How to Make an Underground Bunker for Storms

If you live in an area prone to sudden, violent storms and tornadoes, it might be wise to have an underground bunker which you and your loved ones can quickly retreat to in an emergency. While some people build elaborate and costly structures with poured concrete walls buried completely in the ground, you can build an effective partly buried shelter that will protect your family for much less. This approach involves the use of earthbags. Does this Spark an idea?

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Shovels
Dirt
Gravel
Polyethylene sheeting
UV safe earthbags, large and small
Barbed wire
Wire cutters
Paving stones

Instructions

- 1
  
  Dig a 1-foot deep circular hole. Then along the inside edge of this hole dig a trench 1 foot deeper and about 20 inches wide, leaving a gap where the door will go. Make this gap the same size and the frame you have chosen.
- 2
  
  Pour a thin layer of gravel in the bottom of the trench. Cover the circular hole with the polyethylene sheeting. Then cover the sheeting with the paving stones.
- 3
  
  Use the shovel to fill a bag with dirt. Place it in the trench near the door gap. Fill and place another one next to this. Continue doing this until you have covered the bottom of the trench with bags. Cut strips of barbed wire and place them on the line of bags.
- 4
  
  Add another layer of bags on top of the first one, and then another layer of barbed wire. Continue this process of adding layers, but as you do, place the bags slightly further toward the center to start to form an arch. Placing the final bag at the center can be a bit tricky, and you may need one person working from below while one works from above.