5 Things to Consider Before Building a Storm Shelter

Are you worried about the storm season coming in? Want to minimize the risk of natural disasters? Unsure of how to build a storm shelter?

Storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes are quite unpredictable. Hence, it is very important to stay alert and prepared to keep yourself safe when a natural disaster hits. A storm shelter is one of the safest ways to stay protected during a natural disaster.

This blog will list all the necessary measures you should take before building a storm shelter in Norman or surrounding areas.

Type of Storm Shelter

You could choose between an underground shelter, in-house or pre-built shelter. Each one of them has its pros and cons.

Underground shelters are best-suited to protect against strong winds and minimize the risk of being exposed to flying debris. Whereas if you get an in-house shelter installed, you don’t need to leave your home to seek shelter during a natural calamity and, it’s more convenient. They can either be built or installed.

You can also have shelters in a garage, basement, or anywhere in the house, as long as it has a concrete base.

Location

Do not build a storm shelter in a flood-prone area or anywhere around tall buildings since, during tornadoes, they are very likely to collapse. You can’t build an underground storm shelter in an area that is prone to flooding.

Size of the Shelter

Overcrowding and suffocating is the last thing you’d want during a natural disaster. You should choose the size according to the number of family members. Be mindful that you’ll need to store essentials like foods, medicines, clothes in the storm shelter. Make sure that the place doesn’t get too cramped up due to its small size, and there’s enough space for storage too.

Technicalities

A lot of people prefer to build a shelter home themselves to save money. However, it’s crucial to ensure that nothing goes wrong during the process. Since it requires expertise and engineering skills, we recommend you to take the help of the professionals.

The structure must be built according to the FEMA guidelines. At the end of the day, you wouldn’t want to risk your shelter home turning into a trap.

Construction Details

Make sure it has enough distance for ventilation and lighting.

The walls and ceiling should have plywood as it absorbs the flying debris. The construction should be planned efficiently, keeping in mind to use materials that can withstand strong winds like aluminum steel and fiberglass. The electrical wiring must be properly covered; otherwise, this could pose a serious threat.

Reach Out to Oklahoma Shelters

If you’re looking for professional storm shelter installation services, we’d love to be at your service. Contact us to get a free quote; we offer storm shelters with a 10-year warranty.

Our shelters are built in accordance with the FEMA guidelines and can withstand the force of F5 tornadoes.  Our goal is to protect your family and keep you storm-safe!