Storm Shelters Hard to Build?

[Mattemma]

If we were building a new home I would want to do a secured room in the basement. Not an option at this time. Is it hard/expensive to build one yourself in the yard? I was thinking you dig a hole and secure the sides with cement blocks. Not sure how to do the top.

Back in Hungary everyone had root cellars.Don't recall the walls but I remember the whole thing was covered wiith earth and grass. Maybe a root cellar would be better as it would serve 2 uses,and not just as a safe room during a tornado prone storm.

Off to see what people are building and selling. Just curious if anyone on BYC has done them and what they spent.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

I've been looking into building a root cellar too. I googled it and found evrything I need to know. Even awesome pix of them. I also bought a book or two. I usually can and freeze a ton of food, but now will be able to store it fresh. Having a safe place during storms is a plus

 

[Dunkopf]

If you're starting from scratch you should be able to incorporate into your foundation. I would make a basement entrance and make an outside entrance too. That way if the house collapses you have an escape and or another entry for rescue. Make it big enough to keep a couple barrels of water and your stored foods and a chemical toilet. They say a tornado can stick a 2x4 through a non reinforced concrete wall 4 inches thick.

I think severe weather is going to be part of our future. The extra carbon in the atmosphere is holding additional moisture and causing these harsh winters and these tornadoes and such. May even be just another natural cycle. If I lived in the belt I would sure want a shelter. That's scary stuff.

 

[PaulaSB12]

From somone the Uk have you never thought of building the whole house underground

http://www.weirdomatic.com/underground-living-hidden-homes.html

 

[RockyToggRanch]

We've had tornados here in NY this year. Following a very long snowy winter....

I would love to have an inside entrance from my basement to access my stash all winter without digging through 6' of snow..but it's not an option