Establishing a storm shelter
Living the Country Life Radio Program with Betsy Freese
Radio interview source: Dr. Ernst Kiesling, executive director of the National Storm Shelter Association
I have an old storm cellar in the yard of my 90-year-old home. My family doesn't use it since we go to the basement when we have a bad storm. Those outside shelters are effective, but research shows that people tend to wait until the last minute to run to safety. If you wait, there may already be debris flying in the air.
The best option is some type of in-residence shelter. This type of shelter is typically a small room designed to withstand strong winds and debris from storms like tornadoes and hurricanes. Dr. Ernst Kiesling with the National Storm Shelter Association says shelters like these not only save lives, but also reassure people when storms hit.
"Where families are separated, that is if the children are at home and the parents are still at work, and there's a tornado warning, the anxiety level is high on all sides," Kiesling says. "So I think the peace of mind offered by a storm shelter is worth the investment."
The shelter should be easily accessible. A small interior bathroom or closet is a practical option for an in-residence storm shelter, since it can serve another purpose in the home.
Many people seek shelter in their basements during storms. Basements with concrete roofs are strong shelters, but not every home design will keep you safe.
"If it's a pier-and-beam house, then it's very unlikely that the basement is safe, and we've seen many situations where the house was lifted or blown away, and the basement spaces were totally exposed," Kiesling says.
If you don't have a suitable basement, consider an alternative storm shelter. You can either have one built onsite or purchase one from a manufacturer. Be sure your storm shelter's design meets the National Storm Shelter Association's guidelines. The association has many standards in place for different types of shelters. The main concern for above-ground shelters is that they can withstand strong winds and flying debris. Below-ground shelters should prevent water from seeping in when the surrounding soil is saturated.
Learn more:
Storm shelters: Be ready for anything with these tips from Texas Tech University.
Building a safe room: Learn how to build and stock an emergency shelter right in your home.
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