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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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March
2007
Volume
12 - Number 3 |
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Severe Weather Safe Room Technology By: Kevin Kulick With the approach of severe weather season comes the
time to initiate and review your family’s severe weather preparedness plan.
Studies have shown in previous severe weather seasons that people who have
a severe weather preparedness plan have a much greater chance of surviving
from falling and flying debris. In this article, the effectiveness and improvements
to storm shelters will be examined.
Many kinds of storm shelters are sold and marketed by several companies, but the most effective storm shelters are ones made out of steel. TornadoSafeRoom sells 3 different sizes of steel shelter rooms made to withstand the strongest possible winds. These storm shelters have been tested in laboratories to withstand static wind loads of 450 miles per hour. These steel storm shelters have also been tested to withstand an air cannon shooting a 2 X 4 at it at speeds of 100 miles per hour. TornadoSafeRoom states on its website that their storm safe rooms meet and exceed FEMA 320 requirements. An optimum severe weather safe room has been tested to be able to withstand the forces of the highest possible wind speed, should be installed inside or next to your home so it can be accessed quickly in severe weather, should have 3 or more latches, must be anchored securely so debris and high winds do not knock it over, must be easily operated so gaining access does not become a problem and the shelter door locks must operate so no one can be locked in or out of the shelter. It is also important to have a storm shelter not connected to the exterior of a building in case the residence is destroyed in severe weather. Some specifications of the TornadoSafeRoom include: side plates, back plates, front plates and door constructed of 10 gage galvanized steel. The roof plate is constructed of ¼” thick black carbon steel. Each plate is bolted together with 1 ¼” x ½" hexagon bolts, and nylox nuts to 2.500" x 2.500" x ¼" mounting angles. The door is mounted to the Tornado Safe room with two galvanized steel custom pin hinges. The Tornado Safe room measured 60" wide x 55" high x 30" deep. One operable hinged door measured 30” wide x 54” high. Two galvanized steel angles are secured to the exterior face of the door. Each angle measures ¼” thick x 31” long and is located at 5.000” center line from top and bottom of door. Three ½” x 20” long galvanized steel rods are used to latch the door. The best safe room has a low profile so it is not able to be picked up or turned over by winds or falling debris. TornadoSafeRoom has three sizes to meet the needs of the customer priced from around $2300 to $2900. For more information, please check out the following website: http://www.tornadosaferoom.com/ |