The moment you mention a storm causes unrest in our bodies. That is the nature of a storm to cause a stir and destroy our environment. Strong winds from any storm can damage vehicles, buildings, bridges, and other objects in their way, turning loose debris into flying projectiles. Survey shows that in the United States 83% of damage is caused by storms. A storm shelter under stairs acts as a safe room.
What is a storm shelter?
A storm shelter is a type of underground bunker designed to protect the occupants from violent severe weather, particularly tornadoes. There are different types of storm shelters like an underground cellar and a safe room under the staircase—the safe space is to withstand high winds and fly debris even if the rest of the residence is destroyed. The points to be concerned under the construction of safe spaces are-
- The safe rooms are strong enough that it resists overturning and uplift by the strong turbulence.
- The walls, ceiling, and door of the shelter withstand wind pressure and resist penetration by wind-borne objects.
- The connection between all parts of the safe room is strong enough to resist separation by the wind.
- The safe room walls should be separated from the residence walls so that they do not get destroyed.
How to build a safe room under the stairs?
To get peace of mind from this natural calamity, you do not need a lot of money: time or space. If your house is not tornado-proof, then it is wise to have a storm shelter under stairs. The area under the stairs is one of the safest places to build a safe room. Any size or structure is the right fit if made according to FEMA’s guidelines ( Federal emergency management association). The factors to be considered here are-
- Firstly, the choice of material should have the following qualities according to FEMA.
- It should be impact resistance to withstand the impact of a 15- pound 2- inch x 4- inch shot at 67mph-100 mph.
- It is designed for a continuous load path, holding the roof, walls, and foundation of a safe room together.
- There is resistance to wind-borne debris, overturning, and uplift.
Residential safe rooms need to follow FEMA P-320 and FEMA 361.
- Overhead protection comes naturally under the staircase. The lack of objects nearby makes it safe from flying debris.
- We should solidify the area on top of the stairs and underneath, the place where you will hide. Adding planks helps in creating a barrier from flying debris to fall on the head.
- Layers added to the floor ensure extra protection and comfort level. The material used here is rubber tiles and layers of memory foam. A hard cement floor makes the base strong, and soft memory foam makes it comfortable. Minor injuries from falling are out of the question in the storm shelter under the staircase.
- An airtight safe room is not the correct way to make it as to stay in an airtight room for long is not right but to leave a window or an opening is equally dangerous as a big opening will let flying debris enter and hurt. The solution is to go to small spaces for vents so that air can be let in and not big enough that rain or flying debris can enter.
- The door to the safe room should open outwards and not inwards.
- Few things should be kept in handy for the situation over there is a tool kit, in case you need to dig your way out of the mess.
- Other items like first aid kits, food, water, flashlights are essential to make it through the storm.
Is it expensive to build a safe storm shelter under stairs?
The cost of building a storm shelter varies depending on the size, brand, materials, and location. The national average cost to build a storm shelter ranges from $ 3,900-$ 9,000. According to space, creating under the stairs is convenient for people who have the less square footage to work within their homes—the shelter costs between $3,600 and $ 5000.
Safety in the end
After a warning of an oncoming tornado, you get roughly thirteen minutes to save yourself. If at home, a safe storm room is the best possible way for you to survive. The easiest and cheapest way to build a storm shelter under the staircase is a natural place in the house. The best feature of a safe storm room under the stairs is that you do not have to look for extra space in the home to build it. If you live in an area prone to storms, making it a wise choice for peace of mind.