Storm Shelter or Basement? (Jasper: buying a house, neighborhood, buying)

[kareybear]

I am curious. While I was searching for places to live I seen underground storm cellar, storm shelter and basement. So my question which is the best and why? Another question how do you know if the underground storm cellar is SAFE?

[DocGSD]

I dont know much about the underground shelter. I suppose they would be the safest because there is nothing on top of it to fall and cover the door. Its not like a seller has a house on top of it to cover your only exit when the storm passes and destroys your house.
ON the other hand, you may live in a home for 20 years and never use it. It just takes up space in your lawn and doesnt look very nice. I think a basement is just as safe. I prefer the walk out basement method for a few reasons.
1. You dont need to worry about flooding in the basement because at least one side of the basement is above ground level and the water will not stay there (have a sump pump anyhoo).
2. My (and most) walk outs have a safe room surrounder on 3 sides and a floor and roof with cement.
3. A walk out basement has windows and can serve as an additional level for your house, keeping fresh air downstairs and not smelling molded and stuffy. You can also have an additional pattio down stairs and its a great private place to put a hot tub.

The only other downfall that I see to having a detached seller would be having to take your family outside in a storm to get to the seller before the tornado. Sellers are usually verry small and stuffy inside.

[la_missourienne]

I will second the vote for a basement rather than a storm shelter or cellar. And Gsd353 is dead-on about walk-out basements--they are the best plan for all the reasons listed. The idea of walking across the lawn or going outside at all in storm time is not a safe option to me. At least with the basement, you can be comfortable while you riding out the weather, plus you can mange the upkeep of it far easier. Another thing is, sometimes the tornadoes come with such little warning that, again, I wouldn't want to have to run out in to the yard, personally. Sure, there is a whole level of the house above you, this is true, but the tornado usually picks stuff up off of the top level anyway, leaving little to really fall in to the bottom (if it does damage at all--some houses get touched and others don't on the very same street). I'm not saying all of it couldn't fall in, just saying it's not highly likely (not enough to make me want a storm shelter or cellar instead). No matter what, there is no way to guarantee that any of these types of places are completely "SAFE"; storms are unpredictable by nature, can dig up at the ground, etc, so just keep that part in mind. On the other hand, also keep in mind that like Gsd353 said, you might live in a home for like 20+ yrs and never see a tornado (you will see storms, no question on this, just maybe not ever a funnel formed nearby). Hope this all helps!

[DocGSD]

Originally Posted by kareybear

I am curious. While I was searching for places to live I seen underground storm cellar, storm shelter and basement. So my question which is the best and why? Another question how do you know if the underground storm cellar is SAFE?

Also, there are a lot of homes here in MO with walkout basements. Its a pretty popular thing. You dont see storm shelters around here unless they are old homes (usually on a farm). They got pretty popular here for a short time after an outbreak of twisters here in Jasper / Barry County on May4 04. Not so much any more.

[kareybear]

Wow! Thank You SO MUCH for taking the time to explain. I learned something today. I will keep a look out for basements when I buy a home. As soon as I figure out where. Hopefully Farms out there have basements.

[Lolls]

Basement, definitely. You can finish it out so it is actually useful when the maybe once in a century tornado swings through your immediate neighborhood.

Tornado = 30 minutes of freaky, tops

Basement = decades of useful space

Besides, if a tornado comes to your house, and you are underground, and it gets you anyways? Well, darlin, that tornado was made for you.

[NOLA2SGF]

I plan to retire in Missouri, and (having lived in "tornado country" before) I know that I would feel a lot happier during tornado warnings if I end up buying a house with a basement.

But, it seems to me that most houses with basements have the washer/dryer down there. While I could retreat to a basement during tornado warnings, stairs are difficult for me at this stage in life so I wouldn't want to be dragging several heavy baskets of laundry up and down stairs several times a week, and trotting up and down to check on whether the laundry was done and so on.

I would never use the basement for anything else, most likely, due to the stairs.

Guess I will get a house on a slab and cower in a central hallway or bathroom when there are tornado warnings. I hate that.

[DocGSD]

Originally Posted by NOLA2SGF

I plan to retire in Missouri, and (having lived in "tornado country" before) I know that I would feel a lot happier during tornado warnings if I end up buying a house with a basement.

But, it seems to me that most houses with basements have the washer/dryer down there. While I could retreat to a basement during tornado warnings, stairs are difficult for me at this stage in life so I wouldn't want to be dragging several heavy baskets of laundry up and down stairs several times a week, and trotting up and down to check on whether the laundry was done and so on.

I would never use the basement for anything else, most likely, due to the stairs.

Guess I will get a house on a slab and cower in a central hallway or bathroom when there are tornado warnings. I hate that.

I think that the story with some older houses. Mine has a walk out basement and the utility room is off of the garage. My basement is fininshed unto a Large living room with a mini kitchen, 2 bedrooms 1.5 baths and a small bar/pool room. So, you see a basement can be like another house down stairs. Would be a dream if you had older kids!

[kareybear]

Originally Posted by Gsd353

I think that the story with some older houses. Mine has a walk out basement and the utility room is off of the garage. My basement is fininshed unto a Large living room with a mini kitchen, 2 bedrooms 1.5 baths and a small bar/pool room. So, you see a basement can be like another house down stairs. Would be a dream if you had older kids!

My girls would love it Especially if it is a huge play room. Not to crazy about having the laundry room in the basement. Hey that is whay my husband is for

[DocGSD]

Originally Posted by kareybear

My girls would love it Especially if it is a huge play room. Not to crazy about having the laundry room in the basement. Hey that is whay my husband is for

Its also nice because at the end of the week when the house looks like it has been "lived in" for, well.... a week, you can have friends over and keep them downstairs where it is neat and in order and you have no need to feel like the house is a mess!