Safe rooms aren't just for the uber rich

Once thought to be available only to the super-rich, safe rooms can be had by middle and lower class families as well. In the movies safe rooms are depicted as concrete fortresses with sophisticated surveillance and communication systems. If you can afford such a room then you should avail yourself of all the technology you can afford. But what is a safe room designed to do? For most Americans in urban settings, what we need most is time. Time to react to a home invasion, kidnapping, or burglary. Time to safely wait for help to arrive or to make a safe retreat from the home. You don't necessarily need a weeks worth of food and water, satellite phone, three foot thick door, or video surveillance system.

Now safe rooms designed for natural disasters are a differnet design altogether than what I'm presenting and if you're interested I've attached a video describing these. Since this is a crime prevention article however, I'll speak to that issue alone.

A good safe room (sometimes called a panic room) provides you the time to asses the threat and react to it properly. So how do you select the best safe room in your typical suburban home? Ideally you want a room on a second floor with a window. I know this goes against the advice of safe room experts but there is a reason. Unless the room is fireproof it would be nice to have an avenue of escape should the bad guys decide to light your house on fire. In any event, having a means to escape any threat overrides the need for a safe-like room if what you really need is time. It should also be a room easily accessible to the least mobile in your family. This may be elderly parents, children, or at risk adults. It may be best to select their room.

A window is a great way to escape or signal neighbors but what about fortification? Like I said, you don't need a three foot thick blast door. What I would suggest is installing a metal frame and door (or heavy solid wood) that opens outward. Set the frame with 3 1/2" screws at least.  If you're building a new home you can even line the walls with thick plywood or metal sheeting under your drywall. most thieves though are going to attack the door first so make sure it's reinforced. It might be a good idea to install a peep hole as well. I would also suggest a sweep on the bottom of the door so they can't look under it.

Here are some other things to consider having in the room:

1. An escape ladder (the kind designed for evacuating during a fire is best) which can be telescoping or rope.
2. A loud audible air horn (for signaling neighbors) or loud speaker. You should also have a key fob for your vehicles to sound those alarms
3. An effective form of personal protection like a firearm (if storing in a child's room install an inexpensive locked safe).
4. A good quality flashlight
5. A fully charged cell phone
6. Fire extinguisher

Equally important is having a well rehearsed evacuation and reaction plan. Practice it as you would a fire drill at home.  In instances of home invasion, kidnapping, or burglary seconds count. Having an inexpensive safe room may provide life saving minutes to react or escape the threat.