If your area is often hit by tornadoes or other extreme weather events, creating an underground shelter might be worth considering. Not only do these bunkers offer protection from nature’s elements, but they provide comfort for your family as well.
You can build an underground bunker yourself, or opt for cost-effective building materials like shipping containers. Either way, you’ll have a safe and secure shelter.
Design
One of the most crucial elements in designing an underground shelter is its design. Whether you need a long-term shelter or easy escape from nuclear attack, having the correct layout can make all the difference.
For instance, a well-designed bunker can be made to feel almost like home with wall paper or paint. It may also be outfitted with furniture and accessories that make it more inviting for extended living.
Another crucial element of an underground shelter’s design is blast protection. A solid wall and layer of earth will prevent rain, wind, flying debris and nuclear fallout from damaging the shelter, increasing your chances of surviving.
If you’re building a permanent shelter, creating a crawlway is an excellent idea for easier access to the surface. Start by placing dirt near the entryway and digging into it with a shovel. Shape this dirt into small steps then lay threshold boards over each one and secure them to sideboards using lag bolts.
Additionally, you should construct a barrier around the entrances to your shelter. Doing so will keep rainwater away from the area and guarantee that it doesn’t enter when you need to exit.
Once the dirt barrier is in place, it’s time to begin construction. This could include installing air pumps or ventilation pipes through the main entryway.
Create a second crawlway for emergency exit in case your bunker is damaged or inaccessible. Make it as deep as possible so that it offers protection from bomb attacks and other disasters.
Materials
If you’re constructing an underground shelter to safeguard against nuclear fallout, select materials that can withstand intense pressure. Common options include concrete, bricks and reinforced steel.
The initial step in building your bunker is selecting an area suitable for its construction. Select an area where trees and buildings won’t collapse onto it, as well as one without steep slopes or rocky terrain.
Next, you’ll need to construct a strong foundation for your bunker. Doing so will guarantee its stability and prevent it from collapsing when additional weight is applied.
Create a foundation for your bunker by digging a trench around it and installing metal supports. Alternatively, you could reinforce your foundation with thick layers of concrete or self-healing concrete – both are cost-effective and simple to install.
It is essential to remember that your shelter will be exposed to intense elements like ground, water, vegetation and other outside objects. Therefore, strengthening the bunker prior to construction is a must.
When using wood as your foundation for a shelter, it’s wise to cover it with an attractive layer of plastic in order to prevent dirt and moisture from seeping into the structure. You can do this either by using one large tarp or by interlacing several smaller tarps.
A bomb shelter is an effective way to safeguard yourself and your family from nuclear and chemical accidents. If you live in a high-risk area, consider building one sooner rather than later.
Concealment
In an ideal scenario, an underground shelter can protect you and your family from certain survival threats. It could also provide access to food, water, and medical supplies if necessary. Unfortunately, its presence could attract those who may wish to attack or steal it.
Therefore, you should do your best to conceal the location of your bunker as much as possible. There are various techniques you can employ for this purpose and some will work better than others in different circumstances and with different types of underground shelters.
First, you can conceal the entrance to your bunker with bushes and other plants. This will blend in with the natural environment and make it more difficult for people to locate it. Furthermore, this helps mask any air ventilation holes.
Finally, you can cover your bunker to hide it from view. Doing so makes it harder to detect, especially if your roof has a high pitch. To construct such a roof, you will need roofing poles – long pieces of wood found at lumber yards or home improvement stores.
Decoys can be used to distract potential attackers and robbers away from your bunker, giving yourself more time to exit and minimize damage in case of an attack.
Another successful technique is to conceal your bunker beneath the ground level of your home. You could do this by concealing its door inside carpet or couch padding, or even creating an underground hallway connecting the bunker and your house.
Water
An underground shelter is the ideal place to seek refuge if your community faces nuclear war, natural disaster or any other emergency. Not only that, but it can also store water – an essential necessity in many survival scenarios.
Bunkers should be constructed from durable materials that can withstand the pressures of both ground and weathering. Bricks and reinforced concrete are both reliable options; they’re relatively cheap yet capable of withstanding high loads – ideal for bunkers that will be exposed to elements.
The initial step in creating an underground shelter is selecting the location. This decision will dictate everything else, including its accessibility for those who require its use.
When selecting an area for your bunker, avoid areas that are dense with vegetation or trees with complex root systems. This will make it more challenging for burglars and other enemies to locate your bunker, particularly if they’re searching for a way in or out.
Another essential consideration is the water table. Generally speaking, bunkers need to be built at least three feet above water level. If your project site has a shallow water table, it may be better to build elsewhere.
Create slopes on all sides of your entryways to prevent rainwater from entering into your bunker. A plastic tarp works best here, but cloth or leaves could also work. Fill all gaps between logs so water won’t seep in; you can do this by laying one large tarp or overlapping smaller tarps.
Sewage
When building an underground shelter, it’s essential that it’s connected to the city’s sewer line. Doing so prevents water and waste from backing up into your bunker. Typically, cities provide their citizens with an online interactive map indicating where their main sewer line lies.
Some underground shelter designs utilize sewage pumps to push waste through the city’s sewer system and into a septic tank. These pumps can break up large solids, making them easier to handle. The Zoeller at Home 1/2 HP Cast Iron Sewage Pump is an ideal option for this purpose.
Additionally, you should check with your local building codes to guarantee your shelter complies with city regulations. This includes making sure the sewer isn’t connected to any personal property like sink or toilet; if so, proper venting must be done so odors don’t enter it.
If your bunker does not already have a septic tank, you will need to install one. Make sure the tank is situated away from the shelter as this could be damaged in case of an intense blast.
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