Inside a Tornado Shelter Tour | Survival | Ham Radio Comms Discussion 

So retired from fire and EMS after 40 years, I have an idea . Every family that has this shelter should let their local fire department know. If your home is destroyed, they will know that you could be trapped in your shelter. Cities should be aware.

3 years later I hope you haven’t had to use it, but thank goodness you have it for that once in a lifetime emergency. My two suggestions as I was watching this was to have a small portable generator with a fan. Another is to keep an air horn to blast if you needed it. The other is to do a few drills with the fam. Stay safe.

Very large bottle jack and pole so you can jack up the lids if your house does come down on it

Most important thing to have in those in ground shelters is two sump pumps with battery back up, God forbid your trapped inside and rain water begins to fill it.

I had this alarm system. It was great. It was a saver every time we had a small tornado in our area. We moved to a different country where we do not have tornadoes. Midland is great!

Build a sturdy “table” and pull it over the shelter as you are entering it to hopefully hold a collapsed roof off of the shelter door. Maybe have a local welding shop build it out of steel with legs high enough to allow you to enter the shelter - four feet tall.

The combination of ham radio and "prepping" or however one would call it is very interesting. I would love to see more videos like that

Total steal! Just an idea you could put a 48 in. farm jack with a a steel tube with pads and jack up the panel when intrapped. Maybe a marine horn and a 6 ft fiberglass pole with flag to put threw the hole and maybe a battery small magnetic fan. Take care

I have a weather radio like that, and it has been very handy to have. Especially when storms hit in the middle of the night

Have the storm door painted ((Fluorescent Orange )) so that it can be noticed by the (search and rescue) team and the maximum of persons inside on the door, so they know right away how many people are in the cellar.

Yay the first tornado 🌪 this month I hope every one was ok

Water and food if you get trapped as well....I am extremely freaked out about tight places.....I would have wanted a second exit attached to it....the main thing is putting a plan in place, that's what will save you and your loved ones....your a good husband and father ❤️ prayers and blessings for you and your family ❣️

Move the gunsafe away from the shelter. In the event of a tornado, the gunsafe could tip over across your shelter, blocking your exit.

Extremely interesting video Tom. So much to think about. You and I are thinking along the same lines pretty much on everything. It's great to get ideas from your viewers. There have been some really good comments so far. I am thinking maybe a steel pipe close to the house buried in the ground about 3-4 ft. And a very short 2m fiberglass antenna mounted to it would probably endure the Tornado about as good as anything. One thing about a Tornado is that it doesn't last too long. Especially compared to the hurricanes we have here in Florida. So, you wouldn't need to be in the shelter more than 10-30 minutes I wouldn't think. Looks like ventilation is your biggest obstacle. Keep us posted!

Looking at this shelter...I'm glad we went with the one we have. It's not installed in a garage but so much roomier. I like the lights though. Not sure how well they'd serve me on my stair well(exposed to the elements when the door is open) but I can put them where the shelter starts below the door where rain can't reach. Thanks for the link to those.

Flatsafe tornado shelters come with a come-along to use to slide open the door, if it's jammed.

I am very claustrophobic and tornado phobic!

OK idea for your antenna. Make it like dominator 3 because dominator three has been inside of a tornado so the antenna most likely chance to survive the tornado is to make it like dominator three👍

Why airtight? Looked at houses in Huntsville Al. The shelters had vent pipes.

Very realistic safety measures

You are way ahead of me in preparedness. You seem to have done everything humanly possible to save yourselves. As for the antenna, I'm stumped. If it was just the 200 mph+ wind any flexible antenna could probably survive but it's the 200 mph+ tree trunks, bricks, lumber, cars etc. that says it won't survive. You enlightened with many good ideas. Thanks for sharing.

Wear a roman replica helmet when you enter the shelter it will confuse the Archaeologists.

When I saw your installation video I commented to Maddy that it was awfully small. I don’t know your budget but I would have found a way for the large version. Then again, I really am claustrophobic ⚡️. I’m glad the company compensated you for the mistake. Just don’t grow your family 🤣. I like your basic preparations kit just expand on it. You may want to think about adding a radiation shelter air pump. I wouldn’t worry about a big water pump though. Uh, tiny portable potty!For emergency communication consider some small air horns. Let your fire/police departments know that you have a shelter. If you hard wire your 2 meter antenna even a quarter wave vertical stapled to a 4X4 will probably do. Good idea 💡. Best wishes. I hope you never have to use it but in Oklahoma City, I wouldn’t be without it. (We narrowly missed a tornado here in Eden Prairie Friday night. Rare.) MikeinMinnesota N0WDM

Possibly mount the switch for the light on the sliding door so that it will bump into the wall and turn on as you fully open the door. One less thing to have to worry about doing in an emergency and little kids don't like dark scary places.

I live in the DFW area and you have one distinct advantage: a shelter. I have nothing at the moment. Even if totally miserable in the shelter your odds of survival are tremendous compared to mine. SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING! Now to practice what I preach.

Hey, some good info there. It's interesting how that all goes together. I think It is very responsible of you to think about your family's safety. In my mind, that is what comes first. Too bad,, they made a mistake on the size. But it's better then nothing. The virtual tour was interesting and I will invite my wife to watch this, because we have talked about getting one installed. We are located near Joplin, and as you know, storms are a concern here. Glad you are getting settled down in your new home and look forward to future videos. 73.

Thank you for doing this video! I have never ever liked those shelters. I much rather have a shelter that's in the ground that six-and-a-half feet in the ground the big shelters outside the house not the ones in the garage. But you have to work with what you got and in your case you might need two or three Mini battery operated fans so it circulates the air thoroughly while you're down there... plus put yourself a couple of battery operated misters..their handheld misters. one of the best things I found that works wonderful are the neck fans that you can easily find all of this stuff on Amazon and they're not expensive and they have three speeds and that way the air is coming directly on you. Also have some Contigo containers ready to rock and roll which keeps your water extremely cold or your coffee extremely hot or perhaps just get yourself a igloo that holds a gallon of water in your case you might want to fill it up with ice and put water in and bring it down there with you. You don't know if you're going to be by yourself or with your children or family give each individual a job to do so that when something like this happens maybe one of your sons or daughters job can be to fill up with ice and water and bring it down to the shelter while another one grabs a small mini backpack that houses snacks and medicines like Benadryl or Tylenol or Aleve or Motrin this is just in case you are stuck down there longer than you want. And maybe another one can grab a blanket or throw or pillow again most of these are men just to be in here for a short amount of time but as you pointed out there have been cases where people have been stuck and goodly stuck until they're unstuck. That the biggest issue are two things are circulation, water that's cold to stay hydrated along with a hand mister and actually three things is make sure you have your cell phone and it's 100% charge and everyone else's is also because one of the other things that I saw that was very dangerous about these hurricanes is that there was a couple of there was a family or they were people who have been found dead in these shelters because the water got inside and they drowned. I know those are probably rare cases but it still happens and actually another viewer I was watching said something about a handheld chainsaw that he keeps down there something he keeps down there to actually if there is something heavy that's up on top that you cannot remove the lid and you're stuck and no one's coming for you that you can remove yourself out of there so don't forget the safety goggles. This might be a little too much but again you really have to think the good and the Bad and the Ugly when it comes to the shelters because anything and everything can and does happen. Take Care thank you for the video and your hard work

I'm getting an above ground tornado shelter in May. Owners are supposed to register the GPS co-ordinates (provided by the shelter company) with the local EMS. Store some survival gear, especially water, and a backup cell phone to contact EMS, family or friends. I will also have a toilet made from a 5-gallon bucket lined with a trash bag and a seat out of a foam noodle! I'll keep a bag of kitty litter to absorb the nasties. 😜 There are escape hatches in my shelter, if the doorway should be blocked by debris. (My door opens to the inside to minimize that chance. Some shelters have sliding doors). Tornados do not last very long, for most areas, so if a warning occurs (a tornado has been sighted), I may have to sit inside for about an hour.

If trapped and waiting for help, lack of air is a problem, that's why we had scuba air tanks always in there. Also in the summer, put a portable air conditioner in there and run it as cold as it will go, that will cool the sides in turn cooling the ground your unit is in. I know space is a problem so once it gets cold enough think of it as a food cellar, it stays cool to cold. Then take out the unit, recharging the cool when needed. Don't forget water and MRE's, long shelf life are needed until rescued. Let every firehouse know where you are and your shelter type, that way they know where to look for you. Plan for 24 hrs down there, that's extreme but better to plan for it. Your hand crank radio/flashlight is good, just make sure it can charge electronics. A charged solar generator can give you 24-48hrs of power stored down there, again plan for longer then needed. I remember people still being pulled out 3-4 days later in some destroyed places. Takes time going from spot to spot checking for survivors. If going to the toilet is needed, a 5gl bucket with a bag of kitty litter near by is a plus, don't forget the toilet paper and wet wipes/hand sanitizer. I consulted on this with developments of hundreds of people and I have more info if you want, I just skimmed over it in this. Good luck, I hope you never need your shelter.

Use (grandmas squeaky) clean to ((rid pests immediately))- Spray bottle filled with water top the base of the neck, then add a little: Gain, Dawn, Dr. Bronner hemp soap, a little rubbing alcohol. Things will stay cleaner longer.

What a lucky dude, I've never been able to pay 100% for anything on Amazon.

I like your idea of storm shelters on the air. I have a storm shelter that is wired for ham radio, but I haven't actually broadcast from it. Having a storm shelter centered event might give some of us an opportunity to work out the kinks in our set up. Something to think about. Thanks for the video.

Look at the British WW2 Morrison shelter -it's a steel table with a cage surround. If you put the garage table over the shelter entrance then you have a frame to keep debris off the sliding hatch.

This is great Tommy! Gets people thinking and sharing ideas for life safety. Maybe a long crowbar for leverage if needed. Also a 5 gallon bucket with lid. Can store stuff in it and is a seat. Also doubles as a toilet with trash bag and pool noodle around the rim. XYL has one ready in basement! Haven’t checked if available but small tank of o2? Oh, and a pool noodle or pipe foam for that angle iron to protect your head. Dipole attached to a 4x4 was mentioned. Would make a great project. Wonder if a hairpin match similar to what’s used in a tape measure yagi would help tune. Looking forward to more in this series! 73 N4WLC Bill

Sir, you ham radio were life savers during Katrina, Rita, Moore, Ike during cell failure. Capt. B of Disaster Services USA I worked the Moore’s tornadoes and Joplin, many many others. Interview 250 impact statements. Yes we rescue lower basements entrapment all the time. Always have good axe, long crow bar, one short crow bar. and ladder. The ladder sometimes help you egress the piles up debris ex your garage has house blown on top. The new extend ladder that take up less space. Air horn, for emergency signal...whistle is good though. And a good fire extinguisher! Keeepppp good boots for you and family down there. I have more info. THE # one thing post a tornADO IS GARBAGE BAGS FOR RETRIEVING items, like photos.YOU HAVE A HIT in the area. Great video. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS A BUCKET POTTY WITH A SHEET FOR PRIVACY SOMEBODY CAN HOLD UP. YOU MAY BE DOWN THERE A WHILE. CAPT.B Disaster Services USA. 🇺🇸🇺🇸

The whistle is a good idea. You could also get a can air horn and then use the strobe light on you cell phone if it is dark outside.

Im glad they changed the lock in the door not to trap you

Good video. It’s a little late but there’s a storm shelter that a some people here in Alabama have that has a hydraulic door that will lift a car in case something falls on it. Doing drills with the kids is a great idea. That way they know what to do before it’s time for the real thing. I understand your frustration with them putting in the small one. They would have to dig mine up because with 6 kids we would need the biggest one. You could have a/c power if it’s on a gfci but then if the power goes out you would need the d/c.

Hey HAM Radio CQ! Love your videos, been watching for a while. I really like the older portable / NVIS ones. I have a couple suggestions for your shelter... 1. It seems like you are concerned about being able to get out of the shelter if stuff were to fall on it. I might suggest an off road jack like a hi-lift. You may have to shorten the lever arm due to the small width of the shelter but it should easily jack up the lid enough for someone to climb out. 2. For a fixed antenna I might suggest a roll up J-pole like the one from Ed Fong. Many people put the ladder line antenna in a Pvc tube and mount that to their roof etc. It doesn't require radials and you can run the coax through the pvc end caps then down to the ground and even bury the coax on its run to the shelter. Looking forward to hearing what you do. 73!

Good News is you will not needs this. Odds are you may go down during a warning, but no tornado. However, if there is a tornado and if your home is hit, you could have rubble blocking the exit door. Emergency rescue will respond to the area quickly. Register the shelter. Let your neighbors know. Finally to assist in location of shelter entrance, I would buy the loudest fluorescent paint and paint the shelter door. In addition, I would have a stencil cut at a sign shop indicating shelter and arrows. Then I would spray paint the garage floor pointing to the entrance door location. If you don't like stencils and are willing to spend more, a sign shop can cut fluorescent outdoor vinyl stickers to apply to the floor. They can probably suggest a sealant to protect and extend the life. Anyone digging from the outside will have a map instead of a grey on grey slab. I'd also be curious if there was a way to floor mount an alarm siren like those in security systems. If you find yourself trapped, it be nice if this could be tripped to alert rescue. These have battery power and work without power. The floor mount in a corner should keep it from blowing away. It's over kill but if being trapped is a concern, this may make you more comfortable. Just a couple of thoughts.

The main concern would be the possibility of heavy debris falling on top of the shelter, preventing your exit. For about $100, you can buy a decent 10 ton Porta power kit. Buy the pull ram as well. Keep the box in your shelter. It could very well help you.

Few ideas you might have already thought of. Some water and some snacks. Some first aid supplies with plenty of aspirin. As for the antenna, the best way I can think of is to mount a 2m jpole or ground plane in your attic. Looks like you have access very close to the shelter, and the only way wind will affect it is if your roof is gone. Plus it will be more elevated and since vhf is "line of sight" its win-win.

1. It's too bad the company installed the wrong shelter, but at least you got a good price for it. 2. Putting a few extra batteries and a flashlight into the shelter, and perhaps some non-perishable food is a good idea. The radios are great. How about seeing if the radio would work in the shelter? 3. For an antenna, I would suggest a J-pole, because you can set it up on just about anything that stands. That antenna you have would likely blow away in any tornado. 4. I don't know if I would worry about communicating during a tornado. You will most likely not hear anything due to the noise.

Everytime I see these storm shelters in garages is where do u park your cars? Outside

buddy !!! Generally, you can expect that a 50-watt megaphone will produce sounds that can be heard about a half-mile away. The length and shape of a megaphone also affect its ability to produce long-range sound.

What about jack post with a 2-3 ton jack. Adapt a whip antenna to a frequency you choose. It would withstand some wind on a small antenna mast.

You should think about having some supplies down there cause there could be times you're down there for hours.

Smart… sign the contract after they do they work. Lol. At least you got a great deal.

I live in South Alabama, we recently went through Hurricane Sally (a category 2 ) in our double wide Mobile home. Did not plan to, but they kept saying it would go to Louisiana and it would only be. Cat. 1 or tropical storm. So we did not evacuate, then it turned and picked up speed, so we took a direct hit. Very blessed we survived in a mobile home with no damage other than a large Pine down that missed the house. I am currantly in the process of building a storm shelter, using an old 25 foot Fiberglass sailboat. I buried it in the yard leaving just the top of the cabin deck above ground. I intend to install 8 inch round duct s with fans built into them. I will wire it for 110 volts but also with 12 volt back up. I will install 2, twelve volt bilge pumps hooked to float switch, with hose running to outside. Will also have battery powered radio, a small flat svreen TV that works off Wi Fi, have a new Chemical toilet, and will have supplies of food, bottled water, first-aid kit, flash lights, some hand tools. Now being fiberglass, the top could be damaged if a tree or other debri fall on top. It should not blow away, or flood since we live in top of a hill with good drainage. We know from experience that cellphones may not work after a storm due to towers being damaged and service getting overwhelmed. We just needed a hole to jump in, just in case of Tornadoes. Friends, Neighbors and family will know where we are. You can puch up old sailboats pretty cheap, and most are made like a camper inside. Water tight too. Still working on it. Paid $800 for the boat. Using a freinds tractor to bury it.

You better put a crow bar in there

Put glow in the dark or LED marker lights from the garage to the shelter like aisle lights in a plane.

For a moment I thought, its Frank Fritz from American Pickers LOL Concerning your problem with being trapped if things come down on top of the door. Since the shelter is raised as you said and apparently prevents driving or parking a car on top. I would build a HEAVY DUTY steel frame around the shelter which is raised at least 3 feet which would keep any debris off the shelter door. Then you could at least slide it open and crawl out. I would use a large diameter pipe for the framing and have it bolted into the concrete. For the money you saved on buying the shelter due to the wrong size, you could have a metal worker come and build it and it would solve that problem ?? I also would not want to be trapped in that thing. If you are a HAM, why not use a handheld radio ? As far as staying cool, you could always fill a ice chest with ice and the cool air from the ice would probably last for 8-12 hours

Yes, it’s raised a little to keep water out.

What if it flood ? Will water get in it?

Toilet paper and a small bucket with a lid ( like an ice cream bucket) would be a good idea.

Is you furnace or water heater in the same garage. If so you might want a CO2 sensor since CO2 can pool in there

Add a motion sensor light. Cut the concrete add a conduit and run low voltage wiring to an external solar setup that will keep a lifepo4 battery charged and will run the motion sensor light and other devices such as your ham radio and charge your phones. Run your coax for your ham and run a passive cellular antenna repeater. Basicly 2 antennas connected through coax. You can add a manual portapower that would allow you to pull the door open of you had too but the way these are designed the chances of it jamming is very small. Also good to add an exhaust fan to keep any co from building up in the shelter. Add a vent tube. Fresh air should come in low and exhaust be high. But any fan can exhaust while pulling fresh air but I'd rather push fresh air pushing out any gases. Remember gasoline co CO2 all go to the lowest place. Keep a good paid of shoes for each person..preferably nail proof soles in the shelter along with rain jackets. And yes keep them in the shelter. Target carries clear plastic totes with a gasket. Buy 4 of them give 1 to each person and give them a list of things to out in them. Shoes blanket rain jacket pants. Put them under the stairs. Make up 1 box with a couple decks of cards and some rules for games. And go buy a couple cheap mp3 players. Have them add a few dozen songs on them. And again toss these in the family box. Don't forget to add some non-perishable snacks and water with flavor drops. Every couple months go through and run through getting into the shelter. Remember if you use that garage make sure you pull up enough to allow you to enter and exit.

Maybe a mag mount you could stick on the shelter door. Just a quarter wave for two meters and maybe made with 440 capabilities. This along with your post idea but extra just in case. Greg, Southern Ohio

Good video! A couple of thoughts about your ham radio set up. If it was me, I'd drill a few one inch holes in the stationary part of the lid near the back, to stick out a 1/4 wave antenna that is rigged to push through from the inside and snap in place, making a good ground connection to the steel. The time that you need your radio will be when your house is sitting on top of you and you're trapped. A permanently mounted exterior antenna will most likely be trashed, and having extra holes drilled in your lid will give you a better chance of being able to find a place to stick out your antenna that's clear of debris. Secondly, I wouldn't worry about hitting your repeater. There will be crews in your area in no time. Just program in 146.52 simplex AND all the direct (simplex) freqs of your law enforcement, fire, and other county depts WITH the proper ctcss codes (I can help you with that - K4PQ). No agency will have a problem with you using their channels if you're trapped in a shelter. A simple antenna stuck out of a hole with half a watt will get you all the help you need if you're properly programmed.

I think these should come with post jacks like you use in a basement to hold up a joist. They could bolt to the concrete and the metal door. Then all someone would have to have is a wrench to turn the jack. Could you use your step in that top groove and use a small bottle jack and possibly a small block of wood to jack that panel up?

I can't stop thinking about the little girl who died in the tornados that killed whole families on 12-10-21 we need more shelters thought out the midwest,pray for the victims of that horrible storm

I am a lil late, but... what *I* would do, is have a decoupled tube, with a bend that isn't mega sharp... tuned for SWR... which you can jam through that tube, from the inside of that shelter, and transmit on that. That way, if your main antenna goes bye bye, you can push a backup out there. You only need to be "loud" enough to rattle someone's cage enough to say "HEY I AM TRAPPED"

Just put some pillows and make it comfortable and you got a nice place to chill during a storm

My 1/2 wave 2/70 antenna survives the automatic car was whirly rotating brushes both vertical and horizontal

With all due respect, what do you mean you’ll never need it? You’ll need to use it frequently in OKC. Did you mean you’ll never have an actual tornado? I’m in DFW and wish we were able to have a shelter. You’re blessed. I would need air or Xanax to get into one though. You could always wait until the last minute to shut it though.

Aussies be like: “pfft we go brick/concrete houses no storms gonna break that”

we used to have some non perishable food items, lots of water, and something to urinate into. Also I like the idea of 2 meters if there are enough repeaters close enough to you. If not digital might be the way to go. HF can be done if you make a loading coil for a vertical antenna especially for 10 or 20 meters although 80 if feasible would give you near NVIS communication for reliable close contacts when band conditions permit. Have you had the entire family in it yet? air supply will be one of your most critical factors with that much oxygen being used. Bring everybody inside it for a 5-10 minute test run then go from there. KE0RPU

Just some thoughts 1. Hamm radio great idea. 2. How about an air horn? 3. Store a come-along inside. 4. Store a power pack to charge phones and Hamm.

I would use a wodden pole. And a slim jim antenna on it. Should be very stable. Also I think you need something like a periscope camera. Mechanical or for your phone. If you are stuck you can look for the problem an give the rescue forces hints over 2m or cell phone. 73, Stephan, DF6PA

The people that got stuck in the smart shelter had a latch on the outside. If their latch was on the inside like yours they would of been able to slide the door open but the garage door was also laying on the door.

A copper tubing J Pole is my first thought

Atlas survival shelters is nice to

So the house falls on the box and a water pipe breaks. Do you then drown?

don't forget a little toy for the little ones. to give them peace

I would mark my drive way indicating the shelter. It would not have to be big.

Stick a anntena though the hole and call mayday

Believe it or not people have tuned trees. Yes trees. So maybe you could tune a hefty block of wood. I've also heard rumors of the army running HF antennas in the ground. Perhaps you could embed an antenna to the side of a small concrete pillar. Maybe forego an exterior antenna altogether and just run it out of a pvc pipe hole when the tornado is over.

I have a vent in my storm shelter. It is above ground on a slab BUT my NOAA radio and phone don't work in the steel shelter. My shelter door opens inward. Mine is shaped like a workbench and opens at one end

Hey there. Found you on RU-vid as well. For 2m/70cm look at the Ed Fong J-Pole inside a pvc tube. You should be able to fasten that pvc tube to a post. The actual antenna is like ladder line but it is all inside of a tube. I don’t think HF is good for this application.

Antenna idea...im thinking local repeater, so probably just a wire laying on the ground or buried just under the grass would do it with 5 watt HT. If there is a real tornado, guaranteed there will be someone listening on a local repeater. Preferably the ones that run the local weather nets. Are any of those close ?

I think the shelter is to small for 2 people and if you did get stuck down there I would be thinking of a another way out . And something that can alert someone when they come

That is a tomb. I have an underground and I can at least stand in it and is a 10x10. I would have gotten that instead of the one you got.

A small 12 volt bilge pump with an 8 to 12 amp hour battery would not be a bad idea. A hand pump is great but In that cramped space with 3 other people competing for air anything to lessen exertion will help. After that, drinking water is your next priority. You do not need food in that shelter. People can live a long time without food. Not so without water. Remember the rule of 3s; you can live 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. A 2M copper J-Pole would be very sturdy but I imagine you'd still have to harden it with some type of shielding from the ballistic effect of tornado force winds. 73s

They should build the shelter outside the building to avoid any debris blocking the shelter. Why would they put it inside the building tho? I'm curious...

You were talking about an outside antenna have you tried a handheld radio maybe with a extended antenna?

Not kidding, get some bags or empty bottles down there in case someone has to pee. Also some water, maby some energy bars.

I would think it should be more raised around the edges.

Why not a j pole? They make a 3/4inch version on ebay.

It's less likely that you'll be alerted to a tornado at 2 or 3am, because tornadoes rarely form then. It's far more likely you'd be sheltering in the afternoon.

If everything piles on top of the door, will you be able to slide it open? Something to think about???

This turned out smaller than i thought

That is scary and if your trapped u will run out of air!,

First, that is a very tight space for four to five people. You said you had a family. I can't remember how many children but nonetheless. More than just you and your spouse. You don't have a ton of room for extra goodies so to speak. Someone mentioned a j-pole. I second that. As to where to mount it so that it doesn't get destroyed. That is a tough decision. My first thought is an ht with a long whip that you might be able to get between that grate lettering. It's small and can be left in a crevice in the shelter. All those grooves could be used to maximize some type of storage. Maybe a push bar of some sort to help pry or wedge your way out. The water hand pump was a good idea. The neon glow paint was a good idea as well. Some kind of electronic flare would probably be good for getting attention. Also letting your neighbors know where to find you along with the sheriff and fire dept. I'm skeptical about that also but it is like insurance. Better to have and not need than the other way around. As far as ham radio goes. There is a certain Chinese radio ht that can be programmed out of band. In an emergency all is fair. 2m/7cm national calling frequencies are usually monitored heavily during disasters. That "lid" was metal right. Any way to make it resonant? What ham radio clubs are in or near OK city? ARES and RACES members are great to get to know for just that reason. If they can't make contact over the air. They will usually come looking for you. Good luck with what you're trying to do. I hope you never need that shelter. 73 to you. N5BKB Levelland, TX

For $1000.00 that is great.

Bottles of Xanax !

6-8 ton hydraulic jack with blocking

You can get in shelter, close door, when you detect destruction and you will know when to slam that door closed. Get a small Diamond mag mount antenna. Stick it on metal door upside down in shelter. Bet you may be able to hit your local repeaters.

OH NO HAIL

Get military portable antenna or marine antenna

I’d have a heavy duty hydraulic bottle jack and some cribbing with me just in case…