![]() The structure’s size makes the space suitable for other uses, such as a bathroom or utility room, when not needed in an emergency. A specifically designed roof and door, ventilation holes, and anchors into a concrete slab complete the shelter. The shelter walls are constructed using three layers of 2-by-8-inch lumber nailed and glued together and stacked log-cabin style, then sheathed with three-quarter-inch plywood. The estimated cost of materials for the shelter is between $3,000 and $4,000, but costs can vary in different local markets. The 8-by-8-foot room can be built by a local contractor or handy homeowner, which can result in substantial cost savings. The agency’s scientists achieved this by using easy-to-obtain materials and minimizing the need for specialty materials and hardware. We also wanted to make sure this shelter would be easy to retrofit into existing homes. “We have designed an affordable shelter that can be built by a local contractor or an advanced do-it-yourselfer using readily available materials. “The 2019 tornado season has already been a deadly one, highlighting the concerns of millions of Americans about staying safe through these terrifying storms,” said Forest Service Deputy Chief of Research and Development Alexander Friend. With safety and security in mind, Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) engineers designed the residential tornado shelter to resist the high wind pressure and debris impacts generated by high-wind events. Most importantly, the wood shelters can be built into an existing home using readily available materials and tools. USDA Forest Service researchers have developed a tornado shelter made of wood that provides powerful protection at an affordable cost.
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