Preparing The Storm Shelter For The Big One! 

My sister-in-law had a below ground shelter in Mississippi. She was able to register the location to MEMA so local fire/police would know about it. They said they would check to make sure someone was not trapped after a major storm came through the area. Just something to look into since you never want to be trapped in one. Hopefully cell service still works, but the towers could be down to or the steel/concrete blocks the signals.

We have a double bed and dog kennels built in under bed, a cassette toilet, gun safe, shelving and anytime we are under a watch at bedtime we just go lock down. Yes we have tons of food and water.

Lifelong Texan here that has lived in tornado alley for 60 years. You don't need much in your shelter. Folding chairs for the 3 of you , portable light or a few flashlights, a warm throw or two, a portable weather alert radio and maybe a couple bottles of water. The average stay in your shelter is usually less than an hour tops. Mississippi is definitely in tornado alley. Keep your eyes and ears to the sky during tornado season. 🤠👍

Ryan hall yo,all RU-vid weather guru has become one best weather teams with professional storm chasers and meterogist andy to be weather aware

I got a family safe shelter in the garage and we love ours, peace of mind, more people need to just get shelter

I wouldn’t use an oil lamp or candles with so little ventilation. If you have those for emergency needs after the storm has passed, that’s different, but you’ll be breathing smoke if you light either one inside that shelter.

Having spent some “quality time” in a storm shelter, and realizing that in a worst case scenario, you could be living in one for a few days, if your home is toast, there are a few inexpensive things to add. - Add a case of bottled water and some snacks - Put a folding potty (like great granny had) under the stairs with a curtain for privacy. They come with inserts so easier to clean and way more comfortable than a bucket. - outline the ceiling in battery operated led fairy lights $2/ string at temu. - Add interlocking rubber mats to the floor. $49 for a pack of 24 (2’x2’) mats at walmart. - Add folding camping chairs ($8/walmart) and camping cot, along with a self inflating mattress and pillow. - Store deck of cards, battery radio with weather station, board game - Battery fan - Battery speaker for music - Hanging lantern - Acoustic foam panels….not the entire wall, just run a strip of them around a wall or two, to decrease the storm noise and echo inside. $30/Amazon. This may seem frivolous but it makes a huge difference in calming kids (& adults too!)

I’d def get a army cot. It’d give your pets a “safe” feeling being able to hide underneath. Plus you can store stuff under it too. You can sleep on it. You can gather around and play cards or use it as a table. You wouldn’t be in there long and once they pass you’ll know.

As the one commenter said if you lose your home thexshelter can be used to stay on your property. Pretty smart idea. Thinking outside of the box.

You know something... one thing about this storm shelter that I LIKE is the fact that door opens INWARD. I'd always be concerned about the ones that open outward, is that debris would blow up against, and block the door. I'm a lover of the old fashioned root cellar, I want to make sure a building can serve a dual purpose. But in that shelter, again, in the case of debris blocking you in, I would put a cordless reciprocating saw, fully charged.

Still catching up on your videos, but I would have blankets that aren’t really used in the house vacuum sealed and put in there. Thanks for the videos

In Minnesota we are encouraged to register our storm shelter with our county sheriff's department

I would run a power line to it and use it primarily for maintaining charge on a backup power supply. There has been advertised battery pack generators systems, which also can be solar-powered for rechargeable capability. Battery pack basically on steroids. Put something in to sleep on. Incase of ice storm, a small area is easier to heat. But each storm has it's own problems. Note: rarely in rural areas, homes might be out of power for weeks. This is why I say you need something to maintain power for days instead of a couple of hours.

Note hinge-pins are on the inside. Just knock them out & you can pry the door off the hinges.

I would also look into why there is moisture around the door and just inside of the shelter because you don't want any mold or mildew growing in your shelter. As someone with severe allergies that could turn into a really bad situation.

We carry wearable sleeping bags for each of us in our car in winter. These have legs and arms. You climb into them and zip yourself in and they have built in hood. (Also known as onesies in some countries). You can walk/run around, keep warm, stand, sit, and be toasty. They come in a bag, and can stored in a storm shelter.

Very wise to be prepared just in case. On the battery situation using lithium batteries you wont have to worry about the contact corroding. Lithium are designed to vent different than regular alkaline batteries. Great for long term storage such as in flashlights etc. On the bucket, garbage can liners also works real well for "easy" clean up. I do all of these things. May work for you as well, IDK.

Noise cancelling earphones helps if your shelter echoes a lot from noises. And a small table for playing a game on. Be it a card game or something else. A pool float for a makeshift bed. Easy to blowup and take down. A closet 4-5 shelf hanging piece also gets things up out of the way. And don't forget any little meds you may need. The Dramamine also works for nauseous stomachs. And lighting a wood match and letting it burn down helps get rid of smells. Also 5-6 wood charcoal pieces helps to absorb odors in the shelter.

Your husband, smart bringing the saw in there and axe just to get in case! And remember please don’t bring anything flammable not even matches. You don’t wanna take a chance. Just a paper plate alone would be enough to probably kill you from smoke. My dad was a fireman.

I would not use candles or oil lamps in the shelter, as they use up the oxygen inside. And if you are inside a long time, you will start to sweat and you will feel that it is getting hotter and hotter and there is less and less oxygen. Especially with several people inside. So the last thing you want to do is using candles or oil lamps that will consume even more oxygen and will heat up the shelter even more. Not to mention fire hazard. But otherwise I really like your video.

Seems like you covered pretty much all I could think about, of course, as time goes on, you'll definitely find what's needed and what isn't, very important now that you're in tornado alley, thanks for sharing this important information, Syd, Mike and Frankie

Syd is freaking beautiful n frankie gets her good looks from her momma n do everything you have to do to keep you n your family safe in any storm cuz you never know what you'll have when the storm clears

Put a shelf up one the back wall of the shelter to store some of your items. And keeps things off the floor.😊

Bless mikes heart what a guy he is for putting up with life.

I’d have mine below ground with those monsters in that part of the country, and it’s very unlikely storm wise you’ll be in there very long. We kept a medium sized tent packed away in ours in case we came up to no structures anymore

Always best to be prepared in an emergency!

This was up on my YT feed and I thought it was a new video. I wrote an article about five years ago and it covered a lot of what you posted and a few more things. DM me if you want it to put on your site or if you want it here. That shelter seemed a little small for the three of you and would be cramped if you have visitors during a storm. One thing is to have copies of papers and such stored in case of worst case and you come out of your shelter, and it is the only structure you have left standing.

Hey Guys, great video ! I'd consider adding maybe a portable CB radio along with either GMRS handheld radios with the FRS channels as well. Not sure how close your neighbors are but those little radios can take "a ton of steps off you" in emergencies and cleanup situations. Keep plenty of batteries and the best ones you can get too. Great shelter!

Nice to see fellow content creators moving to Mississippi. Welcome! You guys are awesome. 😊

Always be prepared for anything, good stuff!

i love that i have a go bag the one thing I need is a new wind up light radio it is packed in my truck at all times

Great ideas. Always good to be prepared. 👍👍

nice Shelter. Your shelter could also make a nice faraday Box also

Another great video! Thanks for sharing ideas on being prepared!

In North Mississippi, that shelter is for tornados. From the time you know a storm is near to the time it is passed, should be no more than an hour at the absolute longest. The only reason you may need to be there longer would be if the door is obstructed from debris. Since your door opens to the inside, you should never be obstructed for more than it would take to cut a tree. You may want to consider storing a chainsaw in the shelter. Regarding CCW, you’re in Mississippi - people around your house after a weather event will be there to help you.

Nice Prep work!

Excellent investment! Always be prepared.

Great ideas!

Living near Houston, we have storms and hurricanes. One can never be too prepared !

Sleeping bags! Hail sometimes comes with Tornados! Temp drops pretty fast!

I would hang shower curtain rod some how and hang a shower curtain that you cannot see through so you have a little privacy when going to the bathroom.

Looks like a plan. We do have some bad weather in the south. Good to be ready.

you people are very smart you have a good survival kit the only other things i can think of maybe a portable land line phone, cell phone weather radio or cb radio do you know if you have cell phone reception in your storm shelter ? also let emergency services know you have a storm shelter that way they can check on you after a storm to make sure your o.k. goid luck out there !!!😊

We just closed on 22 acres in Kentucky. We're going to build a house on our new farm. I definitely have plans to put a shipping container on it as a storm shelter and have it stock up for at least 24 hours. Great information on the bag Mike. Definitely worth reviewing the one I have.

You have my Prayers ❤❤

Good on ya..be safe

You got the basics covered. A Wi-Fi connection would be ideal for checking weather radars and such. Not needed if good phone signal, but may not have it in concrete box. If building from scratch I would raise the floor a bit to keep out rain water. My only tornado I survived in a tent, was small and missed a direct hit by about a quarter mile.

Don’t know if somebody mentioned it or not. Door hinges are on the inside of room. Would be easier to remove pins from hinges than trying to cut door open

Welcome to Mississippi y’all!,

I live in Minnesota, the sheriff’s department recommends your storm shelter be registered with the county so you can be found. a battery operated fan, I keep a portable charged, charged at all times and tablets if my grandkids are with me and headphones

I'd put a bottle of whiskey in there lol

Please for your safety please dig a trench by the entry door for torrential rain. The sod is even with the threshold and it shows with the wet spot inside. 🇺🇸

I would add a Tv and small fridge for beer, so you should run electric to it.😊 That’s a nice storm shelter. Storms around here usually move in and out fast so y’all shouldn’t have to be in there very long. We’ve had two tornadoes go over our house lucky they were in the air and not on the ground. We are surrounded by hills on three sides so we are kinda of protected from the full force of storms.

Good morning ☕

I’d also think of what you’d need AFTER a disaster… What would you need if you walked out and your house and garage wasn’t accessible. I hung up my multitool that shuts off water and gas to my house with command strips. I have strong, heavy-duty totes that you can sit on that holds a change of clothes, work gloves, rain jackets, umbrellas, flashlights, trash bags, towels, battery operated personal fans and cooling towels, fire starters, some tools, etc. As well as I keep fire extinguishers, a small folding table, water and water filters. These things you can put in there and leave at all times. Don’t have to think about it anymore. Keeps my mind free of thinking about it, knowing it’a all been done. I have a short list on my refrigerator of things we grab on the way to the shelter if we have severe weather coming right at us.. to-go bags, small easy-to-carry boxes of snacks, medical, 500-watt portable generator, and battery box. In my to-go bag, I have copies of my important papers along with personal items like travel sized Kleenex, sunscreen, bug spray, etc. So when the time comes we need to head to shelter, (there’s 3 of us) each person takes their to-go bag, and the other items on my list. Which isn’t hard to do. Make it as simple and easy as possible. (A chainsaw and pew-pew would be nice to have also, lol) Be prepared, not scared as the saying goes. Found y’all through Simple Life Reclaimed. Y’all have an awesome family!

Important papers, contacts, financial info, insurance.,on a flash drive and send a copy to a family member. Leashes, rope

Food for your dogs cats whatever you take in there with you I live in tornado alley my fur babies go to the storm shelter with me

A blanket or 2 or a sleeping bag. Maybe an extra jacket or hoodie, candle

For one hour stay, you are pa king for a weeklong vacation.

Point a security camera outside the shelter to focus on the shelter area. So you can see what is going on outside the shelter.😊

Good that you plan ahead hope you never have to use it. Here in Ohio I have a basement in case of a storm.

If you are charging phones/tablets etc, you may want to consider a portable fire extinguisher.

Hello Mike, Syd, & Frankie 🇺🇸

I wouldn’t use anything that requires fire because if something happens in there, you have a little fire and the door is blocked from trees or what have you, you could be overcome by smoke no matter how good the ventilation is. Especially in that little of space I would definitely not have anything that requires fire. That’s just my opinion. 😳

Best in my mind and investment would be a solar pole light that sets on a concret pier cemented in the ground 4 foot deep so when the power go out you have light, plus it acts as a security light as well on normal times

Im building a below ground in ky. All the locals know where its at so if i got blocked im someone would know fairly quick. Hope to have it completed this year. Had one close call to many already.

Yes tell people where you are, whistles, Small air horn, Red Cross emergency radio

Take one of your batteries and turn it the opposite direction until you need it, when you need it take that battery turn it the right direction and it will keep your batteries from dying out. 👍🏾🙏🏾🍺🎣😷🇺🇸

May i suggest a five gallon tall plastic bucket with foam floaties cut half thru to put around the edge. This would be the ideal bthroom bucket. Lololol!!! More cumfy and no danger of falling backwards into it. Also comes with a lid if needed. 😂 Just thought i would share.

I would use a 5 gal bucket w/ lid for emergency restroom. Kitty litter is a good idea. But candles w/ a flame in the closed in area will produce carbon dioxide . As will an oil lamp. Be on the safe side, stick with the battery powered lamps. Good batteries last several years.

Many states are now adopting 'Constitutional Carry' with simplifies carrying your personal protection.

Went thru one in 1974 ef4 don't want anymore 😲😲

wooden storage catainers that would keep the supplies offthe floor and could double as a sleeping platfore would be a benifit. i noticed water inside the door that might make it misrable during alarge storm.

I remember my family was tornado crazy and me not so much! They all head to the storm cellar at the drop of a hat and highly encourage me to do the same but it was just too much work! Every stupid storm the same response and I got tired of it. I said God knows where I live and if he wants me I think he’s gonna find me. Call me crazy but I got so I love storms and I sleep so good during the storm and feel so energized afterwards! Like I think I already said call me crazy… Ha ha ha😅😂

That shelter would need to be larger for me since I became claustrophobic. A couple of sheets of 1/2" Lexan for a window would help, at least for me. The Lysol wipes did away with bleach a few years back. So did Clorox. Suggest some nitrile/urethane gloves as well as some leather palm work gloves. Weather radio.

BE CAREFUL WITH MATCHES AND LIGHTERS AFTER A STORM BECAUSE OFBGAS LEAKS. ALSO DO NOT USE LYSOL WIPES TO CLEAN WOUNDS, USE ALCOHOL WIPES.

Include Wash & Dry or flushable wipes. The others are too strong to use on your skin. I keep batteries in a ziplock bag taped or tied to the respective device. Extra bulbs help too in case the light gets dropped. Check your ventilation in the shelter before you light any candles or oil lamps. Get some foam earplugs. It’ll help with storm noise (or snoring) while you’re confined to the shelter.

You might want to get some wood shavings to put in that bucket just in case you keep the smell down

Perfect 👍❤️... I wouldn't want to try and sit on that bucket, you'll fall in 🤣🤣... We have a five gallon with a toilet seat lid 👍

might want to install a reversible fan in the vent pipe. could get awful stagnant in there.

Beef jerky and water that’s a meal for me!

You know Benadryl can double for the use of anxiety… maybe something good to add in.

I would hope that the storm shelter door is facing easterly that would severely lessen the chance of the door getting blocked most of our storms come from the south or west sometimes out of the north but mostly are moving easterly

Syd try a 5 gallon bucket with a fitted lid and grocery bags plus citrus spray with the toilet paper you never know knot the bag and leave in bucket

Just suggestions. Take a water/gas cut off tool and other items like tarps to use when you come out and your main house needs to be attended too. Looking for items after a "disaster" may be difficult, especially when time is critical.

Mississippi has two primary severe weather seasons. Springtime is the one that most people know about (Feb/Mar/Apr) but there is another fall season that starts about now and goes through the winter months, but mainly November /December. That said, we've had some nasty outbreaks in January as well. Not to scaremonger, but look up the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak that generated several major tornadoes including the EF-5 Smithville and Philadelphia MS tornadoes. That will give you and idea of worst case timelines and what kinds of damage you can see in your area. There are a couple of very good documentary videos on that outbreak. Another thing that is a lesson from that outbreak is that you need to see if you can get a cell phone signal out of the shelter. A couple of folks that had these type shelters embedded in their houses got trapped inside and only let first responders know by sticking an arm out the door and getting a signal. You may not have too many options available if you can't get a signal since most phones don't accept external antennas these days, but some hotspots do have that capability should you have one. Another thing to consider is getting an amateur radio license. You don't have to learn morse code anymore and 1 written exam will get you the ability to operate on a lot of frequency bands including the bands that hams use for emergency local communications. That way you can buy a walkie talkie for cheap (many models under 100 bucks on Amazon) and an antenna that you can probably run coax up the ventilation shaft and that you are guaranteed a way to communicate with the outside world as well as listening to the local weather spotter networks so you get info first hand. You might also want to get one of the small battery powered TVs. You can probably get the Tupelo channels without an external antenna, also good for power outages in general.

I'm glad you are able to make your own emergency ready shelter. I won't worry as much if I hear of dangerous weather in your area. God bless you!

My Gma has one here in Tulsa too 😬 it’s like a clubhouse

They have toilet lids that will fit on a 5gal bucket. Instead of that other metal one. Save that one for fireplace ashes. And maybe a blanket or tarp draped up, to give some type of privacy while going

Two way radio with back up 12 volt battery 🪫

good to prepare. mississippi can get some large tornados.

GOOD INFO THANKS... I WOULD PUT A 151QT ICE CHEST IN THERE WITH ALL THE STUFF YOU JUST SHOWED,THAT WAY ITS SEALED AND DRY AND MAKES A GREAT SEAT FOR 2 ... MAYBE INSTALL A SHELF ON BACK WALL TO STORE THINGS, KEY IS MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GREAT VENTILATION WHEN CLOSED INSIDE!!! YOU CAN CUT A HOLE IN LOWER WALL TO INSTALL A 1'' PVC PIPE WITH A LARGE FUNNEL TO DO #1 IN DUE TO HYDRATION !!!! GOD BLESS

Dehydrated deer jerky great protein source/food for shelter. Doesn't have to be refrigerated.

As someone who is from Mississippi I can tell you this. Tornado "season" is November 1 - June 1. Hurricane season is June 1 - November 1. We like hot, wet and windy here. Most of us do not have storm shelters and most do not have basements due to water table and the sandy/clay soil, that will collapse basements unless you are rich enough to reinforce them. So we shelter in our houses usually and hope for the best. That being said we have supplies all year around for severe weather, we are pros at it.

Decasent bags year round to keep moisture out when you're not using the shelter. Small first aid kit........Beef Jerky........vacuum packed or store bought, Moonshine.....it an be used for fire starter, cuts and other medical purposes, or just to have a good time while riding out the storm. These things an be stored in shelter and take up no room. Products can be changed out when time hanges twice a year like batteries in smoke dectors. Good luck.

Blankets for warmth and to lay on

Frankie doesn't like much being as tall as mom nice storm shelter 👍

I hate every kind of thunderstorm you can think of which are scattered thunderstorms, thunderstorms, AM thunderstorms, PM thunderstorms, heavy thunderstorms, strong thunderstorms, severe thunderstorms and also hurricanes and tornadoes but really hate are watches and warnings but kind like isolated thunderstorms and stray thunderstorms 🙅🏼‍♀️🌫️⛈️⛈️🌄⛈️🌅⛈️💦⛈️💦💨🌩️💦💨🌪️💨🌊🍃🌀💨🌊🍃😱📺📻👁️👁️🚨🤷🏼‍♀️❤️⛈️🚫⛈️🚫

Awesome. Preparedness

Add a Portable DVD Player so you can watch "Back To The Future" & "Twister" :)