Tornado Shelter

We have horrible weather during tornado season in our area. Brad has always had fear about bad weather. His dad told me that Brad gets it from his grand-dad that was always terrified of bad weather. When the latest episodes of tornadoes came thru, Brad said that was it and we were getting a tornado shelter. We signed up for the MEMA tornado shelter program over 1 1/2 years ago but did nothing about it. You have to put all the money upfront for the shelter and then MEMA will reimburse you 75% percent up to $3500. They have extended it for our county until the end of June (or possible September)...so if you are interested...get intouch with me! I've got the information.

We marked where we wanted it to go after the One Call people came out and marked most of our lines. We wanted it outside out bathroom door so we could all just run out to the edge of the deck and go down into it. They dig a hole 8x14 and 7ft deep...it's a BIG hole.

Toby supervised the operation from his pack and play! I got tired of holding him because he did not want to follow the rules set for the older 2 boys about not crossing a certain line because the backhoe might get him...so he got sent to the pack and play...and was quite happy with his new place!

Mr. Larry made the boys a huge dirt pile to play on while it was being installed. We were all just laughing at them because they were having so much fun. They used most of this dirt to fill it back in but some was left over so when the shelter and dirt settled around it we would have more dirt to fill in over the next several months.

Mr. Tom down in the big hole leveling the ground so that the shelter would be level when installed. They used a laser leveler. Oh and Maggie and Sherpa were also supervising the operation.

After the hole was dug and leveled, Benny the Backhoe (Bob the Builder's backhoe's name) picked up the shelter with the help of Mr. Larry. It is 6x8 and 6 1/2 feet tall. Just perfect that Brad doesn't have to stoop over when he is inside!

Mr. Tom is the one that designed this special shelter and he guided it into place to put it in the perfect spot. There are lots of great things about this special shelter that others do not have. I feel very safe and proud to own one that was designed and installed by these to guys. Gage referred to Mr. Tom as "PawPaw" all day long...it was too funny!

We had to examine it when it was set down in the ground before they filled in the hole to make sure it was level inside. It was perfectly level. Carson was the first down there!

Gage was NOT to thrilled about going down in the shelter at first so he and Sherpa observed us from the top!

The last step was the fill in the rest of the hole with dirt. They wanted to fill it up to the white line. There is an air hole that is towards the back...see it sticking up?

The finished product! The door is very heavy but I'm able to open and close it if I really put my muscles into it. It closes and opens slow once you get it unlatched. You can open and close it easily (with muscles) from the inside or the outside. It will seat 12 people. It is lined with benches inside. We are going to come up with a way to sleep in it. That way on bad weather nights we can just sleep down there instead of climbing in and out all night long. It stays 70 degrees inside all year around.

Seriously it's the best shelter that is made...if you want information...let me know!