Best Places for Placing Your Above Ground Storm Shelters
You already have decided on purchasing above-ground storm shelters. You have understood the importance of a tornado shelter and want to save your family during the storm. But after purchasing it, the main problem we face is where to place it. You cannot place the shelter anywhere on your property.
There is no one size fits all solution in this matter, and you must consider several factors before placing it. Keep in mind that the location of the storm shelter affects its effectiveness. For this reason, we have explored the best places where you can keep your shelter.
What Should You Consider Before Placing the Shelter?
One of the main things you must consider is accessibility. Place the shelter in an area where you can go very fast and easily. You can also keep the storm shelter outside your house.
But during the storm, it is not safe to go outside because of falling trees and flying debris. Another important factor is the base of the shelter. Not every area is a suitable place for installing your storm shelter. You should put it on a concrete slab that can secure the shelter. According to the guideline, you must consider a 3.5 inches thick steel-reinforced slab.
The Best Places for Keeping the Tornado Shelter Safely
The garage
As most of the custom above-ground storm shelters are attached with a concrete slab, therefore, it would be best if you place the shelter in the garage. You must careful so that no sharp tools are gathered around the shelter. Clean the garage often to maintain a clear path to the entrance of the cellar during an emergency period. You also ensure that there is no fuel tank near the tornado shelter because you may face fire hazards and get stuck into it.
The Closet
You may consider the closet as a safe place for your tornado shelter if you want it to keep from storm hazards such as clutter, windows and flood zones. Keep in mind that the closet is made in such a way that there are no windows at all. If you do not have a garage or basement, then a closet can be a very practical option for keeping the shelter safely. Before moving it, measure the size of the shelter to avoid any further problems.
Talk to the Expert
Every building structure is different, therefore, there are no particular one or two locations that can work perfectly. In fine, the best place for the storm shelter is somewhere that everybody can access easily during an emergency period. You can contact EF5 Tornado Shelters in OKC as they can build a customized storm shelter. Not only that but also, they can suggest where to put it in your house.