LouB wrote:

Pete C. wrote:
Ed Pawlowski wrote:
wrote:
On Apr 15, 8:11 pm, " wrote:
Ive researched many professionally made Fiberglass/Concrete/Metal
underground storm shelters but the cost is prohibitive..usually well
over $3500.00 . Id like to sink some kind of a waterproof box that
would fit one adult ... approx. 3 feet into the ground , located in
the corner of my garage which currently is very sandy soil.
Rather than a hole in the ground, how about a "safe room" above ground.
Cheaper, DIY, tornado proof. Look for the idea at www.polysteel.com

Actually, an above ground shelter that can withstand a tornado is
generally a *lot* more expensive to build than an underground one. In
fact, the FEMA "taking shelter from the storm" publication shows by far
the cheapest and simplest which is a length of large diameter drain pipe
buried vertically in the ground with a ladder and a cover. My plan is to
bury a 20' cargo container ($1,500 or so), and weld a hatch and some
stairs into it.

You going to dig that hole by hand? And how to get that box in the hole?

Hell no, I'll rent a fairly large excavator (~200 size) for a weekend to
handle both tasks. A 20' container is only about 5,000#, well within the
lifting capacity of that size excavator. I've got both United Rentals
and Nations Rent within 15 miles so delivery/pickup costs won't be too
significant.