5 Benefits of Having an Underground Storm Shelter

As the name suggests, an underground storm shelter is a place where people can take refuge during a storm. Having a shelter storm on standby is important, especially for people living in high risk areas like Nevada, Alaska, Oregon, and Utah. Storms are very unpredictable and they do not just show up during the spring when the ocean temperatures are warmer.

That said, people either opt for a storm shelter built within the comfort of their own home, underground, or one built in their yard. Let’s explore the benefits of choosing the underground option.

1. Better Protection

During World War 2, war shelters were built underground for a reason. The war shelters have much better protection than if they are placed underground rather than on the ground. This theory also applies in a storm. Whenever a tornado approaches, it will blow away the roof of houses and send floods of torrential rain. In other words, a shelter that is built on the ground needs to have stronger and more durable material to withstand the winds. But how many materials do you know of that can take the pounding of 130m/s winds? Let’s face it; underground shelters provide more protection.

2. More Space

While houses have a built-in underground shelter, people have the habit of using it as a convenient storage space. The moment a disaster strikes out of the blue, they realize that the precious space in the storm shelter is being taken up by non-essential stuff. There is less tendency of that happening underground. More space means there will be more places where you can store all the essential survival stuff like medical equipment and food supplies. 

3. Safer

It is common knowledge that it is not the earthquake that kills people, but buildings that collapse on people that do. The same principle goes with your house. When there is a strong gust of wind blowing through the house, any object can fall down, resulting in injuries. In an underground shelter, provided that it is not filled with any high rise objects, the underground shelter should be much safer.

4. Less Expensive

While the range of both underground and ground shelters can vary greatly between $2,000 and $10,000, the underground shelter is generally in the upper range. The reason is simple. If the shelter is located on the surface, then it needs tougher and more durable materials to withstand the pounding power of the tornado. The underground shelter can give a run for the money and offers better value.

5. More Convenient

The underground shelter can actually prove to be more convenient if the shelter is attached directly below the house. All a person needs to do is run a short distance to the basement. This short distance is also more advantageous to those that are more physically challenged like the elderly and handicapped.