Under Stairs Basement Storm Shelter - Panic Room

Search for storm shelter or panic room and you will find a multitude of options from silly to over-the-top. Here is an affordable way to create a safer place to go in the event of a storm or an intruder situation. It's not full-proof but it does afford a significant improvement over having nothing or hiding in a closet. Keep keys to the room where you can find them and not the kids or an intruder. Have kids? Show them how to use the room and construct your under-stairs shelter in a way you feel safe for your kids & family. Good luck!
Want to spend about $5000 and have a virtually impenetrable panic/safe room? Here's a link to what I think looks like a nice solution that you can possibly do yourself with little help: • Bulldog Direct Saferoo...

[@jimmynix5399]

I'm not sure if this is part of your "emergency supplies" that you mentioned, but don't forget that you're going to need to use the restroom if you're down there a while. Consider adding a 1 or 2 buckets (with lids to mask the smell), some kitty litter, a couple packs of baby wipes, and some scented candles or Fabreze.

[@ChannelOne-1]

Great idea...I have a bucket in there, will enhance it a bit now!

[@GregSharpe]

Bravo! One question for you. How would you address ventilation if your home was destroyed by tornado, and you were buried for some time under debris.

[@stonecutter2]

Pretty well thought out and executed. I don't think the wood will help much with anyone shooting through it, but it's better than drywall. You may want to add a whistle, like a Fox40 type without a cork pea, so you can use that to signal for help if you get stuck in there during a storm. Just plug your ears when you blow hard into it, it'll deafen you :) But it will let people know you're in there, through all that thick stuff.

[@ChannelOne-1]

+Mike Kruk True...someone could easily add 1/4" diamond plate for added protection. Great idea about the whistle!!

[@trendmassacre8423]

@@ChannelOne-1 diamond plating, I would have never thought of that!

[@clobbyhops]

Awesome ideal for use of space, I like the way you think brother.

[@Freedomring-uk6yd]

Gd vid thx. Interesting reading the premature concerns of the outward swinging door. As you stated, vandal proof hinges have been installed and will perform well short term as well as the interior jam being excellent protection from kicking the door inward. Perhaps you could add 4 sliding barrel type dead bolts to the interior corners to back up the strength of the hinges and exterior lock ...happy prepping

[@zepinephrine]

Great setup! I've been considering a similar build and you gave me some great ideas. I would recommend a battery powered cutting tool in case the door gets blocked and you need to cut out another egress.

[@ClifR]

Wish you had turned on the lights so I could see inside better than the flashlight. I am planning on doing the same thing with my staircase, except I plan to use steel for the walls and ceiling in the event the crooks set the house on fire. Also, my crawl space is under the stairs, so I could use that for an escape route if needed.

[@remmyerickson4779]

I've actually been contemplating what to do for my safe room and everything instantly feels not good enough. I have to think about what will most likely actually happen instead. I was thinking of how to make my under-stairs safer and sound proof and started thinking how much cheaper it would be to add 2x4's apparently I'm not an original thinker on this topic.

[@ChannelOne-1]

Great minds think alike! It's cheap, easy, and pretty darn effective. Most home intruders dont carry shotguns & pry bars, so most will be completely unable to get at you if you do it this way. i even hid my personal pry bars so they couldnt just walk across my basement to my workshop & grab something that could compromise the door. Good luck!

[@mkp3824]

It's a great design, I really like it. Very convenient for storms. The stairs are probably the sturdiest part of the home. In the Washington, Illinois EF4 tornado, video taken from a home that was hit shows a set of stairs, still standing, whereas the rest of the building is gone. The only small critique would be the door, only because I'm more for the storm shelter side of it. For keeping someone from getting in, that works great. However, if a tornado knocks the house down, you've easily survived under the stairs, only to find you can't get out because the door is blocked by debris in front of it. That's why most shelters have doors that open in. But in reality, who knows? It's a great shelter.

[@surfingtothestars]

I wouldn't bet my life on his set up for an EF5 tornado

[@trendmassacre8423]

@@surfingtothestars well he is far enough under ground that he would have a chance against an F-5, not full proof but better than hiding out in a bathroom on the main level.

[@kykrazy6050]

Pretty good safe room. Except for a EF4 or above twister.

[@JenniferQuiray]

That door worries me. If it's not rated for FEMA 361 and ICC 500 tornado tests, it won't help in a big tornado. There was a woman who died with a door like that in her shelter. It was a steel door with deadbolt and lock similar to the one in this vid. That little latch and deadbolt is not going to be enough.

[@kykrazy6050]

It's better than no protection at all.

[@robbabcock_]

Good looking room! Looks like an economical way to use what would have been wasted space.

[@EveryCitizen]

Great project, nice work!

[@SuperAndybk]

Hi. I have a similar setup, unfinished. My buddy bought a house 10 years ago in copaige ny from orig owner. The owner lived in the 60s air raids, as I did hiding under my 2nd grade desk. Anyway the guy built a bomb shelter from brick,cynderblock. There was the ww2 rations etc. One thing he did have that I thought was important was a fresh air vent, a hand cranked type pump was skillfully attached. He also had over 5000 glass jars affixed to the basement stringers with a lot of prepper stuff although the bottles not visible. Try and add fresh air to the kip.

[@Theredeemedchild2]

Maybe that will work, maybe it wont. Depends on the tornado. Any ef4 or higher will probably suck that and you right up. Anyone can shoot through the door or walls of that as well.

[@ChannelOne-1]

All possible...not intended to be an impenetrable fortress, but it's sufficient for most situations. thanks for watching!

[@zzubuzz]

If the hinges are on the outside of the door, than can't an intruder pop out the pin than remove the door ? Need to know soon because I'm about to install mine...mine has a steel frame so it might not need to have the advantage of the outswing jamb which is harder to kick in.

[@ChannelOne-1]

It's OK to have the hinges on the outside...as I mentioned in the video...they are "security" hinged that interlock when the door is closed. Even if you could get the pins out the hinge plates are interlocked which prevents the door from being removed.

[@warlockcommandcenter]

consider adding 2 each "blind dead bolts" these don't have the key lock on the out side of the door. One top and one bottom.

[@ChannelOne-1]

+Frederick Kaludis Good suggestion, my only concern would be with little kids getting in there, locking them, and I cant get in. Perhaps one blind lock up higher...

[@theSword-]

Start watching this video at 4:35......before that, it's a bunch of b.s. talking.

[@robr2526]

Well done. Remember in a disaster situation debris will block the door. Although you can't change yours - IN opening doors are safer for an ability to exit. You will find it easier to dig your way out if you can open the door inward.

[@ChannelOne-1]

Very good comment and an important one I considered (and others should too). People know about our shelter & will come to help us out if needed (especially since I will very likely be able to call for help). I felt intruder protection was a more likely scenario, and thus the decision to swing the door the way I did. Thanks for the comment!

[@smokeydoke100]

bradcss "People know about our shelter & will come to help us out if needed" ...Providing they survived the tornado.

[@juanitadafler7233]

Make sure you use 3 inch wood screws for your hinges and the door plate. Using only 1/2 in. or inch screws, intruders can kick the door open. I would imagine a strong tornado wind could blow the door open too! Great ideas...thanks for the video!

[@ChannelOne-1]

Good point...I believe the screws I used for the hinges were at least 3". Same goes for setting the door so it's secured well into the frame.

[@matthewlazo1516]

Yo pay your light bill

[@midnightcomm]

2021 sadly looks at your 2x4s

[@candysmith8724]

Watch the entire video before making a comment about the hinges. Nice video, under my stairs I have a closet, that is our storm shelter too.

[@ChannelOne-1]

Awesome Candy!

[@ChannelOne-1]

HRVAT1975, Hinges are not removable...at 11:35 in the video the hinge is explained.

[@timlipinski2571]

Run a wire or cable to a buzzer or bell to ground level to signal for HELP if trapped in the Safe Room. And/or an intercom... tjl

[@ChannelOne-1]

I have a cell phone in there on a battery backup so ill just call 911 for help.

[@jasonseidel1897]

Your door should swing in not out. If your house collapses on top of you, you wont be able to open the door out because of debris.

[@coffeepot3123]

I would keep family photos and other valuables under the staircase where you had that box. Is the room under the staircase water proof in any way? If the main floor where to collapse wouldn't rain water potentially leak in and disable the radio and such?

[@ChannelOne-1]

The room isnt water proof in any way, you could install some plastic sheeting up above in some fashion to direct water away from where you dont want water. I dont think a leak from above would likely destroy the radio...it would have to pour directly into it. An easy solution to that would be to wrap a plastic bag around the radio...which I think I will actually do. Good idea.

[@ChannelOne-1]

That is blanket insulation. In many new houses where insulation is required for the basement by code many builders use this kind of insulation. It's like 3 inches of fiberglass insulation adhered to that white sheeting material (which serves as the vapor barrier).

[@kenbeattie2211]

The problem with putting the door that way is any intruder can pop the hinge pins

[@ChannelOne-1]

Nope they are security hinges as explained in the video! :)

[@kevindaberkow8537]

Good video. It that a metal frame door? And what about the ceiling of the main room? Drywall on studs?

[@ChannelOne-1]

Wood frame but metal door. Buy as sturdy of a door you can afford. The ceiling of the storm shelter is just the stairs.

[@adamhewitt6551]

What is up with the plastic in the back?

[@johngnang6724]

I only see 1 issue in case of an intruder.The door hinges are externally mounted.The hinge pins would be very easy to remove.On the other hand,if you weld them,you could be trapped in a tornado.Just my thoughts.Very nice job.

[@ChannelOne-1]

Thanks. I mention the hinges in the video…they are security hinges that interlock when closed so even if you got the hinge pins out the door could not be removed. Trapped but safe in a tornado is fine. I have food, water, phones, place to pee! No chance of flooding where I live. So we could hang out in there for a week pretty easy.

[@pamgevelinger2997]

Brad ide use a LED flash light.

[@MineCraftJunky28]

what you have there is a death trap with the way the door swings.. if a tornado hits your house, and the hallway is filled with tornado debris.. how would you open an outward swinging door?

[@Roblart]

Still better than getting sucked up by a tornado.

[@MineCraftJunky28]

if you die in there, how is it better?

[@ChannelOne-1]

I would call for help & ask someone to remove the debris. i have food & water & temp toilet materials, so we could survive in there for quite some time. Inward swinging door waaaay to easy to kick in.

[@MineCraftJunky28]

maybe a wooden door. if you built it with a steel door. someone could kick it all day...

[@OffgridManiac]

good video thanks alot

[@hollickrichard]

so on the half landing 9:13 you have just the carpet and floor boarding? or have you doubled up like you did on the stair treads

[@ChannelOne-1]

Just laminate flooring & the subfloor at this point. You can add whatever you want on the underside...4x4 boards, diamondplate, metal plate, etc. I'll add something one of these days to help prevent someone from shooting through the flooring on the half landing. thanks

[@hollickrichard]

Thank you for your reply, it all looks very good.

[@cruisingcory5414]

This is a good/better than nothing idea. I am a 21 year veteran leo. Please know that you will probably not have time to get to that during a home invasion. Also please do not put your family in that during a tornado. It will be a coffin for you and your family.

[@ChannelOne-1]

Yes, definitely a much better than nothing idea.You are right, in all home invasion scenarios you may not be able to get there, but in many you can...put a pushbutton lock at the top of the stairs and you will slow them down plenty to get in there, locked up, and on the phone w police...much better than cowering in a closet. In a tornado it's the BEST spot to be in in the entire house. sure, you might get trapped in there, but that's the case anywhere you go. At least you will be safe from debris and have water and two methods off calling for help.

[@brianhorner4248]

Food supply? Water suppply? Cooking source? Exhaust source?

[@ChannelOne-1]

Food: Yes, Water: Yes, Cooking: Not needed for a few hours, Exhaust: Not an air tight room, so will get some air, OK for a few hours.

[@lloydcasto8844]

How does sufficient air get into the room to breathe?

[@ChannelOne-1]

Good question! The way I look at it...adding oxygen tanks or CO filter would be a bit overkill, and reduce precious space. The way i look at it, for an intruder situation, it is typically only 1 person is going to go there. By the time they call for help, help arrives, etc they will not run out of air. For a tornado situation it can be a few people in there. But tornados only last 10 or 20 minutes, so it wouldnt be a big deal. Plus, the room is not sealed, so some surrounding air will leak in.

[@mreco7896]

I love your video, thank you.

[@OffgridManiac]

sweet but whats the plastic sheeting for

[@ChannelOne-1]

That is blanket insulation. In many new houses where insulation is required for the basement by code many builders use this kind of insulation. It's like 3 inches of fiberglass insulation adhered to that white sheeting material (which serves as the vapor barrier).

[@OffgridManiac]

oh insulatation was hoping there was a large room back behind there I really like your room we have a video on our page of our room called fall out shelter if ya get board check it out keep posting buddy

[@BabyBunch]

What happens if the power goes out,you womt be able to see whats going on

[@ChannelOne-1]

I have battery powered lights!! :-)

[@spartan97351]

Young kid asked this..Smh. Led lights..flash lights.glow sticks..solar or battery lithium lead acid battery..cell phone with kinetic energy battery pack. Candle with small ventilation..battery powerd lamp... AA C D or 9V battery,lightbulb and with any wire..perferably copper.. take red or black tubing off an inch each side of wire .press end positive side of wire..press other end of threaded(the under side/silver part/end of light bulb)of light.Bam u have light Not working get two wires. Place each wire flush on posite and negative ends of battery.take other end of both wires and press both against or on the silver part of the light bulb and vallah..

[@wooddawg4868]

The pins to the door can be bumped out, secondly you would be surprised was a bullet can pass through.

[@ChannelOne-1]

Pins cannot be removed. As mentioned in the video they are security hinges.

[@samandmarie4128]

Your hing need to weld bolt to keep people out its on out side of door

[@ChannelOne-1]

Not needed. It’s a security hinge, so even if someone removed the pin the door cannot be removed.

[@kevinholbrook3433]

The hinges are on the outside. Not too good for a panic room.

[@ChannelOne-1]

As mentioned in the video the hinges are security hinges that interlock and can’t be removed from the outside

[@kankan572]

I live in Oklahoma our tornados laugh at 2x4s 😭

[@ChannelOne-1]

True, this is in a basement and as I said, it’s not an inpeneratable fortress. Just a much safer place to be in rather than crouching in a closet.

[@onleashfreak]

Your hinges are on the wrong side for safety!!!

[@marieschieler1914]

Agree. You could get in easy. Take pins out and pry it open.

[@ChannelOne-1]

Video mentions that they are security hinges...unable to remove from the outside. :-D

[@ChannelOne-1]

@Skiatook Scott I have a land line and a cellphone on battery...so no problem calling for help if that happens. If all else fails there is enough food & water in there for many days until family & friends come looking for us.

[@tomn5880]

Go to "Storm rooms" videos put out by NOAA National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. They advocate that a storm room be built as a room separate from and independent from the structure of the rest of the house or building. We have a room that is bonded and bolted to the concrete floor with 1/2 inch plywood glued and screwed to both sides of the wall studs. The ceiling has independent rafters glued and screwed set beside the house truss rafters. The steel entry door opens inside the room and has barn style dead bolt latches at the top, middle and bottom of the door. I like your idea of a place under a stair. When we were hit by a tornado, we were under a stair case. We felt the pressure drop when the tornado passed overhead and heard the drone of the diesel locomotive. We survived unhurt and rebuilt.

[@KungF00Meow]

Nice

[@dragonsbasketball1436]

Is that Norwood or steel

[@ChannelOne-1]

+Stephanie W The door is steel (not solid...steel skinned over a solid core). Strong enough to be a major pain to penetrate. If I had my way I would have spent more on an even stronger door. Buy the strongest door you can afford.

[@muhi5140]

why did you record a stair case for 1/3 of your video

[@ChannelOne-1]

actually it was only 2:50 (out of 14:06) of introductory info B4 I started describing materials used...

[@muhi5140]

oh ok, sry my bad

[@jellybean271977]

Not bad at all very smart thinking but u would do better with maybe cement or metal walls

[@ChannelOne-1]

rachel copas True, the concept is the same...use the best materials your budget allows.

[@Fumingzeus]

A good skill saw and you're through

[@ChannelOne-1]

dont think an attacker is going to be carrying that...

[@AhmetMurati]

During storms and earthquakes, cell phones run off the service initially.

[@empregnator2556]

Enjoyable

[@tenthdimension9836]

Hey dude nice secure room for a storm but honestly I could rip that door off in 3 minutes with a 6' pry bar or a small sledgehammer.

[@ChannelOne-1]

True, but like i mentioned in the video, it's not meant to be an impenetrable fortress. Plus, it's highly unlikely that an intruder will be carrying a sledgehammer or pry bar.

[@tenthdimension9836]

@@ChannelOne-1 - Well you did talk about a gun penetrating the 2x4's so in your mind there's some aspect of a violent intrusion in the back of your mind. I'm just pointing out that if there's something in that room that someone wants be it you, your family or something of value that door is not keeping them out. It's best to call this a storm shelter and not portray it as a safe room. Intruders are the most likely people to be carrying tools for breaking into structures. Your kidding yourself to think otherwise. Additionally, I think you'd be surprised how many people carry tools including pry bars and hammers in there vehicles. I do.

[@jollyjrog3r]

Except....they can just pop out the hinges

[@ChannelOne-1]

As explained in the video and description they are security hinges that prevent the door from being removed even if the hinge pin could get removed.

[@colleendietrich9676]

dude I can alresdy see a way in smaked the hinges off

[@ChannelOne-1]

Hinges are security hinges and cannot be removed.

[@lordkestlerful]

Just tap the pins out of the hinge no very secure at all

[@ChannelOne-1]

This is covered in the video, these are security hinges that cannot be removed even if you could get the pins out, which isn’t very easy.

[@deemartinez836]

Hinges on outside????

[@ChannelOne-1]

See written description & verbal mention.

[@HRVAT1975]

intruder situation- you would want your hinges on the inside of panic room. nice build

[@jasdeepaulakh5578]

Wow you thought of everything

[@tosliik]

But you could pull the whole door off l.just pull hinge rod out each hinge then pry with flat head

[@ChannelOne-1]

Even if the hinge pins could be removed the hinges are "security" hinges which interlock when closed, preventing the door from being removed. :)

[@coryskistad6984]

good idea if I wanted in I would pull the hinge pins if a storm I would want the door to open in so when the rest of the house falls down around it I can still open it

[@deemartinez836]

Ceiling not re enforced

[@janaleverton]

They could just take the hinges off

[@ChannelOne-1]

Nope. Security hinges prevent that b

[@unafraid7628]

Wouldn't need to kick it in... Just pop the pins from the hinges and your @$$ is GOT!!!

[@unafraid7628]

Overall its a nice fallout shelter. Well thought out

[@ChannelOne-1]

Hinges are security hinges...if they manage to get the pins out the hinge interlocks & the door still cannot be removed :)

[@oyvnes]

nite!

[@david4360]

Build house from brick.

[@One-Eyed-Willly]

Couldn't u pop out the hinges that way

[@P_RO_]

Only somewhat good for either purpose. The lack of understanding either of these scenarios shows. Not an example of how these things should be done.

[@ChannelOne-1]

Didn’t say it was an impenetrable fortress. For what it’s trying to accomplish on a budget is spot on, and will suffice in a majority of situations

[@P_RO_]

@@ChannelOne-1 Not even close. But there's no convincing those who think they already know so go for it.

[@sandyjordan6794]

Shooting? Paranoid? Get a Cane Corso, get two....

[@321southtube]

Outward swinging door for security....good idea. Cant kick it in. Outward swinging door for tornado....bad idea. Debris will block your exit and you'll become trapped. Bullets easily penetrate 2x4's and plywood.

[@ChannelOne-1]

As I mentioned..."not an inpeneratable fortress" this is more than sufficient in a large majority of situations!

[@michaelhudecek2778]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@timex3910]

Slow ass video!!

[@beewisteria699]

intruder will just pull out the hinge pins and easily get in!

[@ChannelOne-1]

As mentioned in the video they are security hinges that cannot be removed from outside. :)

[@dontblameme6328]

Nice for storage or storm shelter but terrible idea for safe room. Never barricade yourself with only one exit. Hinges on the outside is also a big no-no for a safe room. I can breach that in less than 30 seconds even with the security pins without any real special tools.

[@ChannelOne-1]

As I mentioned in the video, it's not an impenetrable fortress. It's super easy to build, affordable, and effective for most scenarios. There's no way you are breaching this any time soon unless you have special tools which 99.9% of all home invaders will never have.

[@eth.h]

5 minutes into the video you finally start talking. Other from that nice video.

[@ChannelOne-1]

I know...wanted to give background & things to consider before starting for the person wanting to do this but does not know where to begin.

[@jerrylee3010]

storm shelter yes panic room no.Knock three pins out of the hinges doors off three min

[@jerrylee3010]

cool,thanks for the tip

[@annekemp8795]

Paranoid ?

[@ChannelOne-1]

+anne kemp Prepared :-)

[@ToniMattTony]

You are wrong with the door because if lumber falls in front of your door you can't get out!

[@ChannelOne-1]

Better to have it fall in front of the door than on me! :-D Besides, I'll just call for help on the cellphone! And if I dont have cell service I can survive in there for many days with food & water I also store there!

[@brianpeters7264]

An intruder only needs to pop the hinges. Not secure.

[@ChannelOne-1]

Video mentions that they are security hinges...unable to remove from the outside. :-D

[@ganstakid101]

meh for the panic room situation i know for a fact i can shoot through most of that lmao

[@anthonydavid5121]

blaah b;ah boring ... get to the point, speed the plough,

[@jackiemorales3119]

You talk to much 😐

[@rusH1023]

Jackie Morales - I think what this dummy means is that these videos tend to be more easily-digested in shorter form. For instance, an introduction should probably be 30 seconds or less. You could cut a lot of this video and wouldn't lose the purpose or salient info. Just a tip.

[@jackiemorales3119]

Thanks!☺

[@ChannelOne-1]

Jackie Morales Good point. I wanted to provide enough detail so someone could built one like it. Too many videos are too high level for a lot of people to know how to do the whole job.

[@smallnuts2]

Mine is a closet but same setup. I'll probably have to knock out a wall to get the extra space and more room underneath the stairs