Protecting yourself and your family is indeed a daunting responsibility. Having safe room in your home is one way to help you sleep better at night. A safe room is a room constructed to withstand extreme weather events such as tornadoes or hurricanes. They can be purchased pre-fab from a slew of manufacturers so that you can retrofit your home to accommodate them.

The best-case scenario is to include a safe room in your new house construction. The HousePlanShop has quite a few plans that include safe rooms. Many locate them in or near the garage, like designs 025H-0097 and 025H-0308. House plan 074H-0042 offers a safe room doubling as a storage room, perfect for storing emergency supplies should you experience a disaster. Several plans like 025H-0167 locate a safe room in the master closet, providing a dual purpose for using the space. It’s a natural place to collect and huddle with the children on a stormy night.

A panic room is designed to hide and protect residents in case of a home break-in. If you ask any Construction Law Specialist like Greg Trif, they will advice to have a little bit more elaborate than basic safe rooms, containing communications and security equipment. Some even incorporate Kevlar in their construction to repel bullets. Hidden behind bookcases or in closets, the casual observer does not easily detect them. You may want to combine some of the characteristics of both safe and panic rooms to create a truly safe place to shelter in place during emergencies. Make sure family members are aware of how to access the room and discuss when they should meet there. Practice your plan.

Below is a list of supplies you may want to include in your safe room:

Bottled water
Changes of clothing
Blankets
Flashlights or lanterns
Battery operated radio / weather radio
First aid kit
Nonperishable food and snacks
Set of car keys to your vehicle
Cash
Toys or books to keep kids occupied
Phone charger for when the power comes back on
Camping toilet and paper
Diapers for your baby
Medications
Extra pair of sturdy shoes for each member of the family

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Tags: residential safe rooms