Storm Shelter

[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!

[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]

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]

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]

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.

[Grand58742]

Now just add in a Ranger Joes catalog and a copy of Tactical Weapons for Military and Police. Nothing screams "I'm a prepper!" more than sitting on your 5 gallon toilet and browsing through the latest copy of a gun rag by candlelight.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Didn't see matches or a lighter on your list, but I'm assuming you have one already? One Lighter, I'm a tier one survivalist of course I have a Li.... where did i leave that laying? thought i put that in there already sigh :(
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Maybe some candles as well? Scented perhaps since you DO have the toilet there as well lol. A can of air freshener at the least. One scented Candle for Mr Sensitive Nose Grand58742:cool:

Small battery operated radio? One Combo Radio - light

One American Flag to show you can't break down a brother!
Extra Paper Plates for the hungry
Extension Cord and extra twine



One Blue Press Magazine (For ordering new supplies, wink wink), oh wait, in my best Austin Powers voice, "Thats not mine honestly it's not!" One Credit Card reciept from Blue Press, "How did that get in there, it's not mine!" :)LOL

[becky3086]

We have no storm shelter whatsoever here. How I wish we did.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Now that I've had the chance to wake up (my post was at around 3:30 this morning and I'm seven hours ahead of ya'll)

Battery operated radio with weather band as well (I mentioned it before, but think I edited it in after your reply)
Thought about that but i may have to get another one, i'm all out of "extras"

Might add a pruning saw or bow saw to your tool box in the long run
Good call

Gatorade powder or other sports drink mix for water. If you are working in the aftermath of a storm, you'll burn through electrolytes quick.
Very Good Call, I'm one for overworking and dehydrating!

Baby wipes (nothing like a good baby wipe shower after a long day)
Actually have 2 free samples from coupons coming that may find a home down there:)

Jokingly added the Spam, but your foods could use a little variety. Man cannot live by Ramen alone lol Some long life canned soups or freeze dried meals would be appropriate
Told the wife, got ignored, guess I need to get it done, I can live on anything for a long time but she and the girl aren't the troopers I am LOL I'm figuring on 3 days by then my son who is as crazy as his ole man shoulda packed stuff in to me at least thats my hope or someones gonna be missing a cat:)

Twine always has a thousand uses. Good call. Maybe in the long run you could even look at heavy duty ropes, chains or tow straps for moving downed trees? Something to consider if the item ever came up cheap.
What would i use to pull with if everything is gone? If my truck is still there my chains and straps will be too!

What about communications? In a storm, the last thing you would probably think about is grabbing your cell phone, but something to think about. Smaller charger perhaps?
In my experience after the storms the cell towers usually (a) get overloaded (b) disappear

There's always a hundred different little things along the way that will work for you as you continue to build up. I'd like to see this as a "living" thread as to what progress you make along the way.

I will keep it going as I progress, I would like to see some others folks stuff too so everyone can learn, shouldn't be an opsec issue

[Grand58742]

Now that I've had the chance to wake up (my post was at around 3:30 this morning and I'm seven hours ahead of ya'll)

Battery operated radio with weather band as well (I mentioned it before, but think I edited it in after your reply)

Might add a pruning saw or bow saw to your tool box in the long run

Gatorade powder or other sports drink mix for water. If you are working in the aftermath of a storm, you'll burn through electrolytes quick.

Baby wipes (nothing like a good baby wipe shower after a long day)

Jokingly added the Spam, but your foods could use a little variety. Man cannot live by Ramen alone lol Some long life canned soups or freeze dried meals would be appropriate

Twine always has a thousand uses. Good call. Maybe in the long run you could even look at heavy duty ropes, chains or tow straps for moving downed trees? Something to consider if the item ever came up cheap.

What about communications? In a storm, the last thing you would probably think about is grabbing your cell phone, but something to think about. Smaller charger perhaps?

There's always a hundred different little things along the way that will work for you as you continue to build up. I'd like to see this as a "living" thread as to what progress you make along the way.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I wouldnt use the propane till post event and the cleanup begins unless we are stuck in there then I am gonna try and work on a fan like LD3 said. The jacks a good idea with a piece of long steel to lift the door however I'm not sure how much weight those stairs will take. There is no way to get one one the floor the way this particular model is built. I guess I could figure out a way to block up under one of the steps. That would be a definte issue with a fiberglass shelter, the lack of strength. I think that I might be stuck till help comes if it's alot of weight. That again is why folks need to know where you are.

[610Alpha]

Be careful using the propane in there, you need to have air to breathe (if you get enough debris around your door you won't get the air that you need), add an extra PVC air vent if you can.

Also might want to put in a jack (bottle or floor type) of some kind in case a twister comes through and puts a tree on top of your door, you will be trapped.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I added one of those cheapie $1 lights

https://www.survivalandpreparednessforum.com/showthread.php?1591-Safety-Reflective-LED-Light&highlight=lights

because it got real dark when I shut that lid and the way this shelter is you still have to navigate a few stairs to hit the floor. I also bought a few dollar store chemlights to throw in there, put them in a ziplock baggie and just set them on the shelf in plain view. When I went to tie the light to the rail I thought I needed to keep that roll of twine in there too. Don't always wanna use my 550 cord for little stuff when I have a supply of this twine.
I can also use this stuff to signal with if the vent hole doesn't get blocked but the door does. Tape it to the cot bars and stick it up thru the hole.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Looks like a decent setup you have there. What all is in your tool box?
Right now it's just basic handtools like hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, crescent wrench
Maybe some candles as well? Scented perhaps since you DO have the toilet there as well lol. A can of air freshener at the least.
LOL negative, let them suffer the wrath of Dad! LOL

If you are planning on staying a couple of days, maybe pick up one of those el cheapo sleeping mats for the cot. I'm looking for my extra old Army pad still stashed somewhere after the move now that you brought it up

And I'd look at expanding that first aid kit with some other items. Disinfectant, ACE type bandage, triple antibiotic, etc. The .mil kits aren't bad, but are made for immediate triage on the battlefield and don't tend to focus on day to day boo-boo items. Might be better to add in some items to supplement the ones you have already. The small kit covers boo-boos but I do need some triple antibiotic, i did throw in some alcohol pads and iodine too

And SPAM! How did you forget the SPAM?! mmm spam, guess it couldn't hurt but need an airtight container for it cause the humidity is merciless down there

ETA: Thanks for starting this post. As I'm heading out to OK very soon, it's nice to see this kind of thread to make the brain start working and get ideas on how to stock my own shelter when the time comes.

Holler at a fellow okie on the e-mail when you hit the ground brother and holler if you need anything

[Grand58742]

Looks like a decent setup you have there. What all is in your tool box? Didn't see matches or a lighter on your list, but I'm assuming you have one already?

Maybe some candles as well? Scented perhaps since you DO have the toilet there as well lol. A can of air freshener at the least.

Small battery operated radio? For storm alerts and whatnot.

If you are planning on staying a couple of days, maybe pick up one of those el cheapo sleeping mats for the cot.

And I'd look at expanding that first aid kit with some other items. Disinfectant, ACE type bandage, triple antibiotic, etc. The .mil kits aren't bad, but are made for immediate triage on the battlefield and don't tend to focus on day to day boo-boo items. Might be better to add in some items to supplement the ones you have already.

And SPAM! How did you forget the SPAM?!

ETA: Thanks for starting this post. As I'm heading out to OK very soon, it's nice to see this kind of thread to make the brain start working and get ideas on how to stock my own shelter when the time comes.