- 1). Determine the number of occupants who will be using the shelter and calculate the square footage required. For a tornado shelter the FEMA guidelines are 5 square feet of space per person for a tornado, and 10 square feet per person for a hurricane. Wheelchair users required 10 square feet per person and bedridden people require 30 square feet.
- 2). Decide on the material that you plan to build your shelter out of. Fiberglass shelters are cheaper to build, and they are lighter and easier to install than other materials but they're not safe from a severe tornado. Concrete cracks and seeps water, and often the walls inside become moldy. The safest shelters are built out of metal that is properly coated to stay dry inside.
- 3). Decide where you want to build your shelter. The best location is a slope or gradual incline of the hill so one can be high, dry and have natural airflow. The shelter can be installed next to your driveway or under the foundation of your future home or adjacent to an existing building. Even a small pantry or storage room can be added to an existing home to accommodate a shelter. Avoid making an underground shelter in an area that floods or where the water level is within 5 feet or less of the surface and where the ground is solid rock and hard to dig.
- 4). Research underground shelter kits that can be ordered and easily transported to your location. Look for metal shelters with heavy-duty iron bracing, exterior coating for moisture protection, fire proofing and a vent for fresh air to circulate through the shelter.
- 5). Think about what you will put inside the shelter including food and medicine storage, a communication system, a power source, etc.
- 6). For added luxury, make your shelter comfortable inside with paint and carpeting.
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