SafePorch

The design and construction of the SafePorch ensures great strength and durability, made of 4 1/2 " thick walls, floor and roof using high compression concrete poured over steel mesh screens and rebar, the SafePorch is like a bank vault in strength. Yet the SafePorch has ease of entrance and exit through a watertight door. Two ingeniously designed windows that while allowing air circulation prevent entrance by water or wind-driven debris.

Additional storm resistance is provided by the fact that approximately one half or more of the depth of the SafePorch is buried in the ground and at the base has a wide lip all around which acts as an anchor increasing by a substantial margin resistance to any movement or shifting. The amount of the SafePorch below grade depends on the height above ground of the door and floor line. Since the SafePorch is not actually attached to the house, only set adjacent to it, destruction to the house does not affect the SafePorch.

Since the SafePorch can withstand winds of at lease 250 mph, the extreme level of an EF5 Tornado on the original Fujita Scale, and possibly higher winds depending on ground contour and wind direction, it is truly a safe haven for up to 4 adults, plus children and pets. The SafePorch also provides excellent protection for valuables, important papers, money, jewelry, etc.

As important as protection against storm damage is, it is useless unless the protection is near at hand and easy to enter and leave. Running across the backyard to climb down into an underground shelter, possibly in the middle of the night, can involve dangerous delay in reaching safety for adults, children and the pets. As the SafePorch is placed immediately at the door of the house, it is truly just a step away.

Unlike the backyard "bomb shelters" and the steel above ground boxes that are currently being offered, SafePorch provides an attractive addition to a home, and is usually not recognizable to the average observer as a storm shelter. This is a substantial concrete porch with concrete steps and steel railings, and in appearance is much the same as porches provided with the most expensive homes. Further, the SafePorch adds to the home's value as well as enhancing its appearance.

Generally speaking, the SafePorch cost only 25-30% more than the 2 person steel boxes, and only about 1/3 of the cost of the underground concrete shelters that are available.

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