Peter Larson, a Utah survivalist with a home and family, gave CNN a tour of his elaborate $65,000 bunker he built in the mountains in preparation for what he called “the last days.” There are even developers building luxury underground condos inside abandoned missile silos that stretch 175 feet underground, and cost upwards of $2 million per unit.
But you don’t have to break the bank to build an underground shelter that will keep you and the family safe in the event of nuclear holocaust, extinction-level meteorite impact and/or full-fledged police state oppression. All you need is a decent-sized backyard and the will to survive.
1. The Dig
You want your bunker to be a total secret, or known to exist by as few people as possible. When it hits the fan, and desperate neighbors are trying to escape nuclear radiation or government tyranny, the first place they will come knocking is your bunker.
That said, try and be as discreet as possible when digging the hole. You can do it the old-fashioned way by hiring workers to dig with shovels, or have dig parties with friends who are guaranteed a spot in the bunker when it becomes necessary.
A small excavator can be rented for as little as $50 per hour. The bunker should be 10 feet deep minimum, but for maximum protection from just about anything, go to at least 20 feet.
2. The Walls
Nukemap is an app that can simulate what would happen if a 100 megaton nuclear bomb was detonated in a given area. For instance, if one were dropped in New York City, nearly 8 million people would be instantly incinerated, while 4 million more would suffer serious injuries.
The residual radiation from the bomb would linger anywhere from a few minutes to several years, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Radiation Emergency Medical Management. The King County, Wash., Health Department recommends a concrete shield to protect yourself from gamma rays.
Get quotes from several concrete contractors who will also reinforce the walls with steel. The American Concrete Institute says that steel-reinforced concrete walls have 20 times the compressive strength (weight capacity) of normal concrete.
This will not only come in handy if an initial nuclear blast is within a few miles of your bunker, but will serve as a near-impenetrable radiation shield. Make sure to leave small openings for an air filtration system, sewage elimination and even a spout to capture rain water for drinking.
3. Stockpiling
The last major expense will be for supplies. Batteries, food and water are the items you will want the most. Remember you may not be able to leave the shelter for a year in the event of nuclear holocaust.
The bare minimum amount of water humans need to survive is about 68 ounces (two liters) per day, according to Human Rights Watch. This means each person needs about 180 gallons of water to survive for a year.
Contrarily, humans can survive for weeks without food. Dried (i.e. jerky) and canned foods are best, as they can be stored at room temperature and will stay edible for years (if you need ideas, refer to this complete survival foods list). Firearms, ammunition, flashlights, matches, hygiene and first-aid supplies are the other essentials.
All the aforementioned can be done for less than $10,000, if you exercise due diligence.
I found the youtube on truckdriver revealing underground cities and underground tunnels from Maine to DC to Area 51 to Colorado very interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzvobMUgeds
and then this one. IS this the Illuminati Command Center in the MO Ozarks (Highlandville)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzvobMUgeds
In the video it would be great if you happen to have an extra 2 million lying around but I think most people would find it unattainable. I happen to live in Tornado country and I would just like to have a tornado shelter. Realistically that would be about all my family could afford and it would still be a stretch to have something that would accommodate 13 people (family members) The concept is great but the reality isn’t. Stocking enough food, water and medical supplies for a year for 13 people is about all that we can do. It would be nice a dream.
Like all things we want, but cannot afford, we have to try and do ourselves. As you prioritize your needs and acquire your supplies, you will finally reach the end of the tunnel. Dig your own “Root” cellar one shovel at a time. Reinforce the walls/roof with scavenged plywood and timbers. Doesn’t have to be pretty, but functional. Won’t be able to withstand a direct nuclear blast, but for a severe storm, you may have to cram shoulder-to-shoulder in it for a few minutes until it passes. Still better than trying to ride it out in a ditch. I started out with a Spider Hole, and after a few years of digging got a pretty nice underground storage/survival shelter. “One Shovel at a time”.
Methane Creator, (*giggle*) You are correct, One day at a time, One shovel full at a time. I let the image of a competed underground shelter blur my vision for a suitable shelter. Thank You for keeping it in perspective.
An old truck van buried makes an affordable “root cellar” and tornado shelter without too many people raising eyebrows. Throw some rubber roofing ($100 or less for 10×20 feet) over the top before burying. Great storage too! :)
If y’all have not read Mike Oehler’s $50 and Up Underground House Book, you might want to do that. You’d be surprised what you can build with not too much investment. Of course, he built that in the 1970’s, so, it would cost more now, and he did use a lot of scavenged materials – but, hey! You can still do that! (I’ve done it!) the thing is, his $50 house is still standing!
I definitely agree with flutterby’s recommendation. Mike Oehler’s book is still a great resource 40-some years after I got my first copy via the “Whole Earth Catalog” :) Check YouTube for some of Mr. Oehler’s recent videos, including a tour of one or 2 of the original $50 houses.
The author’s “pounded earth/plastic sheet/outdoor carpeting” flooring system is far from perfect, but works decently-well. You’d be amazed what you can scavenge on a late-night dumpster-diving trip behind suburban carpet-outlets. ;)
I’m betting that his “South-facing open patio” idea, combined with a vertical garden could be a great ‘hidden’ food source.
I suspect that at my age, I’d rent a Bobcat for digging, instead of a shovel and a keg of beer :)
A free, downloadable copy of the out-of-print Oehler book, if you are interested:
http://opensourceecology.org/w/images/c/c5/The_%2450_and_up_Underground_House_Book.pdf
The people of Japan may be in big trouble this week; I hope some of them have such good shelters.
2 Typhoons Set to Collide Over Fukushima Around Thursday
http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2013/10/2-typhoons-set-to-collide-over-fukushima-around-thursday-2800392.html
And if this DOES happen, we may all be in big trouble, before it’s over.
This may seem a bit “on the edge” but sometimes just planting your butt right under the nose of where you “expect” to have a nuke hit…and getting it over with might be just as simple. Somewhat “tongue in cheek” but not totally out of our mind set.
I get it, WE2. I’m right there with ya’!!
More not so good news….
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=researchers-keep-mum-on-botulism-discovery&WT.mc_id=SA_CAT_HLTH_20131022
Researchers Keep Mum on Botulism Discovery
Scientists have discovered a new strain—the first in 40 years—of Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that is ultimately responsible for causing botulism. And although they have reported their findings in a scientific journal, the investigators have taken the extraordinary step of withholding key details of the discovery. That’s because the toxins made by C. botulinum are the most dangerous known to humankind and currently there is no antidote for a toxin generated by the new strain. The fear is that malevolent organizations or rogue governments might use the information to reverse engineer their own version of the new bug, making it a potent and real bioterrorism threat.
Read more at the link provided.
Finally – some good news!
Success! The Monsanto Protection Act Has Been Repealed—This Time for Good!
http://www.anh-usa.org/monsanto-protection-act-has-been-repealed/
every day as I watch the mainstream news even, I am more convinced that the path that has been shared with me is most important…how do I convince family of the importance of preparing when this is NOT a conversation we’ve had before? My father has read the whole Left Behind series, so I know he isn’t totally ignorant…but IDK what kind of preparations he has made, if any…We live a couple hundred miles away from my parents, they have the rest of my family around to help them, but IDK if any of them are prepared either…one of my biggest worries…my kids know where I am if SHTF, but I worry about the rest of my family….