Finding Shelter in a Safe Room

                                                                                         

Have you been watching a lot of horror movies lately? You might be wondering how you'd escape an attack from Jason or Freddy. Maybe there's been a rash of home invasions in your neighborhood, and you're concerned about your family's safety. Or perhaps you live in an area that's a real hotspot for natural disasters such as tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes. Regardless of whether you're looking for a place to ride out the zombie apocalypse or hide from a twister, a safe room could be just the thing to help you feel at peace inside your home.

A safe room (otherwise known as a panic room) is a hidden area within your home that is designed to act as a fortified retreat during an emergency. Think back to kings and queens in medieval times that had to hide during battles, lest they lose their heads. They needed a mini fortress within their palace walls, which is essentially what a panic room is today.

Safe rooms and secret passageways have been keeping powerful people safe for hundreds of years, and today is no exception. With terrorists, stalkers and thieves running amok, politicians, celebrities, and wealthy citizens are at great risk for kidnapping, hostage situations, or burglary. They need of a place to escape to while waiting for help to arrive, which is why many of them choose to install a panic room in their homes.

People also require somewhere to store important documents, jewels, artwork, and computer files. Safe rooms act as climate controlled vaults which keep both people and their valuables secure in times of trouble.

Safe rooms can come equipped with high tech surveillance cameras that enable the person inside to monitor each room in the house. They may also feature working bathrooms, beds, and other conveniences that make it seem less like a hide-out and more like a den. For those concerned about especially persistent intruders, you can get bullet-proof doors, soundproof walls, and gas masks in case of chemical warfare.

Average people can also benefit from secret rooms, especially in regions where large storms are commonplace. Unlike the high-end panic rooms that the extremely wealthy may have, regular homeowners can opt for a much more basic version that still gets the job done. The most important features are fortified surroundings, paying particular attention to the doorway, which is the room's weakest point. A hidden entrance and the ability to communicate with the outside world are also critical when you build your safe room.

It's also imperative to have clean drinking water, non-perishable food, a portable toilet and good ventilation throughout the room. Because emergencies are unpredictable by nature, you need to make sure that you're able to stay in your panic room comfortably for longer than just a couple of hours.

The most cost-effective way to add a safe room is to have one included in your construction plans when building a new house. If this isn't possible, an alternative is to simply convert an existing space in your home, such as a large closet or bathroom to act as your safe room. Whether you build one from scratch or convert an existing room, keep your safe room a secret from as many people as possible and have your builders sign confidentiality agreements.

Have a generator on-hand that can provide electricity in the safe room, as well as a cell phone and a two-way radio so that you can call for help. Installing a panic button inside the room or rigging your safe room to dispatch the police as soon as the door is opened are other options for calling in the cavalry. Keep in mind however that a cell phone can be highly unreliable, as you may not be able to pick up a signal within the confines of the panic room to make a call. Prepare for these possibilities ahead of time by keeping a phone charger nearby, and by having an alternate means of communication.

If you've seen the movie "Panic Room," you'll also remember how important it is to keep necessary medications in stock and within reach. The daughter in the film suffers from asthma, but doesn't have her inhaler with her inside the room. Her mother must figure out a way to reach the medication to save her daughter's life without being caught by the men who've broken into their home. Don't let this situation happen to you.

While home invasions aren't nearly as common in real life as it appears in the movies or on the evening news, they are still a possibility. It's important to have a plan for escape, or at least a place to hide until they leave. On the other hand, tornadoes and the like are frighteningly common in this country, and the best way to survive is to prepare for it ahead of time. A safe room can buy you time and keep you and your family alive during an emergency. One hopes that you will never have to use your safe room, but it's good to know it's there, just in case.

About the author:
Amerivest is a realty company based in southwest Florida, and specializes in Naples real estate. Search for Lely homes and view property listings in this highly coveted Naples community by visiting us at NaplesGuru.com.

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