Panic rooms often seem unrealistic for how they’re portrayed in the media. Most of the time, we see luxurious bunkers, state-of-the-art panic rooms, and costly safe rooms— which makes diving into the world of panic rooms intimidating for someone looking to make their home a safer place.
Many things in life are unpredictable such as natural disasters, home invasions, and the apocalypse, just to name a few. Although the chances of these things happening may be pretty small, it still worries many people since the damage left by these events can be significant and life-threatening.
So, creating a safer home environment and provide protection when unpredictable events occur is becoming increasingly in demand these days.
Many people have been intimidated by the high costs of panic room construction. The good news is that a panic room doesn’t need to be expensive and luxurious. You can make do with just a basement or a well-hidden room with thick walls. In this article, we will discuss what a panic room is, its uses, and the five things you need for a panic room.
What’s A Panic Room?
A panic room or a safe room is a secure room usually installed in a private residence. A panic room adds extra security and protection for homeowners in case an emergency happens.
Many things make up a panic room, but the main things would be reduced entry points, thick walls, means of communication, supplies, and power source to keep the room running. Most panic rooms are built to keep inhabitants alive for a certain amount of time.
Why People Build Panic Rooms
With natural disasters, news about the apocalypse, and imminent danger, it’s evident that the demand for panic rooms stems from the need for security and protection during these events. Due to its unpredictability, panic rooms give homeowners a sense of safety and comfort, knowing that they have an extra layer of security when disaster strikes.
Although a panic room won’t guarantee complete protection from disasters, it increases the chances of survival, which is undoubtedly better than being in danger with nowhere to go.
The Essentials
When we see panic rooms in the media, they often show luxurious bunkers and state-of-the-art technology that we know we have little chances of affording. Although it doesn’t hurt to have extra perks for your panic room, a five-star hotel room isn’t necessary for survival.
Here are some main things to keep in mind when thinking about constructing your panic room without breaking the budget. Although it still requires some funds, you’ll be spending it on necessities to help you survive unpredictable disasters.
1. Renewable Source of Energy
The most important thing you would need for your panic room is power. We recommend using a renewable source of energy powered by a solar-powered system such as solar panels.
After a natural disaster, the power supply is often interrupted. Having solar panels will ensure that your panic room will run seamlessly despite the circumstances. In addition, since solar power is a renewable source of energy, you won’t have to worry about running out of power.
Besides the fact that they’re clean and environmentally friendly, they can also help you save up money while keeping you and your loved ones protected from danger.
2. Means of Communication
In a panic room, you should always have something to communicate with the outside world. It can be a two-way radio, a land-line phone, or a cell phone. You should also have a charger ready in case the batteries run out.
It is recommended that you have a land-line phone and a two-way radio on hand since sometimes cell phones can’t operate properly through thick walls and intruders might cut off your land-line.
3. Plenty of Supplies
If you’re one of the lucky ones, you might have to stay in your panic room for just a few hours. However, what happens if you need to stay there for at least a few days? No matter how long you need to remain in your panic room, you must stock up your space with as many supplies as you can. It’s also never too late to prepare early on.
When stocking up your panic room, remind yourself to get a moderate amount of medication, canned food, water, and blankets. Also, you could add in some of your favorite books and board games to keep yourself entertained during the long hours.
4. Basic Plumbing
Having proper plumbing is imperative for your panic room, especially if you had to stay in the room for a certain period of time. Depending on your budget, proper plumbing can range from a simple portable toilet to a septic tank with separate plumbing with a new bathroom.
Either way, you would also need to stock your panic room with lots of water to ensure that your makeshift bathrooms stay running throughout the entire time.
5. Reduced Points of Entry
Last but not least, your panic room should have reduced points of entry. This means that you should have no windows and only one door. Having windows might seem nice, but it increases the chances of intruders breaking into your panic room.
It’s also crucial that you have a strong door. Wooden doors won’t be able to do the job of protecting you from danger, so a solid door made of steel is highly recommended.
Wrapping Up
A panic room doesn’t need to look or feel like a five-star hotel. So although it would be nice to have some extra perks and state-of-the-art technology, it’s not strictly essential.
Having these five elements such as a renewable source of energy, means of communication, plenty of supplies, basic plumbing, and reduced points of entry is more than enough to ensure that you and your loved ones will be protected and secure during natural disasters, home invasions, or the apocalypse.
