Top 6 Essentials for a Panic Room

If you’ve been reading the news headlines lately, it can cause a bit of a panic. There seems to be more bad news than good, and you might feel like the apocalypse is nearing. In times like these, you might be wondering how you can protect your loved ones and yourself from impending doom.

Safe rooms or panic rooms have been around for a while. If you’ve had your fill of sci-fi, apocalyptic, or psychological thrillers, you might’ve seen safe rooms or panic rooms in a scene or two.

In movies, they’re usually depicted as a safe place to protect the characters from dangerous situations such as alien or zombie invasions. The reality is, you can use them for more than that. In the real world, many seasoned homeowners who like an extra layer of protection have invested in panic rooms in their homes. 

Natural disasters or intruders can cause severe damage to a home and the household. In most cases, panic rooms are excellent for protecting homeowners from the effects of natural disasters. 

Panic rooms come in all shapes and sizes. Although most examples of panic rooms you’ve probably seen look luxurious and expensive, there are also affordable panic rooms that are still in a reasonable price range.

A panic room doesn’t have to be a five-star hotel with state-of-the-art technology. You can transform any part of your home (preferably underground) into a panic room with a limited budget.

In this article, we’re going to break down the top essentials that make a panic room, proving the fact that any homeowner can craft their doomsday bunker.

1. Thick Walls

The first thing a panic room would need is thick walls. The reason for this is to decrease sound from coming out of the room and protect you from outsiders or external factors such as extreme weather, earthquakes, or floods. 

The walls should be solid, which is why basements make the best safe rooms due to their thick and solid walls made of concrete. If you have the extra funds, consider installing some steel panels for added protection.

2. Minimal Points of Entry

A panic room should have limited points of entry. This means you should have no more than one door and absolutely no windows. Although having some windows would be nice, it can increase the chances of outsiders breaking into your panic room. 

The main goal of a panic room is to protect you from external emergencies. A wooden door might add a nice touch, but it wouldn’t be able to protect you from the outside world. An ideal entry for panic rooms should be made of heavy steel. If you’re not sure how to build a panic room, you can find a basement finishing contractor to help you out.

3. Means of Communication

Even though you need to be completely hidden from the outside world, that doesn’t mean you should cut off communication. You should have a proper means of communication such as a two-way radio or a landline phone. Cell phones could work as well, but sometimes they don’t operate very well through thick walls. 

Hence, a two-way radio might be your best choice. If a storm were to cause a power outage, you would still be able to ask for help through your two-way radio.

4. Surveillance

A working surveillance system is critical for an ideal panic room. It helps you keep an eye on how things are going outside. However, you must make sure the cameras are concealed so intruders won’t spot them.

Panic rooms aren’t meant for permanent living and are only supposed to help you survive for a few days or a couple of weeks. Without knowing what’s going on outside, you won’t figure out what next steps to take. So, having a surveillance system is essential in your survival.

5. Ventilation

Oxygen is essential when it comes to survival. The most important thing you would need for a panic room is proper ventilation. This is essential because panic rooms are so limited in entry points, it would be impossible for anyone to survive without ventilation.

You can add ventilation by installing air vents that close and open. This way, you can open if you want some fresh air and close if you don’t need any. 

6. Supplies and Weapons

Lastly, don’t forget to stock your safe room with emergency supplies and weapons. You never know how long you’ll have to stay in until the danger subsides. You would need to stock up on food, water, toiletries, medication, and some books or board games to stay entertained. 

Wrapping Up

Panic rooms don’t have to be highly luxurious and expensive. The most important thing is that it keeps you and your family safe and sound from danger. Want to find out more about panic rooms and whether or not you should invest in one? Visit BasementGuides.com for more information about panic rooms, basement finishing, and anything related to basements.