| Interested in creating a safe room? While having a | | | | Communication |
| full fledged safe room built can be an expensive | | | | The most important thing for any safe room to |
| and difficult process, turning one of the existing | | | | have is a method to communicate with authorities |
| rooms of your house into something that will | | | | in case of an emergency. A cell phone will work |
| serve essentially the same function is actually | | | | fine as long as you make sure it is always |
| pretty simple to do. With a few supplies and a | | | | charged and can get a signal inside the room. If |
| good plan, you can use an existing room in your | | | | you know how to use one, something like a CB |
| house as a functional safe room for emergency | | | | or Ham radio makes a great choice. If your room |
| situations. | | | | has power outlets, make sure you keep the |
| Choosing Your Room | | | | power cord or charger for whatever you are |
| One of the first things to consider when choosing | | | | using available as well. If not, an extra battery is |
| a safe room is which room you want to use. | | | | always a good idea. |
| Look for an interior room of your home that is | | | | Other Equipment |
| quick and easy for anyone in the house to reach. | | | | If your room does not have running water, make |
| Frequently the best option is either a bathroom or | | | | sure you store about a gallon of water per |
| walk in closet. If you don't have an interior room | | | | person. Make sure any first aid supplies your |
| available, look for an exterior bathroom or closet | | | | family may need are accessible in the panic room, |
| with either no windows or one small window and | | | | and keep at least a day of any important |
| work with that. | | | | medication available if it isn't already being stored |
| Making It Safe | | | | in a medicine cabinet in the room. Items like a |
| To turn your room into a safe room, the first | | | | battery operated radio and flashlight plus extra |
| thing to do is replace your door with one that has | | | | batteries can be great to have in an emergency, |
| a solid core. A cheap door that is easy to kick | | | | as well as something like books to keep everyone |
| through will not be able to protect you and your | | | | entertained through a long wait. |
| family from much of anything. Installing a solid | | | | The government suggests keeping duct tape and |
| core door with strong hinges and a good lock is | | | | plastic on hand for sealing off air vents and |
| frequently all you need to do to keep an intruder | | | | windows in case of a chemical weapons attack as |
| at bay until you call the police. For a lock, a sliding | | | | well. If you do end up sealing off the room, keep |
| bolt on the inside will work best, but only if you | | | | in mind that you can only stay in a sealed room |
| don't have children young enough that locking | | | | for about 5 hours per square foot before the air |
| themselves in may be a danger. In that case, get | | | | becomes dangerous. Usually, the wind will blow |
| the best lock you can find that can be unlocked | | | | away any potential threat long before that much |
| from either side with your key in case of a child | | | | time has elapsed. |
| emergency. | | | | |