Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes: Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms (FEMA P-361)
Date Published: April 20, 2021
This resource provides comprehensive guidelines for designing and constructing safe rooms to protect against tornadoes and hurricanes. It includes detailed information on occupant density, access, egress, signage, fire safety, sanitation, and water management. The document emphasizes compliance with ICC 500 standards and offers insights from field observations on safe room performance.
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Details
Disaster PhaseBefore
File TypePDF
LanguageEnglish
Category
Regulatory ComplianceContinuity Of OperationsEmergency PreparednessOperations & MaintenanceTechnical GuidanceMitigation & PlanningTraining & ExercisesDesign & Construction
Audience
PublicCritical Facilities UtilitiesCommunity OfficialsBuilding ProfessionalsBuilding ProfessionalsCommunity Officials
Hazard Type
HurricaneTornado
Tags
Hurricanesproject planningOccupant Densityfire-resistant constructionVulnerabilityextreme-wind eventsFunding Criteriadesignsafe roomswind loadsemergency preparednessemergency suppliesRisk Assessmentaccess and entrywind damageoperation and maintenancebuilding vulnerabilityMissile Impact CriteriaDebris Hazardssafe room designvulnerable populationsContinuous Load PathStandby powerstorm shelterstornadoesFoundation-to-Wall ConnectionsICC 500fire safetystructural testingaccessible routesstructural designAccessTornadoeselevation requirementsPressure testingcommunity safe roomsFEMAWind LoadsSoil Cover ProtectionSafe roomsStructural DesignEgressFalling Debris HazardshurricanesLaydown HazardsSanitation FacilitiesWater Supplyprotection optionssecuritypost-event operationsImpact testingmaintenance schedulesresidential safe roomsflood hazard areasconstructiondebris impact resistanceoccupant densitywind-borne debriscommunications equipmentVentilationSafe RoomsFEMA Funding Criteriafirst aid