How to Build an Underground Shelter

Underground shelters became popular after Word War II to escape the possible threat of radiation exposure and fallout during nuclear bomb attacks. In areas where hurricanes and tornadoes are prevalent, underground storm shelters are also a must for safety and security. For both cases, a shelter can be life-saving. Below-ground shelters can be found outside of a building, in a cellar, or under one of the floors in a house. Creating a shelter takes a lot of planning and preparation. Building an underground shelter can be a daunting task for the novice, as well as the professional builder. So be sure to take your time and have a clear plan laid out before you begin.

Backhoe
String
Survey stakes
Gravel
Shovel
PVC Pipe
Wood Boards
Hammer and Nails
Wire Mesh
Concrete
Steel door and frame
Cinder block
Block cutter
Mortar
#4 rebar
Rebar cutter
4x4 joist wood
Wood bolts
Joist plates
Plywood
Core drill
PVC pipe bender
Gooseneck hood
Ladder
Exhaust fans
Survival supplies such as water storage containers, a generator and dried foods

Instructions

- 1
  Research about your area and find out if flooding is a common occurrence. If it is, an underground shelter may not be a good idea. After that, figure out where you will construct the shelter. You can have it either in the basement of the house or attached outside. Avoid sewers and water pipes.
- 2
  Excavate the pit for your underground shelter. Make it 2 feet deeper than your target shelter’s height and 2 feet wider than your planned width. Use your backhoe and shovel for this.
- 3
  Mark your corners using your survey stakes. Use string to plan out your walls by tying them between each stake. After this, map out where your doors will go.
- 4
  Dig 1-foot wide and 1-foot deep trenches along your shelter’s walls and fill half of it with gravel. This will serve as your drainage to keep surrounding moisture from entering your shelter.
- 5
  Dig a shallow trench from your slab leading to the leach field. Run a PVC pipe that extends horizontally from where your toilet will be. Backfill your leach field after doing so.
- 6
  Set your wooden boards along your walls and place them in an upright position.
- 7
  Create a floor by setting the wire mesh on the ground and filling it with concrete. Cover the concrete with wood to level it.
- 8
  Fortify your walls using the cinder blocks, mortar and concrete. Make sure to lay out the blocks first so you’ll see if you need to cut any to make them fit. Cut joist pockets into the last layer of blocks so you can lay a 4x4-foot joist to support your roof. Do it on opposite walls.
- 9
  Layout where you want to place your vent pipes and core drill that wall area. Put a small section of PVC pipe through it to prevent the space from being filled with concrete. Once the concrete dries, run a section of PVC pipe through the vent holes and up beyond the ground. Install gooseneck hoods in the pipe end above the ground.
- 10
  Create your roof using plywood, nails and roof joints. Fortify with tightly-butted blocks then cover it with earth so it fills the blocks.
- 11
  Place your steel door in place then install the ladder from the above-ground entrance of your shelter.
- 12
  Make sure to put sufficient supplies and survival kits in your shelter.

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