Although hurricanes and tornadoes are generally confined to certain parts of the globe, extreme wind storms can occur just about anywhere and pose a dangerous threat to buildings and our survival. Keep in mind that just because your home “appears” sturdy and is built to code it does not mean it can withstand the extreme wind associated with hurricanes and tornadoes. Having a safe room/wind shelter will provide the urban survival refuge and protection you’ll need for when shtf. What makes an effective wind shelter though?
You’ll want to build your safe room/wind shelter in a location with a solid foundation and structure. The best locations are typically in the basement or inner most room of your residence. If no adequate area can be found within your residence, it’s suggested you make an agreement with a friend or neighbor allowing you to use their residence in the event of an urban survival emergency.
Naturally underground safe rooms will provide the most protection against the wind but keep in mind that heavy rains and flooding can potentially force you out of your refuge. Take this into account when choosing where to keep your safe room/wind shelter. If your residence is close to sea level, it’s suggested you make your safe room on the first floor (or even second floor if your location has a history of flooding).
Most people will settle with just moving supplies to a room and not changing it structurally, if however you feel it’s not capable of protecting you flying debris, or withstanding the high winds you should consider modifying the structure. The following should be taken into account when building a safe room:
- Is the refuge properly anchored to the foundation? Can it resist being overturned or being uplifted?
- Are the walls, ceiling and doors able to withstand the shaking and vibrations that occur due to wind pressure? Are the walls strong enough to withstand flying debris?
- Are the joints and connections between the beams and corners strong enough?
- If your residence collapses, will your refuge also collapse?