Tornado Preparations -- Help! (live, safe, garage)

[GolfMomTN]

Wmsn4Life, I shoved my teenager with 2 dogs into the closet under the stairs and my husband and I shared the powder room with 2 cats. I think we had the worst deal with the 2 cats who didn't get along. That is when/why I decided to look at options. And they can place these units directly next to your house or garage with an entrance door so you might have room after all.

I don't mind sharing costs with you all. The base unit (5' x 8') was $6250 and I think there was a $250 discount special being offered for early season orders. They had other units available at lower costs. With all of the options (TV, antenna, 2 bunk beds, carpet, battery, inverter, charger, lights, lighted keypad deadbolt and fan, the total ran $7650 for everything (unit, options, delivery, installation, taxes).

I did like this company because they locally made the units and allowed me to custom design my unit as to options, door placement, etc and their delivery was within 2 weeks as compared to 6 to 8 weeks with out-of-state companies. As a comparison, for the basic underground unit (around 4' by 6' in size), I found quotes of around $5000 to $5500 from companies around Nashville but I just didn't feel that was the way to go with my hot water heater in the garage and the main valve to the water system in the garage, too.

I really think if we sold our home, we could ask a premium for the safe room or else just take it with us!

[Anony-Momma]

thanks!

[GolfMomTN]

You are most welcomed. I did forget that the price also included the steel floor and a peek-out window by the door. My son calls that the "zombie spotting" option.

[Sigequinox]

Originally Posted by GolfMomFlorida

You are most welcomed. I did forget that the price also included the steel floor and a peek-out window by the door. My son calls that the "zombie spotting" option.

Awesome. Probably helps make the whole process a little more fun and imaginative for the little ones. Although zombies are arguably more scary than tornadoes

[Mi shots]

Originally Posted by GolfMomFlorida

You are most welcomed. I did forget that the price also included the steel floor and a peek-out window by the door. My son calls that the "zombie spotting" option.

I would love to see what it looks like. Is it possible tp post pics.

Am just about ready to put bids on houses and that is def a first priority. I saw you had warnings the other night. I was here in NY and the siren on my ipad was going off and I was freaking out.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by Mi shots

I would love to see what it looks like. Is it possible tp post pics.

Am just about ready to put bids on houses and that is def a first priority. I saw you had warnings the other night. I was here in NY and the siren on my ipad was going off and I was freaking out.

I was just thinking the same thing, I would like to see pics of the finished product.

[Sigequinox]

Originally Posted by Beretta

I was just thinking the same thing, I would like to see pics of the finished product.

The company website has some pics up.

[WanderingFar]

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

I honestly can only think of two times in 23 years that we've "taken cover."

I remember one time specifically because the twins wanted to wear their bike helmets.

Nowadays they can see the funnel cloud on the radar and pinpoint the intersection. I don't have anyplace to put a shelter, so I just have to pray.

This is what we do. Every time the sirens go off (and I've heard them only four times in the three years I've lived here -- and all were false alarms), my husband and I have a debate about whether or not people actually hide or just do the common sense thing of staying away from the windows.

The first time I heard a tornado siren, I was at work. My daughter was 10 miles away at daycare. No amount we could have spent on a safe room would have made a difference. I've read that the most common time for a tornado is actually late afternoon, not in the middle of the night. This all seems like overkill.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by Sigequinox

The company website has some pics up.

Don't all salesmen and websites have pics? I like to see real people's finished products.

[N.Cal]

This all seems like overkill.

Exactly. And I grew up in Kansas.