For anyone that cares...Moore OK. is about to be leveled by an EF4 LIVE

[Shorty]

Kevin Durant of the OKC Thunder just donated a million dollars to the relief effort. what a great person!

I read somewhere else that the Red Cross announced it. Durant didn't publicize it.

[Trip McNeely]

He is a class act, that's why.

[red95gts]

Was this done during new construction or after the house was built and are there any adverse foundation reactions?

It was done after the house was built. My foundation has stem walls built on piers and a slab that basically "floats" with the stem wall, so no foundation worries.

I thought it would be pretty cool for changing oil and so on, but getting the fixed lid off is a pain in the ass. Lol. It's also only ~56" tall so unless you're short , it's not real comfortable to stand under a car. I did it once but I can honestly get the car in air with a jack a lot faster.

[Leah]

For what it's worth, we have a 3x8 storm shelter in the garage floor. It seats 10 people and is worth every penny of the ~$3000 I paid for it. I travel extensively for work and I need to know my wife and kids have a safe place to be.

I want one!

[red95gts]

For those interested, I used Smart Shelters: http://www.smartsheltersinc.com/

Obviously based in OKC but I'm sure there are several companies to choose from in the DFW area that do the same thing.

[runin90lx]

just looked. there are 2 in dallas area, and one in NE texas area (new boston)

[Tyrone Biggums]

That is slick as hell for the price and installation time.

[red95gts]

That is slick as hell for the price and installation time.

I'll admit - I was a little skeptical at the 4 hour install time. I figured it would be a full day.

When a 2-man crew knocked it out in 2.5hrs without even breaking a sweat, I was seriously impressed!

[Couver]

I want one!

Me too!!

Shelter not the kid you weird chick you

Seriously two stupid questions. You said you had a foundation that "floats" would it even work with a TX slab? It seems to me no, but you never know. Other one being even it something bad happened would not the rest of your house or shop have the potential to be sitting on it when you are trying to get out? I am a bit claustrophobic it would be hard to sit for a day or two in the worst case waiting to get out.

I did hear one cool thing in OK they map it if you register it so the know where to look. Hope they would do the same here. I have seen few tornados in the distance but always fret over the best set up.

** edit multi quote fail... red95gts obviously the serious questions were for you.

[Slow Five-O]

Bowling alley in Moore. Pins are untouched while the building is destroyed. Tornados are weird.

[Trip McNeely]

Wow ^

[red95gts]

Me too!!

Shelter not the kid you weird chick you

Seriously two stupid questions. You said you had a foundation that "floats" would it even work with a TX slab? It seems to me no, but you never know. Other one being even it something bad happened would not the rest of your house or shop have the potential to be sitting on it when you are trying to get out? I am a bit claustrophobic it would be hard to sit for a day or two in the worst case waiting to get out.

I did hear one cool thing in OK they map it if you register it so the know where to look. Hope they would do the same here. I have seen few tornados in the distance but always fret over the best set up.

** edit multi quote fail... red95gts obviously the serious questions were for you.

Not sure on the foundation questions, but it seems like it would depend on the soil type and how much movement could be expected. It would probably be worth consulting a structural engineer.

You are right - if the house comes down on top of it, we'll be in there for a while. But, the only alternative we had was the old school outdoor underground shelter, which requires you to run out in the rain and hail to get to it. Statistically speaking, we'll get in the shelter several times a year yet most likely never actually get hit by a tornado. When its midnight on a school night, pouring rain and large hail, and I'm out of town, I don't want my wife to hesitate for even a second to get 4 kids and a dog into the shelter. With the garage version, everyone stays warm, dry, and unhurt. When its a false alarm, everyone goes back to bed - no sweat. On the off chance we take a direct hit - that's a risk we're willing to take.

They do make bottle jacks that would allow you to jack up the lid (and any debris on top) and sneak out through the opening....

[runin90lx]

the guy from one of the texas offices emailed me back. he said the price for the smaller 8 person unit is $7500 installed. not sure if thats a jacked up price cause of all the tornado activity lately or if material cost etc has gone up.

just for giggles i emaled the OK distributor to see what they say.

[Couver]

Not sure on the foundation questions, but it seems like it would depend on the soil type and how much movement could be expected. It would probably be worth consulting a structural engineer.

You are right - if the house comes down on top of it, we'll be in there for a while. But, the only alternative we had was the old school outdoor underground shelter, which requires you to run out in the rain and hail to get to it. Statistically speaking, we'll get in the shelter several times a year yet most likely never actually get hit by a tornado. When its midnight on a school night, pouring rain and large hail, and I'm out of town, I don't want my wife to hesitate for even a second to get 4 kids and a dog into the shelter. With the garage version, everyone stays warm, dry, and unhurt. When its a false alarm, everyone goes back to bed - no sweat. On the off chance we take a direct hit - that's a risk we're willing to take.

They do make bottle jacks that would allow you to jack up the lid (and any debris on top) and sneak out through the opening....

Thank you for the answers. In theory if it is a slab that is all that's left. The jacks are not needed. My fear was looking at the piles of debris they had would be being found. I never even thought a system would be in place to get to the shelter first. I have always just told my friends where in the house I would shelter never thinking where it would end up.


If you can post a link to a company down here I can almost smell a group buy.

[red95gts]

Wow! I'm sure today is the most expensive day you could get a quote. Wait till January when no one is buying and see what they offer!

I bought mine in Feb 2012 and it was $2800 for the 8-person (6' long), $3000 for the 10-person (8' long), and I did a magnetic vynil cover for $120 I think. Again, worth every penny but for $7500+ you might be better off with an above ground safe room or something like that...