What Dangers Are Associated With Underground Shelters?

Storm shelters help keep you safe from the direct effects of natural hazards such as tornadoes or hurricanes and man-made threats such as bombs. Structural inadequacies, storm debris and inadequate preparation can create additional hazards, though. You can mitigate these dangers by choosing or upgrading to designs recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and preparing for the worst-case scenario, according to FEMA instructions.

Flood

• It's important to waterproof the shelter. Without watertight seals, rainwater and flood water can enter the shelter, flooding it and potentially harming you. Coat the walls with waterproof sealant and use waterproof seals at the entry door.

Collapse

• Some shelters experience roof or entry collapse because they cannot withstand the higher wind gusts associated with the most damaging hurricanes and tornadoes. Build your underground shelter to FEMA standards or better for optimum stability. FEMA continuously updates recommended designs for optimum safety.

Entrapment

• Windborne debris can block your point of entry and egress, trapping you inside the shelter. Choose a shelter design with multiple access points for added safety. Also, install reinforced doors to better protect against debris blockage leading to collapse.

Insufficient Supplies

• Longer events can require an extended stay in your emergency shelter. FEMA recommends keeping an emergency kit with enough food, water and other supplies for at least a three-day period. Less than this and you run the risk of illness and complication of existing medical conditions from dehydration and insufficient nutrition. Your emergency kit should also contain a first aid kit and a backup supply of prescription medications taken by you and/or the other members of your household.