Missouri family finds a DIY solution to expensive storm shelters

AccuWeather

When you live in a tornado-prone area but don't have thousands of dollars to shell out for a traditional storm shelter, there are alternatives, as Patrina Coverdell can tell you.

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00:00My son was in the path of the tornado.

00:03Petrina Coverdell was a nervous wreck driving into her son's town last month

00:08after a strong EF2 tornado ripped through Rollup, Missouri,

00:13leaving widespread damage to more than 750 homes, schools and businesses.

00:20Completely destroyed.

00:22Petrina and her family live in a tornado-prone part of central Missouri.

00:26She needed a way to stay safe and extreme weather,

00:29but she wasn't sure how she could afford to buy a manufactured storm shelter.

00:33They charge anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000, and then they have to be delivered.

00:39At 5 1⁄2 feet wide by 5 feet deep, it's just big enough for four adults and two children.

00:46She customized it with a ventilation system, lights, a porta-potty, and even a security alarm.

00:53I feel very safe in it.

00:54All in, this DIY storm shelter cost Petrina a little over $1,200.

01:00From semi-preconstructed rooms to retrofitted garages, even old vans and buses buried underground.

01:08One thing's for sure, Petrina knew she wouldn't go another storm season

01:12without her new septic storm shelter ready to go.

01:16I have grandchildren now that come out and spend time with me,

01:18so I wanted somewhere safe for them, so that's why we built it.

01:21The growing threat of extreme weather and the high cost of commercial shelters

01:26means more people are coming up with their own DIY solutions.

01:30Call it creative combat or a whatever-it-takes attitude to protect what matters most.

01:36For AccuWeather, I'm Leslie Hudson reporting.

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