Despite most tornadoes happening in spring, the reality is that they can happen at any time, anywhere. Mother nature is moody, and the weather can change so fast from sunny and breezy to you sheltering from a category five storm. Ideally, the best place to shelter during a storm is a storm shelter. Commonly located underground, it’s advisable to have a storm shelter, and even if you don’t use it, the peace of mind that it brings makes it all worth it.
They are insurance that no matter what happens, you and your loved ones are protected. While it may be feasible to take shelter in a different room, there’s nothing like a purpose-built structure to handle everything a storm can serve up. Besides the functional aspects, having a storm shelter in the property increases its value by as much as 3.25% to 5%. In fact, sometimes the extra value on the home is enough to cover the cost of a storm shelter—so two birds with one stone.
Now imagine if a storm were to hit and you didn’t have a storm shelter. Where would you hide? It’s worth noting that you should be completely underground during a storm. With that in mind, the next best place you can hide is in your basement. The fact is, storms are an ever-present danger, and homes with basements are often valued higher in tornado-prone areas for this reason. While basements with reinforced concrete structures and ceiling are the ideal choices, when worst comes to worst, any basement can work as a storm shelter.
In case you don’t have a dedicated safe room, you can easily set up your basement as a shelter – just kit it out with the right equipment. For example, having an emergency communication apparatus like a HAM radio will help prepare you for a scenario where the storm takes out electricity or communication infrastructure. If you are bunking with family and especially children, nothing makes them more anxious than darkness. Therefore, it’s best to have a backup power source to improve the whole experience, especially if the power outage lasted long.
If you are bugging out in the basement, you must be wary that air quality may not be as good as an open room. Space out among yourselves and relax to ensure you have enough space to stretch out. When a tornado watch is in place, you should start checking if you have all the necessary supplies in your disaster kit. Carry enough food supplies, a first aid kit, sanitation supplies, personal documents, and camping gear—you could do a lot with the tools. Lastly, be prepared to go into the bunker anytime. If you have to wait until you hear the tornado warning, you are probably too late.
Give Barrier Waterproofing Systems a call today at 615-257-1060 for more information about how we can help you can find a solution for avoiding the severity of storms on your own property.
