Beans & LegumesWhat do Police Officers and Bunkers have in Common?
The obvious answer is that they both serve the purpose of protecting us. The less obvious commonality is Kevlar. As most people know Kevlar is the material used to make bulletproof vests worn by police officers. What most people don’t know is that DuPont actually builds emergency bunkers out of the same material.
In fact, for Diana Swenson of Joplin, MO, her Kevlar bunker was put to the test. “I grabbed my weather radio, my flashlight and my cat and went into my shelter. And then in about 10 minutes that storm hit.”
Amazingly her shelter held strong and weathered what’s been considered one of the most deadliest tornado’s in history. While her house was completely destroyed she and her cat walked away unharmed. In the wake of the destruction surrounding Diana, there was no doubt in the fact that her initiative to have a bunker installed saved her life. Prices for the bunkers range from $5750 – $15,000 depending on the size of the bunker.
Last year FEMA sponsored investigations in areas where tornadoes had hit. They discovered that in some areas pre-fabricated safe rooms had been installed through grant programs that were federally supported for less than $5,000 each. Is that a bargain? Is it too much?
I actually live in a state where tornadoes and hurricanes are literally non-existent and I have questions about how practical it would be in an earthquake. So here’s the question for you, in your opinion is this a realistic option for you and your family? Is a Kevlar bunker something you’d realistically consider purchasing? Are there alternatives that are a better option?
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I live in Florida, but I’d buy a bunker if I could install it properly. The challenge is living just above sea level, so digging down is the problem. I’ve been in earthquakes in CA, the blackout in NY, tornadoes in the Midwest and hurricanes in Florida. I’d much rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
June 6th, 2011 at 4:17 amSteel reinforced concrete safe rooms, or small outbuildings. But I am at a disadvantage, since I don’t know how the kevlar one’s are constructed.
June 6th, 2011 at 4:17 amI will be moving to tornado prone Iowa here in the near future and I think having a bunker or safe room would be a great idea. Especially if the government is willing to help pay for it. Ms. Swenson is living proof that it works.
June 6th, 2011 at 4:22 amI’m looking at a steel shipping container to make a safe room.I’m goining to insall a heave steel door that swings in.Then I’m going to weld the big doors shut.Then I’ll out fit it with an air cleaning unit.Whith it bolted down to a concrete slab,It’s not going anywhere.For people in Florida you night want to build your safe house an pillers 15′ off the ground.
June 6th, 2011 at 4:42 amI’d like to know a reliable and affordable company who builds these in southwest Florida. Thanks.
June 6th, 2011 at 4:43 amNo hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes here…just extreme heat. In that case, our swimming pool is our bunker
June 6th, 2011 at 5:18 amI was working at Texas Tech when they started developing these safe rooms. They do work and are worth the money. Any wall that can take a 2×4 shot from a cannon with 100 psi of air is far better than a house trailer in a tornado.
June 6th, 2011 at 5:21 amAn underground cellar is tops. Anything above ground, and I do mean anything, stands the chance of going down the road. Not an underground cellar.
June 6th, 2011 at 5:37 ami live in southwest florida where every once in a while you can get a ctagory 4 or 5 hurricane. you can see what that did to homedtead fl. flattened it. it also spawns tornadoes. what scares me the most in florida is there are no basements ans when there is a tornado you just pray it does not come your way. if i could afford it i would gladly buy a safe room.
June 6th, 2011 at 11:08 amI live in Ct, just south of springfield Mass where 2 tornados hit the area and killed 4 people. I just dont understand why anyone would not do anything to protect their family from any pending earthly or man-made Disasters to come. Tornados in this area proved, Anything can happen to anyone!!
June 6th, 2011 at 12:36 pmPrepare now!!! Build it, stock pile and learn skills now!!
When an Emergency is Upon us…The time for Preparation has passed!!!
Bunkers and shelters have become quite popular the past couple years or so. Stories about them have made mainstream news.
June 6th, 2011 at 1:21 pmI wish the price were less. Such a shelter is out of my budget’s range.
I have mixed feelings about government subsidies, but I’d rather see them subsidize shelters to protect citizens than a lot of other things they’re spending money on. However, don’t hold your breath that such a thing will ever happen.
I would like to know in Florida where I could get one of these buildings.
June 6th, 2011 at 1:57 pmThink of the “F” scale as feet. If you are building an above ground safe room or bunker, to be reasonably secure from an F-5 tornado you need concrete pillars sunk 5 feet deep. For a below surface storm shelter, 5 feet of earth should cover the roof. Putting a bunker on a slab without sunken pillars is not the best idea. An F5 can catch the bunker and lift the slab.
June 6th, 2011 at 3:05 pmHaving a below ground in an area that could be prone to flooding in a prolonged rain event risks flooding. We have an 8′x20′x8′ below ground steel and encased in concrete, that came with big vault, sheetrock, lighting, laminate floor and solar emergency power – cost was $19K but we don’t have to worry about hurricane flooding. There are in garage safe rooms made out of steel that are bolted to the concrete, installed in half day – a 4x8x6 will hold 8 ppl runs approximately $7K. Precast concrete, buried shelters are also very useful, a 7x10x6 can be installed in less than a day and runs approximate $6K. There are also steel panels that are put into existing 1st floor closets, then lined with sheetrock to make them useful as closets again, those are all custom jobs, but usually a 4x8x8 closet will run $9K. Kevlar is great protecting against wind damage, but not so good to protect against theft because it’s designed to be an easy install and can be cut with circular saw. But, a great way to make an existing room into a storm room – costs will vary on size, between $5-15K for small to medium sized rooms. The big issue is finding a company that can do it in your area. Some firms will only work in a local area, some will send installers nationwide, or ship self install kits for the DIY. If DIY, make sure you have the equipment to move big pieces of metal. If using a shipping container, like Dave W, make sure it is adequately reinforced with steel tubing on the outside and inside ceiling to withstand the pressure that will be applied to it, otherwise you will have problems guaranteed. The strength on those containers is on the corner beams not roof or side walls that’s only 3/16 gauge. As far as govt grants, your local county has to apply to FEMA and you have to apply BEFORE the shelter is installed to make sure it meets FEMA standards, which isnt hard….nobody ever tells you that. We found a company that acted as a locator service and talked to us about what we needed / budget, gave us all the options then they made it happen after we decided what was best for us. Had to go down to the shelter twice in last month and half, when tornado sirens went off. We now have 18, #10 cans from Ready Store and enough water for a month for family of four on the shelves with PLENTY of room to spare….love it.
June 6th, 2011 at 4:54 pmHere in SE Kansas you can get an Inground concrete shelter including installation for less than $3000.00
June 7th, 2011 at 4:37 pmLynn, Reid, would you please provide emails for some of these companies if that is permissable with The Ready Store? For those of us who are familiar with those whirling monsters…. we know we are no match
$$$ are really tight for a lot of people however these prices seem reasonable as opposed to some I’ve checked out. We’d like a “safe area” from tornados with more than standing room only… much like you’ve described Lynn.
To The Ready Store…. Thanks for addressing this issue! These recent tornados have been extremely vicious and rain wrapped… meaning impossible to see and the weather outside didn’t appear to be that threatening.
June 7th, 2011 at 6:24 pmFrom The Ready Store:
AutumnGal, no problems at all with Lynn or Reid passing that information along here on the blog.
Lynn and Reid feel free to put weblinks/email addresses to those companies.
The Ready Store
June 7th, 2011 at 6:55 pmMy question is why is it not “standard” to have some sort of safe place for all homes and buildings being built? Especially if the reason you are building is to replace something lost in a storm. I know cost is a factor, too! Used to be all farms had a storm cellar. In hurricane prone areas you could have some sort of “sub” type unit that could protect you. Earthquakes is a whole other story you’d have to be airborne? No good solution for everything, except to know where your going to end up if you don’t survive!
June 7th, 2011 at 8:09 pmSorry, out for a few days. Called them and got ok to pass on their new info. Shelter-Locators.com. info@shelter-locators.com, but ask for Tara, she is great.
June 10th, 2011 at 5:39 pmI live in the northern midwest, we do have a basement and while in my lifetime tornados have been relatively mild in the last 2 years we have had 3 to 5 close calls and near misses to our town. We do have a basement though SO for the amount of money you guys are talking about I would skip the kevlar shelter and put $ into reinforcing, stocking, and making safe our existing basement.
June 13th, 2011 at 4:24 am