What should you put in a storm shelter?

To learn about some of the essential items you should consider keeping in your storm shelter, read more below.
  1. Sufficient Food and Water. ...
  2. First Aid Kit. ...
  3. Warm Clothing and Bedding. ...
  4. Lanterns, Flashlights, and Candles. ...
  5. Pollen Masks.
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What should I keep in my storm shelter?

Recommended Supplies to Include in a Basic Kit:
  • Backpack or storage tub to hold your supplies.
  • Bottled Water. ...
  • Non-Perishable food. ...
  • Flashlight with extra batteries.
  • First Aid Supplies. ...
  • Tissues.
  • Toilet paper and bags with ties for personal sanitation.
  • Paper and pen or pencil (to take notes, play games, etc)
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Where is the best place to put a storm shelter?

Find the area in your home that you can get to the easiest and quickest. For most people this is the garage. But a patio or closet, provided it's on a concrete foundation, can work just as well. However, if your shelter is outside your home, be mindful of possible hazards such as flying debris and falling trees.
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How do you prevent mold in a storm shelter?

Proper Ventilation

The shelter can become stuffy, and in some circumstances, even develop mildew. You can avoid this by keeping the storm shelter open for a few hours or even a few days every month to regulate the air quality.
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What's inside a storm cellar?

As a recap, you should keep basic disaster supplies in your shelter. These things include: a weather radio, flash lights, water, food, blankets, and any other items that are unique to your family. You should also try to have some form of entertainment.
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What Items Do I Put In Our Tornado Shelter?



How do you keep a storm shelter clean?

3 Cleaning Hacks To Keep Your Storm Shelter Ready At All Times
  1. Choose Precisely What Goes In There. You're not alone in using the storm shelter as a storage space. ...
  2. Replace Old Supplies Every Few Months. Keep food and perishables from going to waste, even if they're canned. ...
  3. Clean Out Corners And Surfaces Every Few Months.
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What should you have in your basement during a tornado?

In a house with a basement: Avoid windows. Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go under them.
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How do you keep underground shelters dry?

  1. Dig a trench 1 foot wide and 1 foot deep around the perimeter of the underground shelter.
  2. Pour a 6-inch layer of gravel into the trench. ...
  3. Place two clay drain pipes on top of the gravel on either side of the shelter. ...
  4. Paint any visible part of the exterior shelter wall with waterproofing paint.
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How do you get water out of a storm cellar?

A simple and inexpensive way to stop water from getting into your storm cellar is to grade the soil away from the cellar opening. The right grade forces water to flow away from the storm cellar. Ideally, the slope of the soil should be at least a 6-inch drop for every 10 feet away from the opening of the storm cellar.
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Are steel above ground storm shelters safe?

Both underground and above-ground storm shelters provide a degree of safety. Technological advances like modular panels and waterproofing have made above-ground shelters a viable option for families.
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How deep should a tornado shelter be?

How deep should a storm shelter be? It should be at least 10 feet from mean sea level. This will prevent water from flooding the cellar.
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Do shipping containers make good storm shelters?

Benefits of Container Storm Shelters

Incredibly durable, shipping containers are designed to withstand harsh elements and can house thousands of pounds of product. They are also strong enough to support that same amount stacked on top of them.
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Why don t houses in Tornado Alley have basements?

But many suburban homes built in so-called Tornado Alley don't have basements due to rocky soil conditions and high water tables, which often make building basements impossible. An interior room or closet—often recommended for those without basements—may not be effective when extreme winds or debris strike.
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How do bunkers get water?

“The water supply comes from an underground tank or well, so conservation is crucial in such a scenario.” In addition to wastewater pumps, Rising S also installs gray water drain pumps that discharge water from sink, shower and laundry applications in the bunkers.
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What is the best tornado shelter?

Below ground is the safest place to be in a tornado. These shelters can be installed in a number of spots around your house or in your garage without taking up much space.
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How do you get fresh air in an underground bunker?

Ventilation and Air Filters: These filter and ventilate clean air into your bunker. An N.B.C. (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) filter is your best bet at protecting your shelter from air contaminants and providing fresh air.
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Do safe rooms need ventilation?

Even if you are inside a hermetically sealed container, you need true ventilation – air in and air out. This ventilation continually removes moisture, heat, and carbon dioxide that is exhaled by the occupants while bringing in a fresh supply of oxygen-rich air.
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Is a bathtub safe during a tornado?

According to the NWS, bathrooms may be a good shelter, provided they are not along an outside wall and have no windows. Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing magically safe about getting in a bathtub with a mattress. Bathrooms have proven to be adequate tornado shelters in many cases for a couple of reasons.
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Can you survive an EF5 in a basement?

EF5. Barring a storm cellar or a specially constructed, reinforced room, a basement is the place where you're likeliest to survive a direct hit from a tornado. It's a pretty good bet, but it's not failsafe.
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Which side of the basement is safest in a tornado?

MYTH: The southwest corner of a basement is the safest area of your home. TORNADO SAFETY FACT: While it's true that the basement is the safest place to hide from a storm, no corner of the basement is better than the other.
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What food do you need for a tornado?

Here's a look at the food and supplies you should permanently store in your tornado shelter so you're ready when the next storm hits.
...
Food and Water
  • Canned fruits and vegetables*
  • Canned soup and ravioli*
  • Canned chicken and fish*
  • Nuts and peanut butter.
  • Crackers with a long shelf life.
  • Granola bars.
  • Beef jerky.
  • Trail mix.
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What should you not do during a tornado?

DON'T: Stand near windows or other glass objects. DO: Get out as quickly as possible and find a shelter or lie flat on low ground away from trees and cars, protecting your head. DON'T: Stay in the mobile home, even if it is tied down, as most tornadoes can destroy mobile homes that are tied down.
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How do you prepare your house for a tornado?

Go to the basement or an inside room without windows on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, center hallway). If possible, avoid sheltering in any room with windows. For added protection get under something sturdy (a heavy table or workbench). Cover your body with a blanket, sleeping bag or mattress.
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