most crucial component of the safe room. It should be sturdy enough to withstand forced entry, knocks from flying debris, and airtight to prevent entry of water. You can use metal or solid wood doors. If possible, reinforce the door with steel plating and install heavy-duty locks. Ensure the door is lockable from the inside to prevent intruders from accessing the inside.
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Stock your safe room
With the safe room constructed, it is time to stock it with the right essentials.
- Food and water
First, stock it with non-perishable food. This can be nuts, high-calorie snacks, and dried food. You should also bring enough water for drinking and other needs. We recommend storing three gallons of water per person.
- Emergency kit
You should also have a medical kit equipped with basic supplies such as pain killers, scissors, bandages, and disinfectants. You should also add any special medication that your loved ones might need during the stay.
- Power supply
Consider using a backup power system to keep your devices on in the panic room. You don’t want to cut communication with your friends, family, and law enforcement personnel when sheltering from a disaster. For this, you can use a BLUETTI power station.
You can use the BLUETTI AC200MAX + 2*B230 + 3*PV200 to ensure your devices are powered throughout the day and night. While it has a 2048Wh base capacity, you can expand it to 6144Wh or 8192Wh by adding two B230 or two B300 batteries respectively.
The BLUETTI EP500 + 3*PV200 is also another perfect choice for a safe room as it has 5120Wh capacity. This is enough power to keep your phones charged for weeks. The best part is these battery backup systems are portable and lightweight, meaning you don’t need to install a mount in your safe room.
Final Thoughts
During natural disasters, it is crucial to protect yourself and your family against weather elements and flying debris. Your house can protect you against mild weather conditions but not against severe weather conditions and attacks.
It is for this reason you need a safe room. A safe room protects you from natural disasters, war attacks, and falling or flying debris. A robust panic room should be made of reinforced concrete and have steel doors installed. If building one is daunting, consider consulting a professional builder.
