Build Storm Cellar

If you plan on digging an underground storm shelter outside of your home then you will need to pay for a ground analysis.

Build storm cellar.

It had to be usable for cold storage of food such as. Mike than reinforced it with wooden structures inside and out and then covering it with 16 to 20 inches of soil to add thermal and storm protection. Make sure there s a clear path to the storm shelter area and it can be accessed quickly. Photo courtesy farm show magazine.

The forth root cellar on our list not only acts as a backyard refrigerator but also as a storm shelter. Safe room design and parts. Build a wooden form around the excavated hole to create the walls and ceiling of the concrete storm shelter. The easiest and cheapest way to build your own storm shelter underground is to put it in your existing basement.

Steps for building a storm shelter cut out and remove the concrete slab from the garage floor and dig down 28 inches. Move any items far enough that they won t get in your way while you re working. Full service lumberyards either carry or will special order all the materials you ll need to build this storm shelter cellar room except the 14 gauge steel sheets. Mike toppen used a 1 500 gallon plastic ag liquids tank to accomplish his goal of constructing his own root cellar and storm shelter.

The shelter had to be located above ground so it wouldn t fill with water. The access door had to be sealed from snakes spiders mice and squirrels. Install metal rebar throughout the form to reinforce the concrete. You can use the existing basement slab floor assuming that it is reinforced and meets fema requirements.

Additional tornado and hurricane safe room information.