Need a tornado shelter? 4 questions to ask to find the right one for you
Already this year we have seen devastating tornados. With the unusual winter and now early spring, forecasts call for a record number of storms and tornados. Many people in storm-prone areas are looking to protect themselves. Maybe you are one of them. A storm shelter seems like a good idea. But what kind? Do you install it yourself? How big does it need to be? Where should you put it? How much work do you want to put into it? Let’s explore some of those questions today.
First off, I am not storm shelter expert. But I do know containers. Secondly, let me say that containers are not the answer for everyone.
- Where should you put it? This goes back to what kind of storms you have and also what kind of terrain you have. If you live in an area where there are no basements, that might be because going underground doesn’t work very well. If you have a hill and want to put the container into the hill, that might be a great solution, but check into what kind of soil you are working with. You want to make sure you are tailoring your solution to your land and your situation. What works for someone in another state may or may not work for you.
- How much work do you want to put into installing your storm shelter? If the answer is little to none, then you may want to consider a pre-made shelter and use their installation services. Some pre-made shelters offer various options where you can do some customization yourself or install it yourself. For those of you who like to do your own customized project start to end, then containers might be the answer for you. Containers do require more prep, more planning and more work than pre-made shelters. For information on how to convert a container into a storm shelter, check out our previous blog posts on this topic, Click here. You will want to make sure you have an engineer inspect your designs before starting.
Above ground shelter from www.crestprecastconcrete.com
Pre-made 10-person tornado shelter from http://www.sheltersonline.com
The bottom line is that you have to find the solution that works best for you. Of course you need to take into consideration your budget and local zoning as well. One website that asks a lot of good questions is TornadoProject.com. Check them out for more questions to ask yourself. Make sure you choose the best option for your needs, your area and your land as well. But above all, please stay safe during severe weather.