Underground Bunkers

When someone hears the phrase, "underground bunker", thoughts of conspiracy theories might be the first thing to come to mind. This is simply a negative stereotype that has gone too far. While it may seem a bit odd, there are plenty of practical uses for having a shelter or home that is located underground. One of the most popular misconceptions about these types of shelters is that they are only useful during a nuclear attack. Here are a handful of good uses for a shelter underground.

Underground Bunker

Storm Shelter

In the last few years there have been a lot of deadly storms and tornados that have ripped through the heart of America. These monstrous storms have left a path of severe devastation, ruining homes and killing people. Storm shelters first became popular around the same time the bomb shelter came into existence.

Holes were dug into the ground, usually located close to the main house for quick and easy access. They were often made with concrete and would be stocked with food, water, and medical supplies. These particular underground bunkers still save hundreds if not thousands of lives each and every year. It is highly encouraged that if you do not have one of these structures, you should look into building one, or having it built for you.

Bomb Shelter

This is the most common type of underground bunker that comes to mind, largely due to the role they have played in popular culture. There are many different types of emergency shelters that have been used throughout history. The type of shelter is usually determined by the strength of the bomb being used. During the Cold War years, many bunkers were designed to withstand the fallout from a nuclear bomb. This meant that it was made from materials that would prevent dangerous levels of radiation from leaking inside the shelter and harming its occupants.

Nuclear Shelter

During World War II, there were many bunkers called air-raid shelters that were designed to protect people from the bombs that fell from Nazi era aircraft. These underground bunkers saved thousands of lives during that time period. In many countries where war is common place, there are tons of these shelters scattered throughout the city. The more of these bunkers that exist, the safer the people living in the community will be.

Supply Storage

In recent years, many people living in the United States have begun to can and store up food for emergencies. A lot of this survival preparedness is a result of seeing natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it left in its path. Many people who lived in the hard hit areas were without basic necessities like food and water. In light of that horrible situation, people have begun to build bunkers as a means of shelter as well as storage.

Dry goods and canned food can be hidden away in a bunker and kept safe during an emergency situation, which increases the individual's chances for surviving the event.

Bunker Converted to a Home

Bunker, Sweet Bunker

And let's not forget that an underground bunker can also be your year 'round home. Some people repurpose decommissioned missile silos to serve as homes and bunkers underground. Other people repurpose other types of bunkers or build simpler kinds of underground homes that serve this dual purpose.

Conclusion

Underground bunkers can be detached from an above ground home or in fact an underground dwelling can serve the dual purpose of serving as a shelter as well. By debunking the single-purpose bunker myth, hopefully home builders and homeowners can think about underground living in a new way and one in which safety is a top priority.