Don't want to HIGH-JACK a thread

[rjtfroggy]

After being a paid structural fire fighter for 21 years believe me when I say a fire will go from being contained with a glass full of water to having many lines stretched in the street in a matter of seconds. So when you get a warning get out Please.
But not why I'm posting, I have a question.
Have any of you built or thought about an under ground room for storing your valuables or staying in during natural disasters. I believe 16-18 inches under the surface will give you all the protection you would need. With todays building materials it could be made water resistant, temperature stable and very livable to wait out the danger.
Now at 68 and battling some major health issues I am not looking to do this. I happen to live in the NE, southern New England and we really don't have many natural disasters, an occasional hurricane and a blizzard every couple years and maybe a tornado once in a while so really no need for one.
Just curious to hear your thoughts with out the thought of cost because you can not equate $$$ to lives.

 

[Shooter13]

Depends really, how basic or extravagant you want, are you talking about a 10'X12' or a 20X20? You could range anywhere from $10K to $50K very easily.

 

[Rsadams]

During the Bastrop complex fire here in Central Texas , there's video of the fire moving so fast you wouldn't be able to get out of the way... Until you live through something like that you have no idea.. We did find plastic water pipes buried right underground not deep at all survived... But I wouldn't want to be there unless I had no other choices... Two people tryed to hide in a above ground metal building , but they didn't make it...

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Wouldnt you suffocate being underground and a fire above you?

 

[rjtfroggy]

Wouldnt you suffocate being underground and a fire above you?

They stay in submarines hundreds of feet down, Do they suffocate? Post says with "todays building materials". That would include air filtration or fresh air system. A basic under ground safe room.
I know under ground lpg tanks are safe at 12" from surface, unless it has changed since the mid 90's.

Depends really, how basic or extravagant you want, are you talking about a 10'X12' or a 20X20? You could range anywhere from $10K to $50K very easily.

Like I said cost does not equate to lives saved. In other words how much is your or your loved ones lives worth?

 

[butchlambert]

They stay in submarines hundreds of feet down, Do they suffocate? Post says with "todays building materials". That would include air filtration or fresh air system. A basic under ground safe room.
I know under ground lpg tanks are safe at 12" from surface, unless it has changed since the mid 90's.




Like I said cost does not equate to lives saved. In other words how much is your or your loved ones lives worth?

I didn't see the items in your first post. That being the case you mean food, a bathroom, and a bed.

 

[okie]

need positive pressure clean air.---like manifold of scba or scuba bottles. otherwise expensive filtration sys. and compressor

 

[Texas10]

After I witnessed a microburst hit our neighborhood on a Labor Day weekend, tearing off sections of roof, knocking down stone chimneys, and ripping out many fences and trees, I had a tornado shelter installed under the patio. It was made of fiberglass, almost like two hot tubs glued together, and had ventilation system. With 6 inches of concrete over the top it would survive a EF 5 tornado.

I think the whole installation cost less than 10K. We used it several times during severe weather and where glad we had it when the tornado warnings sounded.

 

[butchlambert]

Hey guys, are we that bored!

 

[rr2030]

Will this underground shelter protect you from the dreaded COVID 19 ?

 

[butchlambert]

Will this underground shelter protect you from the dreaded COVID 19 ?

He mentioned having a nuclear sub air filtering system.

 

[rr2030]

He mentioned having a nuclear sub air filtering system.

True, but according to the twisted statistics, nothing can guarantee safety from the dreaded COVID 19. I would assume that with modern building materials, and a filtration system from a nuclear submarine (available everywhere), masks and social distancing would still be required in the shelter, no ?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I remember a ship coming in that had been at sea for 4mo and had some covid positives on board. They didnt talk about that one but about 5 minutes

 

[JFrank]

I remember a ship coming in that had been at sea for 4mo and had some covid positives on board. They didnt talk about that one but about 5 minutes

Son in Law is a career Submarine Nuclear something something...That’s the way the Navy rolls.

 

[JFrank]

I remember fall out shelters

 

[rjtfroggy]

I remember fall out shelters

Me too.
Thinking along the same principles, say big enough for a family of 5.
Never mentioned nuclear subs. A basic air inlet with a filtration system would work, maybe along the lines of a Hepa filtering system.

 

[KMart]

Since I live in a flood prone area that is primarily flat land, an underground structure would be problematic to say the least.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

Seems you could build an above ground insulated double wall concrete structure with bottled air for short stay fire protection.

 

[jsn]

Underground shelter builders have their share of bad practices and operators, including fresh air intakes next to generator exhaust pipes, bolted together structures that simply will not keep moisture out leading to mold if not several feet of water leaking in, not following building codes (since a large number of these are sold to rural areas with minimal codes/enforcement and/or the buyers wish to keep their investment a secret).

Air filtration for heavy smoke would probably require something beyond the standard air system.

I think this guy is pretty level headed and gives some good info that you could use as a basis for starting your search for a shelter and good firm to do the work:

https://www.youtube.com/user/atlasshelters/videos

If you could lay your hands on a set of plans from the military for an underground bunker that would be of interest.

 

[Shooter13]

They stay in submarines hundreds of feet down, Do they suffocate? Post says with "todays building materials". That would include air filtration or fresh air system. A basic under ground safe room.
I know under ground lpg tanks are safe at 12" from surface, unless it has changed since the mid 90's.




Like I said cost does not equate to lives saved. In other words how much is your or your loved ones lives worth?

Humm, there is no price on my loved ones, not sure what you are after or looking for