There is a big debate about whether Arkansas is actually in Tornado Alley or not. Suffice it to say that man experts believe it is and if you have witnessed or experienced only one, you would be a believer as well. Preparation for this type of natural disaster is something that should be thought about before it occurs. You should consider the need for the type of tornado shelters Arkansas old timers talk about for your safety if and when this happens.

One of the first things to think about, when planning for this eventuality is where you need to place this. Many people will use an interior room, beef up the walls and lay in some supplies and weather it out in this way. That way they have the comforts of home and do not have to worry about reinforcing something out in the yard.

Many others want to have this shelter buried in their back yard. This can be constructed within an already dug hole or lowered into that same hole already built and ready for use. Giving this decision a lot of thought could mean the difference about getting it done quickly or taking your rime. The best plan, from your imaginative mind should be consulted.

Deciding about the best material to be used for this is also something to think about. Metal reinforced concrete or cement is usually considered the strongest. There are other materials, such as fiberglass that has many advantages, such as weight and abilities to be formed in interesting shapes. The digging will have to be done by a company who has the heavy equipment instead of hand shovels.

Designing what the inside of this shelter will be important. The amount of space may have to be smaller than you think it should be, but everything should be done to make space for everyone who will be using it for safety. You need shelving for all of the materials you will need to have for survival. First aid items is one of those things, of course, as well as food for everyone.

The food that must be stored should be non perishable, such as dehydrated foods. These are fairly tasty and a lot of food can be shelved in a small space. Flashlights, battery operated radios and plenty of extra batteries will also have to be on hand. Planning for living in this space for at least several days should be the order of the day.

Those people that like the idea of securing themselves in a underground location to wait out the end of the world or to plan for the apocalypse will also find a Tornado shelter something they can get behind. They will have plenty of food, weapons and ammunition on hand as well as everything they need when the danger is over. Taking a leaf from their book will help you understand what the purpose of this room is.

You will find, many companies who do this type of work every day. They will have plans that you can acquire and modify for your specific needs. They will have lists of materials and where they are located. They are your best defense against not being prepared should worse come to worse, next spring when most tornadoes form up.