Storm Shelter

[barfife]

Wife walked in with a partial can of paint she had in a box and asked if I needed it. I painted the latches to close the shelter just in case I aint there and anyone else is in panic mode and i painted the bottom step too.

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The yellow paint was a great idea. Keeps locking it down simple.

I do like the idea of having a hydraulic jack to assist in opening your door in case it is blocked. I have seen some shelters that have the option of a hydraulic jack that looks to be over 3 foot tall.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Ok you guys talked me into it. I put a 2 1/2 ton hydraulic jack and a steel bar in there. If I need a longer steel bar i will disassemble the hydraulic lift alreay on the door. It has a 3ft steel bar. I thought about putting a heavier jack in there but I know the stairs will not support any more weight than that.



I also put a small single strap pack in there that was given to me. I didnt want it but got to thinking about folks who showed up for water/food etc at the relief tents with nothing to carry stuff in and I watched carry as many bottles of water in their arms as they could and not even able to haul thier "allotment".

[barfife]

Ok you guys talked me into it. I put a 2 1/2 ton hydraulic jack and a steel bar in there. If I need a longer steel bar i will disassemble the hydraulic lift alreay on the door. It has a 3ft steel bar. I thought about putting a heavier jack in there but I know the stairs will not support any more weight than that.

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You could increase your step's strength by placing a "cripple" support under the step (steel bar, double 2x4s, short fence post) and go to an 8 ton bottle jack. Just a thought.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

You could increase your step's strength by placing a "cripple" support under the step (steel bar, double 2x4s, short fence post) and go to an 8 ton bottle jack. Just a thought.

Yep my 2 8ton jacks are taken for now so it will have to wait.
Man I thought for sure with this group I woulda seen more of other folks stuff on here!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I obtained another free shelf to put down there and decided to put some canned stuff in a bucket with a rubber sealed lid. I can take it out come winter and use the short term canned stuff. I put a #10 can of 16 bean soup from JRH which is a good meal starter and would allow me to take care of a bunch of folks if need too. I also put a can of JRH banna slices in there well because their good! I put 3 cans of generic spam that comes with a half life rather than a best used by date! Some salt and pepper packets, red pepper, parmesian cheese packets that were handy as fillers. A can of butter because I have several and just threw it in. A can of green beans and corn a bag of candy we don't need to eat but could cheer upsomeones day after a bad storm day. I also put a quart bag of dog food for cujo because well while he will eat anything he is rough to live with after he does cause the little feller gets bad gas! I also put a larger pot in there to cook with in case I was to need to make a larger meal, like that soup, than the pots I already have in there.

[lcas-271]

From my experience working in a manufacturing plant, you might want to use safety yellow paint on all of the steps and the handrail. That way the whole thing is easier to see. And remember, if you're needing to shelter from a tornado I doubt that the sun is going to be all that bright. I would hate for someone to miss the 2nd step while going to shelter.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

From my experience working in a manufacturing plant, you might want to use safety yellow paint on all of the steps and the handrail. That way the whole thing is easier to see. And remember, if you're needing to shelter from a tornado I doubt that the sun is going to be all that bright. I would hate for someone to miss the 2nd step while going to shelter.

LOL didnt even know there was a second step tonight! found the bottom real quick we did and stayed about an hour and a half and got kudos from the wife for the work! dug in like tick and was real proud of the nasty little hole in the ground!

[monkeybird]

It's amazing how things work out. I'm sure you didn't imagine the use your shelter would get. Too bad all those other folks in Oklahoma didn't have shelters.

[Mikeg175]

You may want to think of some items for when its over also . I would add some work gloves , sunblock , maybe even toss a few changes of clothes , also some hygiene products , tooth pastes , brushes , shampoo , soap . Remember you may be walking out to total devastation , I would also toss in a second bucket or 3 ( they stack ) for using as small portable sinks . After a hard day , you filter some water from the pond , toss a rag in there , soap up some and rinse , will make you feel tons better . If you have younger ones , also think about some kind of toys , coloring books . Maybe some chocolate , unless it gets too warm down there . A small coffee pot also for those who drink coffee , You should have a few tarps , with pegs and other ways to secure it . You come out and find your property strewn over God's creation and you pile it up , now it is sitting out in the elements , toss a tarp over it , secure with pegs .Tarps also make nice shade if needed also , will keep rain off you also . I know twisters last a few minutes , but the aftermath and help arriving can seem like forever , so having stuff for the after will help . I do emergency responses , so I respond to a lot of burned out homes and these are some items I carry with me and I can see relief when something as small as a tarp over their personal items goes . It gives them a little privacy and makes them feel a little better .

[miked2345]

Matt...

What is the norm for your area? Do most homes have basements or storm shelters in the ground near the house? Here in Michigan, most houses have basements, but after seeing all the tornado damage down south, it looks like you guys need them more than we do! We do get tornados sometimes, but not nearly as bad as those "Tornado Belt" states. I have read that in some areas, there is to much clay in the ground to dig a basement.

Man, between the tornados and the flooding, this country is getting spanked lately! And there are many areas where the farmers still don't have the seed in the ground, because of to much rain. This could be a REAL problem in a few months, with crop failures!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Matt...What is the norm for your area? Do most homes have basements or storm shelters in the ground near the house? Here in Michigan, most houses have basements, but after seeing all the tornado damage down south, it looks like you guys need them more than we do! We do get tornados sometimes, but not nearly as bad as those "Tornado Belt" states. I have read that in some areas, there is to much clay in the ground to dig a basement. Man, between the tornados and the flooding, this country is getting spanked lately! And there are many areas where the farmers still don't have the seed in the ground, because of to much rain. This could be a REAL problem in a few months, with crop failures!

There are alot of houses I am gonna throw out a guess and say 1 in 8 or 1in 10 have shelters except in real populated ares which very few seem to have. The reason most don't have basements is the high water table, the red clay is an issue too and when you get down a little ways it sometimes turns yellow and is even worse. If you have clay you have moisture and alot of it. I've had basements before is some places i lived and loved them! Storm shelters run 2-3K which is even cheaper than a basement. it's just a money issue with most. I look at it as a insurance just like any other preps.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

You may want to think of some items for when its over also . I would add some work gloves , sunblock , maybe even toss a few changes of clothes , also some hygiene products , tooth pastes , brushes , shampoo , soap . Remember you may be walking out to total devastation , I would also toss in a second bucket or 3 ( they stack ) for using as small portable sinks . After a hard day , you filter some water from the pond , toss a rag in there , soap up some and rinse , will make you feel tons better . If you have younger ones , also think about some kind of toys , coloring books . Maybe some chocolate , unless it gets too warm down there . A small coffee pot also for those who drink coffee , You should have a few tarps , with pegs and other ways to secure it . You come out and find your property strewn over God's creation and you pile it up , now it is sitting out in the elements , toss a tarp over it , secure with pegs .Tarps also make nice shade if needed also , will keep rain off you also . I know twisters last a few minutes , but the aftermath and help arriving can seem like forever , so having stuff for the after will help . I do emergency responses , so I respond to a lot of burned out homes and these are some items I carry with me and I can see relief when something as small as a tarp over their personal items goes . It gives them a little privacy and makes them feel a little better .

Good list, the chocolate is a no go,way to hot here, thats why i went with the hard candy I showed. Tarps are excellent and we have used alot the last few days. Going back in to the zone tomorow, had to do regular work today. We hauled in coffee and we found alot of toys and passed them around. My kids are older right now but a doggie toy went in LOL. I have the green light to make improvements from the boss with the checkbook after she spent a little time in there now.
A side note, put the shelter away from things like your swimming pool. My buddy at work had his above ground dumped in after it ripped the door off and it had 3 1/2ft of water in it! LOL
I gotta hand it to my Okie bretheren and the Red Cross and all the other Volunteers the outpouring and the support of folks feeding, trash pickup etc is awesome. gonna go get some sleep now, big day tomorrow, also the missing baby was found today, dead, but found, it's terrible, mighta been a big bad survivalist who shed a tear somewhere.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Thought of something else, chime in med folks, get a tetnus shot, think it's every 10 yrs but i never wait till full term. If you are in the zone, no matter how careful you are, you will get stuck or cut. debris in the form of nails, glass, broken stuff is everywhere and has no flow and points in every direction. I've used alot of bandaids, neosporin and anaseptics the last few days for minor stuff.

plug kits for the tires too for the same reasons, i mentioned this before in previous posts but it is worthy again. The kits are small, lightweight and cheap and sold everywhere till the day after and holes start appearing. I gotta get some more, patched a few victims stuff so they could use the car even without the windows.
Keep workin folks, there is much to be done

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Found out my wife can't operate a P38 can opener, due to permanant injuries to her arm, so I add a regular one and bought another small battery operated lantern because I gave mine to one of the tornado victims. It has a low, high and flashing red light.

[Grand58742]

Anything special you are doing with the batteries for storage? Especially in light of the heat and humidity?

And how warm does your shelter get when packed away with your family?