The FEMA document even has plans for building them. What is a safe room?Ī safe room is defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a hardened structure that can provide near-perfect safety to its occupants in the event of a severe weather event, such as a hurricane or tornado. Here are some considerations when it comes to home safe rooms and storm shelters. Actual cases have confirmed that your survival odds are better if the home invaders know that the police are on their way and their time for escape is short.If you live in a region susceptible to extreme weather, such as heavy storms, hurricanes or tornadoes, you may want to consider building a safe room. I always suggest having a family security plan in which escape by a family member plays an important part in the survival strategy. See my web page at home invasion survival tips. Unlike actress Jodie Foster’s character in the movie, I cannot recommend cooperation with the home invaders as the first strategy for survival. Fortunately for them, the police were called and were able to capture the burglars before being discovered or major damage was done to their home. I have heard stories of families who had secreted themselves inside their saferoom while the house was being ransacked. Whether you have newly constructed or modified an existing space, the safe room should blend with the rest of the home. Good lighting and ventilation should be considered as well as personal hygiene needs. I would highly recommend reinforcing the doorframe air gaps or shims to prevent the intruder from spreading or prying around the lock area. With new construction, I would pre-wire for an alarm panel, a direct-dial phone in addition to a cell phone, an electrical outlet for cell phone charging, and install either chicken wire or steel sheeting underneath the wall and ceiling drywall. This includes a cell phone, a flashlight, a first aid kit, food, water, and defensive weapons. To complete the room you must stock it with necessary emergency items and a way to summon aid or defend yourself. I usually recommend a keyless Grade-1 deadbolt to prevent the keys from falling into the wrong hands, but you must consider that mischievous children might lock themselves inside and you outside. Wood doorjambs are vulnerable, so at a minimum install three-inch screws in the door hinges and into a heavy-duty, four-screw, lock strike plate that will cut deep into the door frame studs. Replace the wooden doorjamb with a steel one or reinforce the door trim with steel angle iron to prevent the door from being kicked open. Install a solid core wood or steel door and hang it so it opens outwards. To make a simple safe room, just select an interior room or large closet with no windows or skylight. The most common reason for corporate executives to construct a safe room is fear of kidnapping for ransom or fear of home invasion robbery. The most common reason the average person would want a safe room is fear of assault from a home invasion robbery or abusive spouse. Any homeowner can create such a room with relatively little effort and expense. Unlike the movie, most safe rooms are merely fortified enough to delay an intruder so an alarm can be activated or a call made to summon the police or security. I’ve seen others that had reinforced steel sheeting under the drywall and were equipped with a video monitor, a cellular telephone, and an alarm keypad. These elaborate designs were also used to store cash, valuable jewelry, and collections. I’ve seen safe rooms that were built more like a bunker or bank vault with eight-inch concrete walls and steel doors. You simply fortify the six sides of the box and the single door leading into it. Think of a safe room as a fortified box with few openings.” The concept is simple…prepare a room within the interior of the home where the family can safely retreat during a home invasion or other terrorist threat and summon help. Most security experts use the phrase Safe Room rather than Panic Room to describe the concept of having an ultra-secure location within a residence. Although the concept of a safe room is new for most homeowners, it has been in use for many years by the rich and famous, corporate executives, and powerful political figures around the world. Homeowners can create a room with relatively little effort and expense.Ī Hollywood movie called The Panic Room has sparked a lot of interest in a new concept in high-tech home security.A safe room is fortified enough to delay an intruder until help arrives.Think of a safe room as a box with few openings that can be defended.Safe room is a secure room within a residence to escape home invaders.
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