Stay out of Rowlett

[jimithing]

Underground seems most logical to me but I've seen plenty of pictures of flooded storm shelters that makes me think twice. I think some people have even died from flooding when they took refuge in an underground shelter - got debris on top of the shelter and couldn't get out.

[Mike]

Underground seems most logical to me but I've seen plenty of pictures of flooded storm shelters that makes me think twice. I think some people have even died from flooding when they took refuge in an underground shelter - got debris on top of the shelter and couldn't get out.

Yep.. We will definitely have a hydraulic jack installed in ours. They typically hit while during business hours, so I need to make my wife can get it open if there is debris on it.

I've probably only spent about 20 minutes in a shelter since moving here in 2007, I hate in those damn things.

[Whiteboy]

I was lucky my side of Rowlett didnt get hit. But it was scary that night.

[95DRGT]

I like the underground garage one- doubles as oil change pit

[mstng86]

I like the underground garage one- doubles as oil change pit

and extra storage space

[juiceweezl]

I've spent dozens of hours in a tornado shelter, and I wouldn't feel safe in an above ground safe room, for what it's worth. They may be more practical, but I just don't see them being as safe as a concrete in ground shelter.


Mike was going to have a safe room or shelter built after the last round of tornados in Moore. I'm not sure what he went with though, but I'm interested to hear his input.

I've posted on here before about safe rooms, so I'm not going to give a long post again right now (I'm also on the road and don't want to post all the links). My company has been 85% through development with 2 types of shelters and moved away from the project. One was carried forward by the partner company (Dupont) and the other was just ours. They are meant to be a part of the house so that you never know they're there, something like a master closet or bathroom. I am not giving up garage space for a steel building, and I do not like the concept of being trapped in the ground with water/flooding being an issue. For those wanting to know some options, look at Stormblocker panels. I'll be back in town tomorrow and can post more if the masses want more info. I've been a part of development and also the testing (the 2x4 cannon is fun).

[sosoe]

and extra storage space

and the day you need to get inside in a rush, you wont because of all the junk you have stored inside.

[John -- '02 HAWK]

If somebody does the in ground in the garage unit make sure the entrance isnt under the car

[95DRGT]

If somebody does the in ground in the garage unit make sure the entrance isnt under the car

I don't see it how it could not be in 95% of the standard garages

[bcoop]

If somebody does the in ground in the garage unit make sure the entrance isnt under the car

Yeah, I don't think putting them under the garage is smart either. If house gets hit, you could be trapped there for days.

[Mike]

Yeah, I don't think putting them under the garage is smart either. If house gets hit, you could be trapped there for days.

The shelters have GPS units in them, and there is an optional 8 ton hydraulic jack, I haven't heard of anyone being trapped in one for very long.
This conversation is why I still haven't made my final decision. I know people that were hit in 2013 with backyard, garage, and indoor above ground shelters, all of them survived. At this point I'm looking at whatever is going to be most comfortable in the event that I have to actually get in it.

[Silverback]

this is what i've been looking at for the next house. Above ground, concrete, vault sealed, and the room wired for TV/internet, etc. Make it my office/workroom

[mstng86]

this is what i've been looking at for the next house. Above ground, concrete, vault sealed, and the room wired for TV/internet, etc. Make it my office/workroom

In that type of application, if its an add on to a house, is there any consideration to how heavy the added room is? The reason I ask is my stepdad added a room like that to their house and I believe it really jacked up the foundation due to the weight. the roof started having issues and that whole side of the house seem to be pulling away towards the new room he built on.

[John -- '02 HAWK]

Yeah, I don't think putting them under the garage is smart either. If house gets hit, you could be trapped there for days.

The concern of mine is two fold

Concern one, is having to move a car to get into the shelter when seconds count.

Concern two, is when the garage door (or window/door) is opened it changes the dynamics of the wind's pressure am loading from going up and over the house to going through the house and over the house. This creates a Bernoulli effect (think wind over an airplane wing) and helps to lift and dislodge the house, as well changing the pressure loads on the house.

[Mike]

The concern of mine is two fold

Concern one, is having to move a car to get into the shelter when seconds count.

Concern two, is when the garage door (or window/door) is opened it changes the dynamics of the wind's pressure am loading from going up and over the house to going through the house and over the house. This creates a Bernoulli effect (think wind over an airplane wing) and helps to lift and dislodge the house, as well changing the pressure loads on the house.

Why would you leave the garage door open?