Do you have a "safe room" to protect you?
By dragon54u
@dragon54u (31636)
United States
February 2, 2010 9:31am CST
I have a room upstairs that is my mother's room when she visits but that is rare so I have turned it into a safe room. Some of you may think I'm paranoid, but it's something I think we all need in these days of high crime, unrest and increasingly desperate people.
There is a deadbolt on the door that can only be opened with a key from the outside or the bolt on the inside and the door is solid--I plan on replacing it with a steel door this summer. The keys are in the room, of course! I have two dozen bottles of water in the closet, food for a week, a telephone, a crank flashlight, radio, bed and porta-potty. If I hear anyone break in downstairs, I can go into that room and be safe until the police arrive. The only drawback is the landline phone, I'm going to start leaving my cell phone in there at nights.
I also have an emergency room in the basement in case of tornado with enough food and water and other supplies (including medical) for a few weeks.
Do you have a safe room? What do you do to prepare for dangerous emergencies, or do you not prepare at all?
5 people like this
20 responses
@nykel88 (999)
• Philippines
2 Feb 10
Wow I envy you. Sadly we don't. It has been a rough year here in the Philippines that people can afford to furnish there house and make safe rooms of their own. I wanted to have a basement but don't have yet the funds to make one. So sad.
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
8 Feb 10
Wow! I´ve never even considered having a safe room. I don´t worry about crime, but I have five dogs so they operate as my early warning system should anyone unknown (and most known people!) approach the house.
At my own house we have our own water supply and grow a pretty high proportion of our own food, and I keep a well stocked store cupboard as I preserve all excess. I just have to hope that I never need to test if it is sufficient.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
8 Feb 10
Hi, Moo! I don't see much of you these days, you must be very busy! I doubt you have to worry with all those dogs. I have two that raise a ruckus but they are not big enough to do much damage. Speaking of food storage, my stepmother is going to teach me to can this summer, is that something that you do? My garden will be huge this year! 
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
11 Feb 10
I´d love to be around more, but I still don´t have an internet connection. Not for want to trying, I paid for one nearly 18 months ago now! I attach my son´s mobile phone to my laptop to get online just now, but I´ve very limited use.
I don´t can in the same way as many Americans do as pressure canners are not easily available outside of North America. This means that canning meat and many veggies is out for me due to the difficulties of ensuring sufficient and constant heat via other methods. I do can (or bottle, as we call it!) everything I can though, particularly tomato sauces and fruits, using a hot water bath method. I also make all our own jams and chutneys which I bottle.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63233)
• United States
4 Feb 10
prepared?
Heck, I can barely get out the door with everything I need for the day - how do you expect me to be prepared for ANYTHING?
of course, I PITY the FOOL who would break into this house
Not only would he/they have to face the PSYCHO - me, but he/they'd also have to face the roommate.
Now, remember, I tried to emasculate the fools that grabbed me, the roommate DID emasculate the fool that grabbed her...
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63233)
• United States
4 Feb 10
the former roommate was just SURE the Muslim horde was going to break in and rape me so she was going to throw herself in front of them...
I kept telling her that first, she should be protecting them from me and second, that they probably weren't interested anyway - or is it the other way around?
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
4 Feb 10
LOL! And someone breaking into your house at night would probably break his neck anyway as he tripped over the cats that came to greet him! 
I'm no slouch at defending myself but I'm getting older and aren't as quick as I once was. I like to be prepared for anything that comes up, it makes me feel secure if I don't have to depend on anyone for anything. 
I'm no slouch at defending myself but I'm getting older and aren't as quick as I once was. I like to be prepared for anything that comes up, it makes me feel secure if I don't have to depend on anyone for anything. 1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
4 Feb 10
Hi dragon,
I think that what you are doing is an awesome idea what with all the break-ins and violence that you hear daily on the news. The room in the cellar is also a great idea! Unfortunately I do not have such a spot. The way my apartment is set up just won't allow for it. I have no basement or attic. There are only 2 small bedrooms one for each me and my daughter. The kitchen and livingroom area are one open space divided by an open shelf. We do keep our door locked at night and the windows as well. It is a steel door and would be very difficult for someone to break it down. Hopefully, we'll never have a need for a safe room and hopefully neither will you. It is great that you are prepared though.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
4 Feb 10
If your daughter is old enough, you could install a deadbolt on her door that only opens from the inside and yours, too. You keep a key to hers in your room and she'll have a key to yours inside her room. This will make you both safer and delay anyone getting to you, hopefully until help arrives. It's always good to anticipate and prepare!
@kellyjeanne (1576)
• United States
4 Feb 10
I think that's a very good idea and adding a steel door and cell phone is great! With the way things are going nowadays you just never know.
Unfortunately, I don't have a safe room because I live in a studio apartment. Let's hope that you'll never have the opportunity to use it!
Purrs,
Catwoman=^..^= & Mija
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
4 Feb 10
I've lived in studio apartments before, they are cozy but I had to be careful not to accumulate a bunch of junk!! I doubt I'll use the room for that purpose but I believe in being prepared for anything. I was thinking this morning as I sat outside and marveled at the beautiful frost on everything, maybe I could also install a steel gate at the top of the stairs for extra security. This might be a little over the top, though.
You can still make yourself safer by keeping extra food and bottled water in case of emergency. And extra pet food, too. And if you live in an apartment building it's unlikely that yours would be singled out for invasion, the odds are with you!
Have a great day!
I doubt I'll use the room for that purpose but I believe in being prepared for anything. I was thinking this morning as I sat outside and marveled at the beautiful frost on everything, maybe I could also install a steel gate at the top of the stairs for extra security. This might be a little over the top, though.
You can still make yourself safer by keeping extra food and bottled water in case of emergency. And extra pet food, too. And if you live in an apartment building it's unlikely that yours would be singled out for invasion, the odds are with you!
Have a great day! @kellyjeanne (1576)
• United States
6 Feb 10
Thanks for the great ideas! You have a great day, too!
Purrs,
Catwoman=^..^= & Mija
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
7 Feb 10
I don't have a safe room I wish I did though. You need to add toilet paper, baby wipes, junk food, maybe a portable small tv, radio. However they won't work of course if the electricity goes out. I would also add medical supplies to the upstairs room. I just hope you never need to use it. Good Luck and God Bless.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
7 Feb 10
I do have toilet paper in there and some dried meat and fruit. I don't plan to be in there very long, hopefully. My storm room down in the basement is better equipped because my stay would be longer there, it has everything I will need for about a month and extra for my neighbors.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
7 Feb 10
That is great even enough for the neighbors. You are a very good neighbor. I now wish I had a place to have a safe room. However, my house in New Mexico has no attic or basement. When I owned a house in New York I thought about having a safe room in my basement but never got to it.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
3 Feb 10
No we don't but it's a great idea.. I do wish I had one in the basement or underground.. my first goal is to at least have enough supplies in case of a major ice storm or something.. But as of now we are pretty much completely unprepared..
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
3 Feb 10
It's not hard to lay in some supplies if you do it slowly!. When bottled water is on sale, buy a pack and put it away in the place you'll be during the storm or disaster. Or put a bottle of bleach in that place and keep rotating jugs of tap water. A drop of bleach will sterilize a gallon and not hurt you. Buy an extra can of vegetables or go to the dollar store and buy beef jerky and dried fruits and nuts. It doesn't take much to lay in a few days' worth of supplies but you should ideally have at least a month's.
Just take it slowly but start doing it right now. From what the news stations are saying, there will be another attack on the U.S. within the next 3 months and supply deliveries to stores might very well be disrupted. Be ready, don't depend on the government!
@GardenGerty (157486)
• United States
2 Feb 10
I am not that organized at this time, however, I do have a flashlight that works without batteries, I should get another. I have extra water, and food that does not require electricity to heat it. I also have candles and oil lamps. I feel I am more in danger from natural disaster than from humans.I have two tracfones, and now that I am not working, one could be kept in our bedroom. That is the room I would retreat to in an emergency. I could be wrong about people not being dangerous because it only takes one time to become a victim. My house has a basement as well for tornadoes. The bucket idea is valid, and if you have one with a lid, even better. You can keep horticultural lime to reduce the odor, should you need to use it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157486)
• United States
2 Feb 10
I have some furniture that would block it well, or a board, as you said. If I was to be in trouble, I would be here alone. Hubby would be at work. Safety wise there are some things that work in my favor. For instance, I could go out a window and down a porch to get out from my bedroom in case of a fire or something like that.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
2 Feb 10
I have heard here and there that as the economy gets worse, there will be more people out of work and more crime against one's neighbors. I have always believed in preparing for the worst but hoping for the best! You have a good start there. You need to be able to secure the room from within, though. A board across it and some brackets to hold it-or a good deadbolt-will do the job nicely.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
2 Feb 10
Underground is a great place to be for nearly any type of disaster. I have a two story house, though, and sleep on the second floor. Therefore, I set up a safe room right there as well as my storm room in the basement.
1 person likes this
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
2 Feb 10
No I don't necessarily have a save room. I have a safe home. I live in the middle of the woods. If any one approaches the wolves I raise sound the alarm. If that persons intentions are hostile, heaven help them...
You don't break into a weapon masters house & expect it to be easy. Especially with all the weapons & armor I have in reach.
Seriously. My door mat should say " Forget the wolves, they're just here to clean up the mess I make!"
1 person likes this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
7 Feb 10
I do not have a safe room. I live in a pretty small one bedroom apartment so there just isn't any room where we can go to get away from anything. I suppose we could lock ourselves in the bathroom because the door can lock from the inside and there are no windows in there. But otherwise, there isn't a place where we can go.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
7 Feb 10
I would not feel safe in a room with only one exit. My safe room has two windows, one leading out to the roof. If you're in an apartment then there's plenty of other places intruders could choose so the odds are with you!
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
3 Feb 10
Awesome. I think that's a very good idea and since you are prepared, all the more better. If only I've a spare room at home that I can turn into a panic room, that will be so awesome. I think one of the series on CSI has this. A panic room, but in that episode, the maid was murdered because only the owner and the family went into that panic room. I've read about some rooms that are so hi-tech that it's fireproof even. To stack up food, water and medical supplies are the best. And if it were up to me, I'd add up some warm clothes as well. And a bucket..
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
3 Feb 10
Any room can be a safe room, even your bedroom. A strong door and lock that can't be opened from the outside, some supplies and a means of communication are all you need. I have a bedside commode (portable potty) that was given to my mother when she fell--we never used it but I have it in there just in case. I do have clothing in there, everything I need for a week of isolation although I probably wouldn't be in there for even an hour as we have a good police force in my small town.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
16 Feb 10
oh that is just so cool. i really wish i did. can i come live with you?
you are prepared for anything. glad you dont have houseguests like i do. she would have a heart attack if you mentioned it in front of the child.do you live alone? sounds kind of like me. im very paranoid or at least thats what some say. i just think like you, better safe then sorry.@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
17 Feb 10
Bunny, those same people that call you paranoid would be the first ones to run to you for help because you're prepared and they aren't!
I raised two sons to be prepared for everything and they aren't fearful at all. It gave them confidence that they could handle anything that hit them. I think it's all in the way you explain it. Sounds as if that lady has a lot of fear inside her.
I was not prepared for this humongous snow storm, though. That's my lesson for this year! Although I have all I need to ride it out, my car is stuck on the street instead of in my garage because I didn't know I could hire a snowplow to do my alley. Lesson learned and it will be in my budget for next year.
@W0lfbane (21)
• New Zealand
3 Feb 10
think of this:
someone breaks into your house with a weapon of some sort.
how do you get to the safe-room and lock it before they see you and assault/kill you?
I can think of 2 solutions:
- stay near your safe-room (paranoid and impracticable)
- sit by your front door with a shotgun (paranoid, impracticable, stupid)
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
3 Feb 10
LOL! No, I'm not paranoid like that. My bedroom is right across from my safe room. I chose that room because I can just get up and go across the hall if I hear someone breaking in downstairs. I don't sit around all day in fear of someone invading my house but I like to be prepared for all circumstances.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
3 Feb 10
we don't have a safe room. I would worry about a kid locking themself into the room. (That's the direction I worry in). We don't live in a tornado area...our main dangers are earthquakes, and you don't really want to be in building in an earthquake. (Nor near them).
Security wise, our building is fairly safe. (Actually, our area is pretty safe). there's been a car theft or two, but nothing from people's homes.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
3 Feb 10
I would not want to live where there are earthquakes, they terrify me. The thought of the earth opening up and swallowing things is horrible. I think it's a good thing to have food and water saved for emergencies, whatever one's circumstances.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
We don't have a saferoom, not that we really need it. I live in a quiet neighborhood that is secluded from the hostilities of urban dwelling. But I do have food and water stocked, not because I'm preparing for an emergency, but rather its more practical to buy food in bulk rather than go to town (Manila) to buy groceries everyday.
With Ondoy last year, I've experienced food shortage and panic because of the floods that affected a great part of Manila. But it was my relatives living abroad that were panicking, they would call almost everyday, checking in on me and my mom. We would always tell them that we're okay, in spite of not having electricity (which lasted for a week). The food shortage in groceries was artificial because almost everyone was affected and no deliveries could be made, thus the stocks in groceries could not be replenished.
I guess when worse comes to worse, I do have food and water in stock. But no safe room.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
3 Feb 10
It's always good to have supplies in case of emergency. Here in America there is growing crime and joblessness so I may need a safe room. I also am prepared for an extended period of shortages. It's always good to be prepared in case supplies are cut off, so you're wise to do that. I was without electricity for 4 days last year and was glad I had supplies. I learned from that to have a small cooking stove handy so it was a good thing to have happened.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
2 Feb 10
When we lived in Oklahoma, which is located in tornado alley, we had a neighbor with a storm cellar and would use it when an alarm was sounded. Where we live now, in south central Texas, we are no longer in tornado alley and are too far inland for hurricanes to be a big problem, so we don't prepare for bad weather except in case of a prolonged power outage. We do have kerosene lamps, a battery powered lantern and a generator in case of power failure. We have never thought of having a safe room in case of a break in, as we do not live in a high crime area.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
3 Feb 10
There isn't a lot of crime in my area either but I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. That's good you have a generator and all, you really do need to lay aside some canned food and bottled water. You never know when you'll wish you had.
@yezhanjun043 (100)
• China
3 Feb 10
No,I never feel I have a safe place,let me free to breathe this wat,I am headache,My goal is to have a safe room.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
3 Feb 10
It is always good to be prepared for the unexpected. If you can't make a safe room, have food and water prepared in case they are unavailable. Bless you.
@MrKennedy (1978)
•
3 Feb 10
Unfortunately, I do not have a safe room.
When it comes to dangerous emergencies, I'm not very well-prepared at all. I have fire alarms installed throughout the house, but that's basically it. However, I am fortunate to live in an area where natural disasters are VERY rare occurences.
When it comes to dangerous emergencies, I'm not very well-prepared at all. I have fire alarms installed throughout the house, but that's basically it. However, I am fortunate to live in an area where natural disasters are VERY rare occurences.1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
3 Feb 10
There aren't natural disasters here, either, unless it's a lot of snow! I'm more concerned about the rising crime rates due to the unemployment situation. If you can, get a fire extinguisher. Buy a few extra cans of food and bottles or jugs of water. Put a lock on your bedroom door that can't be opened from the outside and have a way to communicate like a cell phone in that room. The point is to be able to survive comfortably and safely while you wait for the police to arrive--or if things have broken down completely, perhaps longer.
@kaylachan (57383)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Feb 10
George and I buy a lot of non-parishable foods. We live on the first floor of a two story apartment complex. our bathroom is the "safe zone" should a natural disaster occour. As for crimes, we aren't to concerned. If someone's going to do something they are usually dumb enough to try to do so in braud daylight. Basically whatever happens, happens, and we prepare as best we can, but we usually have no need for those types of things.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
3 Feb 10
There's really not much you can do to prepare for this type of thing but I feel better knowing that I've done what I could. It's even more important to have canned goods like you do, in case of natural disaster. Don't forget to buy a few jugs or bottles of water in case there is no drinkable water for some reason. Then you'll be fine, not have to wait helplessly for aid if something happens.
