A safe room serves to protect you from the force of a disaster. For example, a safe room will protect you from the powerful winds of a tornado. However, when spending time in a safe room during a disaster, other things can harm you.
Hunger and boredom, for example, are two negative feelings that people may experience if they haven’t stored the essentials in their room. Here are some of the problems you may face in a safe room and how to solve them.
Food and Water
Depending on the disaster, you may not need to store much food in your safe room. For example, tornados tend to last around 10 minutes, so you won’t be spending much time in your safe room during a tornado. In contrast, a hurricane may force you into your safe room for much more time (possibly more than 24 hours). In this situation, you should take enough water and food to last as long as the duration of the hurricane.
Communication Equipment
Functioning communication equipment is a vital part of every safe room. You’ll need the equipment to contact emergency services for help during or after the disaster. Tornados and hurricanes can disrupt cellular and landline telephones. Moreover, cellular systems will either be overloaded with significant traffic or down due to damaged cell phone towers.
You should keep at least one alternate mode of communication, such as an emergency radio, that you can use to contact emergency services. You should also keep some devices that can signal your safe room’s location to emergency services in case you’re trapped by rubble.
Entertainment
Once again, depending on the disaster you’re facing, you may not need to concern yourself with entertainment. Since tornados don’t last long, entertainment isn’t a primary or even a secondary concern. However, if a hurricane has pushed you into your safe room, you should take some games, books, etc. to keep yourself and others entertained during the storm.
Emergency Supplies
Emergency supplies refer to things used to navigate the disaster’s aftermath. The following are some of the essential emergency supplies:
- First-aid kits to address any injuries or harm
- Crowbars, sledgehammers, and other equipment needed to pry open inoperable or blocked doors
- Radios and flashlights with a sufficient supply of batteries
- Fire extinguishers to deal with electrical and other kinds of fires
A safe room designed to fend off storms and tornados is an essential part of every disaster management plan. If you’re developing a plan, contact us at US Safe Rooms. We offer tornado and storm shelter safe rooms in Rowlett and other places throughout Texas. Get in touch, and we’ll bolster your disaster response plan.
