There are the generic underground storm/tornado cellar, also called storm or tornado shelters, as well as the new above-ground safe rooms. There are several different styles of storm cellars. For this reason they also provide the only reliable form of shelter against "violent" ( EF4 and EF5) tornadoes which tend to rip the house from its foundation, removing the overhead cover which was protecting the occupant. įully enclosed underground storm shelters offer superior tornado protection to that of a traditional basement (cellar) because they provide separate overhead cover without the risk of occupants being trapped or killed by collapsing rubble from above. Storm cellars, when connected to the house, may potentially compromise security. Most storm cellars are accessible by a covered stairwell, and at the opposite end of the structure there can be conduits for air that reach the surface, and perhaps a small window to serve as an emergency exit and also to provide some light. Some new shelters are rotationally molded from polyethylene. New ones are sometimes made of septic tanks that have been modified with a steel door and vents. Doing so makes it nearly impossible for the bricks to collapse. In most cases the entire structure is built of blocks faced with cement and rebar through the bricks for protection from the storm. The floor area is generally around eight by twelve feet (2.4 by 3.7 m), with an arched roof like that of a Quonset hut, but entirely underground. An angled door allows for debris to blow up and over the door, or sand to slide off, without blocking it, and the angle also reduces the force necessary to open the door if rubble has piled up on top. This is also the reason the main door on most storm cellars is mounted at an angle rather than perpendicular with the ground. They are most frequently seen in the Midwest (" Tornado Alley") and Southeastern United States (" Dixie Alley") where tornadoes are generally frequent and the low water table permits underground structures.Īn average storm cellar for a single family is built close enough to the home to allow instant access in an emergency, but not so close that the house could tumble on the door during a storm, trapping the occupants inside. JSTOR ( April 2011) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ī storm shelter or storm cellar is a type of underground bunker designed to protect the occupants from violent severe weather, particularly tornadoes.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. ![]() This article needs additional citations for verification.
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