Have you ever thought about whether or not your home will survive a tornado, an alien invasion, or an apocalypse? The thought of those things happening itself is terrifying enough, but did you know that there’s a way to protect yourself during these unprecedented times?
Panic rooms or safe rooms are secure rooms that are usually installed in private residences or institutions to provide safety and protection for inhabitants. You might have seen examples of panic rooms in movies or TV shows.
A lot of famous figures have invested in panic rooms. For example, Sir Paul McCartney actually built a panic room after his friends John Lennon was assassinated, and George Harrison was stabbed multiple times during a home invasion.
Madonna is another example of a famous figure who also invested in a panic room. Her luxurious safe room has 5-inch thick steel walls, TV monitors, a phone, and supplies to last her several days.
Although panic rooms might not guarantee 100% protection from unpredictable disasters, the added security will give you peace of mind and comfort during difficult times if disasters do occur.
Putting the zombie apocalypse and alien invasion theories aside, a panic room is an excellent investment for the future because it can provide you and your family with a safe place if needed and give your household the much-needed protection if natural disasters were to occur. So, how can you start building your safe room? Read on below to find out what the essentials for a panic room are
What to prepare before building a panic room
Now, before you start tearing down your house to make room for your panic room, you need to make sure you check these things off your list.
- Have a designated contractor.
Do your research thoroughly and find the right contractor to help you create your dream panic room. You definitely want to check whether or not they are certified, qualified, and have the same vision as you. The last thing you want is a room you regret investing in. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions before you settle with the right contractor.
- Have enough space, preferably underground.
Basements make perfect panic rooms because they are hidden and have reduced entries. This way, you can hide from intruders and keep your household safe from any potential danger. If you don’t have a basement, a hidden room inside your home will do.
- Make sure the space is free of mold or water damage.
Before starting your panic room construction, repair any water damage and get rid of mold growth to ensure seamless renovation and construction. Untreated mold growth and water damage can bring more problems in the future, so it’s better to get rid of them now.
The Essentials of a Panic Room
Panic rooms in movies and TV shows often look luxurious and expensive. It can be nice to have an extensive entertainment system and endless supplies of food during a tornado, but admit it— it’s going to burn a hole in your pocket.
The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a proper panic room. You only need the bare essentials. In this article, we’re going to break down the top five essentials you need for a panic room.
- Fortification
A panic room’s most vital point is its ability to protect whoever is inside. To do this, the room would require thick, soundproof walls, reduced points of entry, and an extremely strong door. There would also be no windows since having them around will increase the chances of intruders breaking in.
Strong doors are essential to help protect you from external danger. Wooden doors might seem aesthetically pleasing, but they won’t be able to keep you safe when disaster strikes. So, it would be wise to have a steel door to keep you away from danger.
Basements are the perfect spot for panic rooms because their walls are usually thick and made of concrete. Although concrete might look a bit rough, it’s excellent for handling heavy loads. If you’d like added protection, armored steel panels for walls will do a great job at keeping the room soundproof and secure.
- Power
Panic rooms are built to keep you alive for days, so power is definitely something you cannot compromise. Most luxurious safe rooms have their own self-contained power system. A self-contained power system is essential. In situations where your power might get cut off, it can be scary to be without power. With a self-contained power system, you can still survive even though power outages happen.
The last thing you need is to be left in a pitch-black room with no means of communication, ventilation, or power. So, when it comes to power supply, you definitely don’t want to cheap out and compromise since it can affect your overall safety.
- Ventilation
Since panic rooms have reduced entry points and no windows, ventilation can be a big problem. To solve the problem of lack of ventilation, it’s imperative that you have a vent that opens or closes for fresh air.
Ventilation is crucial. It controls indoor air quality, keeps the air clean from pollutants, and maintains comfort in a space. Since basements or panic rooms don’t have any natural ventilation, they can get stuffy and can be quite dangerous if air circulation is cut off.
- Plumbing
You can be holed up in your panic room for days on end. Without any plumbing, it can be uncomfortable, especially if you have more than two people in the room with you. Some high-end panic rooms have separate plumbing, but you don’t need to splurge if you don’t have the funds to do so.
A portable toilet will do the job but if you have some extra cash on hand, installing a septic tank and separate plumbing with a bathroom is preferred, comments fantastic plumber consultant Dmitri Kara. Other than that, you would also need to stock your panic room with a lot of water.
- Supplies
Lastly, what is a panic room without any supplies? If you’re one of the lucky ones, you won’t need to stay in your panic room for more than a few hours. But what happens if you have to stay for more than a day?
Keep in mind to keep your panic room stocked and supplied with everything you need, such as medication, canned food, water, and blankets. If you prefer to cook your own food instead of eating canned goods, you could stock up on ingredients and kitchen gadgets. Some kitchen gadgets make cooking easier and won’t take up a lot of room— so they’re perfect for storage and use for emergencies.
Be sure to check on your supplies periodically and replace them if they are expired. Also, don’t forget to stock up on your favorite books, movies, and games to keep you entertained!
Wrapping Up
Panic rooms don’t need to be fancy and luxurious. Despite popular belief, you can survive a tornado with just these essentials. So, don’t be intimidated by what you see on the media and on the Internet. If you have these five essentials down, you have a pretty solid panic room ready to protect you from any danger.