What is a safe room?
A “Safe Room” can be defined as, and function as, different things for different persons, different families, and different homes and settings. The only thing that is relevant is being able to address areas of weakness or vulnerability within your given home or environment in ways that are practical and functional.
Severe Weather: It can be a room in the house that is protected from outside windows and exposed roof sections, so that it is a safe place to be when Mother Nature is at her worst. It may be a room that is lower in the home outfitted with essentials and fortified to withstand severe winds, or it may be a space higher up in the home with safe egress, to protect against flooding. Proper glass, quality windows and doors, and weather sealing weak points in any given home can all be part of this guidance.
Direct External threats and Home Invasion: This emergency scenario is hard to imagine, just like contemplating a car crash. But, like a car crash, it doesn’t hurt to plan ahead by having a safe vehicle with ABS, airbags, and of course having insurance. The idea is simply to have a space in the home that can function as a “retreat” and a place of safety if ever needed. It doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy; it could simply entail a room that is guarded with a solid core or reinforced door (often matching others in the home). Going further, this door could be protected with additional elements which enable it to withstand a full frontal assault. The room or space behind this door might then simply be stocked with basic essentials such as a direct line out of the home for 911, or an old cell phone (which can still dial 911), a fire extinguisher, some pepper spray, a whistle, a first aid kit, water bottles, you name it. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive to simply serve as a “last fall-back” space in which family members can be safe or “buy time” until help arrives. Remember: “When seconds count, the Police are only minutes away…”