I've lived through a terrible tornado, and I have to say that I think you did a wonderful job of preparing. No, it isn't perfect, but it is strong, and underground, and around here, that is exactly what was needed, and saved lives. This could be the only solution for some, so I'm really glad that you posted it. Too bad there are so many nasty people in the world, but this is one lady that thinks your idea is wonderful. God bless you and your family.
GuerinGrad09 Its clearly a joke. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to take cover in a TRASH can. It is pretty easy to understand that this is staged, and it gave me a good laugh.
You seriously think this is a joke? Its not a joke. This older lady had two trash cans CEMENTED on her front porch. Nobody else in the comments thought it was a joke.
I designed one like this in high school. Mine was metal trash cans, and I made it so there was an 8 inch pipe connecting the 2 barrels. That allows communication. Great video!
yes that would work with one exception - the tornado suction would flip the lid open unless you put some latching mechanism ,and also you need a ventalaton hole -- but yes that would work because those containers are below the earth -below grade
Till the building collapses on top of it, the lid gets ripped out or lack of ventilation kills you . In tornado prone area there should be some kind of community shelter that’s being maintained and supplied on regular bases. Especially in trailer parks.
You could make an inside handle and latch with ½inch pvc a few crews, washers an silicone... Lastly don't forget fitst aid kit radio and a head lamp..so you can see..
The lid is the major problem, it has to have a strong latching system at multiple points, solid enough no debris can penetrate and there's a good possibility of being trapped from debris.
Awesome idea to expand on. This can be done with larger trash bin as well....metal or strong plastic. They can be modified as needed. A Tornado situation only last for just a few minutes anyways...so no real need to pretty and perfect. Strong and safe it what counts. The life of your loved ones is most important. Thank you for sharing.
I just finished mine in the back yard. Two 98 gallon bins one for each the wife and I and a 40 gallon for the 8'year old and two 13 gallon kitchen trash cans for the 1 year old twins. They all have led lights installed and I used pvc pipe between all of them to be used as conversation tubes. Instead of whistles, I used the old fashion method of two tin cans with a string with one of the cans above ground so outside conversation can be done in case debris is on top of the lids. Each can has a bicycle air pump for oxygen with the eight year old being able to pump air into the twins units. Such a good idea this lady had. We now feel so much safer. JUST KIDDING PEOPLE!!!!!🤣😂
This lady have a great idea - with a little help to anchor this concept and have a 3" steel lid on top anchored properly 4ft down she could save her own life. No kidding!
Like she says....the live in a MOBILE HOME community, and this is better than staying inside of a mobile home. Our local weather station ALWAYS warns people to get OUT of any mobile home, even if it means going and laying flat in an open field if possible. Most deaths are caused by flying debris, so even though these lids would pop right off, if suction from wind does not go immediately over the top of them, being underground still offers a measure of protection that is better than nothing. People should not be so quick to criticize......
There seems to be a lot of tornado experts here. This is actually a pretty good idea depending on what the concrete is anchored to. something has to be done with the lid - it will be flapping around until it breaks off, but that can be addressed.
None of these criticisms have much of a point. These ladies are showing a method of avoiding injuries during a tornado, for you, for free. No methods are full proof. Professional storm shelters have had many fatal flaws in design over the years and they are hugely more expensive than these trashcans. The most impressive part of the video is the older lady's ability to get in and out of it. It shows that she would be able to perform this operation if she were alone in a tornado.
Canadian Tornado will rip you out of this trash can. Need to build in a 3" metal lid anchored 4 feet deep under ground for this concept to work safely. Good inexpensive idea - but do not forget rain and hail can drown you out there if it does not seal properly. Also needs vent pipe at 4 feet down to upper ground - else you suffocate.
Well, I'm not going to debate the issues of Tornado damage with you. I have personally seen more then my share too and fully appreciate the devastation they can produce. Above ground in a trailer (or home with no basement for that matter) or below ground in a hole. I'll choose the hole every time. Not to mention the piece of mind this little shelter must give the older woman. If nothing else, it's worth the effort of constructing this just for that.
Thank God we have a Laundry room for our shelter! It underground and big enough to fit 6 people in it and maybe more. Only thing is in there is our washer and dryer.
Everyone laughs but it is not that bad of a idea. Being under ground only a few feet is great protection. I would use a concrete pipe where I can secure a lid on top. As in any emergency family and friend should know about it so if your trapped inside you can be rescued. Keep a little water and a L.E.D. camp lite and a few snacks and you are set for very little money. Their concept is sound. The plastic trash can is not.
I believe you miss the whole point. This solution is much better then being inside the mobile home. Add an older senior citizen into the picture and I understand the desire to have it as close to the exterior door of the mobile home as possible. I give them a high five for coming up with a workable idea that doesn't cost a fortune and puts them in a much safer place then just hiding in the structure.
I myself think she did a great job! You can always improve on something once you've seen it. So, my hat is or to you. You can sit around waiting on something to happen and do nothing and make fun of someone who is at least trying to save her dog, her mother and herself. We'll see who laughs the last laugh , you who does nothing or her.
I helped clean up at a f4 tornado today--200mph + winds. It would have packed those trashcans full of branches, 2 by 4s and metal of all kinds. You would have died! The hole in the ground isn't a bad idea, BUT, you need a 1/4 inch plate over you that will not move if a 2000lb tree moving at 100mph hits it. Or--car. A 55 gal plastic barrel-- a 6 inch reinforced slab and 1/4 plate lids recessed below the surface so they can't be peeled up. You may be wet, but you will live.
A great idea. Just a thought - make some kind of a handle maybe with rope. Drill a hole in the lid of the trash can just wide enough for the rope to go through. Tie it in a heavy knot from the outside and thread through to the inside. When the tornado arrives, just pull on the rope down and tight which will give the lid more resistance. You could also use a long rope and weigh it down with something inside so that the lid is less likely to blow open. Just a note. You can credit my name to the trash can designer shelter list. 😄
Trust me, those trash can lids will not stay on, not without a very good lock on every side. In addition, those cans will not hold something heavy flying straight down on top of them. Finally, those cans are cemented into the ground, so. They probably won't move, but that doesnt mean the people inside are attached.
Okay. My gut says a strong "no," but is this really less safe than the advice to go down into a ditch when out in the open? They'd be below and with head gear. The plastic lid is just for looks until the wind kicks up. Still, I pray that being set below is better than just sitting above. 🙏
bolt a racing seat to the can,and put your seat belt on...when the storms sucks up the whole rig at least you will be securely to the can,and this will make it easier for rescuers to locate you...and bring a cowbell so you can signal for help. and a door from a 64 impala so you can roll up the window when it rains.
If you had serious weight on the lid I believe this could work but a strong tornado would suck you out of the top. Your mom is amazing and her little dog is adorable and you’re an awesome daughter!
I think you came up with a super idea, only thing I see wrong with it is the lid. I concur with some of the other folks comments, the lid would need to be secured as it would get sucked off. I'd build a lid that went down over BOTH, and latched somehow onto the concrete. Good luck, great idea though.
This would not work in a tornado. First of all, the old lady would have died because it is not easy to quickly get in. Second of all, if there were debris flying through the air, it would probably easily go right through the top of the garbage can. Last of all, the lid would open while the tornado is overhead and anyone inside would get sucked out.
All these negative comments are unnecessary. No one thinks you are clever or funny. Do something for humanity and design a better solution that's just as affordable. Otherwise you have no right to complain. It may not be perfect but it is better than taking your chances in a trailer.
I like the idea but her 89 yr old mother is going to break a hip getting in and out of that thing just demonstrating it! I would put a step stool in the bottom that she can step down on and also sit on. How do you prevent the tornado from ripping the lid off and you out? Maybe put a lock or something on the inside.
All these tornado and shelter "experts" are so fast to call names and pass judgment . If your really that concerned why not just leave a nice suggestion on how to make the shelter Better . Sometimes you just have to use the resources you have , not the ones you wish you had , not the ones other people think you should have
May I suggest a seat belt, anchored deeply into the ground with "screw" type shed anchors. This would serve to hold both you and the trash cans in place. I agree with others that the lid needs some improving, as well. Make sure family or friends know about the shelter so they can check on you when a storm passes. Debris could block your exit, so someone needs to know you are there. I give you an A for creativity and wish you safe passage.
That’s perfectly fine but what happens if you suffocate have you thought about that one I must say for your mum for 89 she’s marvellous stay safe and take care
Don't take off your shoes❗Lid has got to be reinforced as it could easily be sucked open and torn off, not to mention being crushed. Otherwise a clever idea, just needs some modifications .
Welcome to the internet, where everyone who has never done anything is an expert and will trash your idea. So many assholes, so many comments that offer zero constructive comments.
Change the lids if you're set on using these bins as shelter. Once winds get caught in a crack, it's in, and it will lift those lids right off. Btw, that old lady doesn't look 89. I took her for younger.
This is a bad idea. I lived in western PA during the spring of 1985. On May 31, 1985 an EF5 touched down in Wheatland, PA. There had to be close to several miles of industrial plants located on that strip. The tornado swept through the town and leveled the buildings to the concrete, Houses were tossed like toy houses. A tornado is to be taken seriously. Seek a basement or sturdy structure. I hope the family seeks a safer shelter in event of a tornado. Please don't use this idea.
ROFL Great Idea at least your trying to help yourself survive the next big storm. The lid is definately the weak link in your system but is much better than doing nothing. A used metal heavy duty commercial building door and frame on top of your trash cans would provide some increased debris protection and would be easy to install.
@lcaneer like I commented , this shelter design is not perfect. But its better to have this than have no shelter. Not everyone can afford thousands of $ for a "proper" shelter. With a little more thought and ingenuity the top could be redone and it would be more safe than being in a basement or in the bathtub .
You know, this isn't a perfect solution, but it's better than nothing. I'd rather be in one of these than above ground. Being that close to the side of the house scares me a bit, in case something falls on top of the lids, it could be a long time before you're found- I'd add some more food and water in those shelters, just in case part of the house falls on the lid. I would also take some pictures and take them to the fire department, so they'll know to look for you there!
I don't know how a tornado's not going to rip that lid off and vacuum you out. Also, you risk being trapped in there if the house falls on you. You're better off getting one of those cheap plastic storage sheds from Home Depot and burying that with cement in your back yard. At least you'd have a shelter you could all huddle in.
And who would have been so iresponsible to have done this labor for them in that area and have been so sorely misinformed? It seems highly irresponsible for anyone to have performed this work for that purpose. See the CNN video about the people in the underground shelter with a steel plate lid and three latches which a big burly man inside had to hold down with all his might as a tornado passed overhead. watch?v=6xkntSlVu-8 or search for CNN tornado shelter and it is the first one that came up for me, its title is:See the shelter that saved 12 lives
Deep research statistics show about 20% of tornado deaths are from being hit by flying debris. I think they've improved their odds. The other 80% are from being thrown. Some are thoughtfully suggesting how they'd improve theirs as opposed to just running or sitting on the couch. I appreciate the creative thinking. Sorry for the book cover beside the comment. It's how it tags me. Remove my comment as you wish.
I sure am glad that I didn't have to watch Mom get out of the garbage can, it was painful enough to watch her try to get into the garbage can, red wine makes me feel so fine
I'm guessing that in the news in th next couple of years the head lines will be 'two older women sucked out of home made wheely bin tornado shelter found dead 300 metres from them'. I think i would take my cahnces with the bath tub. Even the dog is thinking ' get me outta here. I want a proper shelter'.
The trash cans mounted into concrete are fine.. but the plastic lids would rip off even in a high end ef1 twister.. I’d recommend fixing that with a concrete or solid steel door.. maybe even a sliding option.. but if you want too go the approved NSSAA route then a “new day” storm shelter is a great option.. slim, cylindrical and has withstood an ef5 tornado in multiple home in Moore.. which was in 2013.. several pre fab shelters like the new day shelter completely handled the ferocious ef5 winds on that day when the houses around them were completely leveled.. and many of those shelters were above ground anchor bolted shelters.. all certified and tested by the NSSAA under strict fema regulations
Click on " Inside a tornado " and try to speculate whether or not these folks will be safe ! I maintain that the little dog would be the first to be sucked out, followed by the 80 year old lady, then the daughter's back teeth ! Better than locating in the kitchen sink, I suppose.
Might I suggest taking a piece of 8" pvc pipe and opening up a hole between the 2 shelters, using the pipe to connect the 2. It would be good to be able to speak and see each other if you ever truly had to use these. It should be an easy thing to add.
I'm sorry ladies but until the lids are secure I don't think you would survive in this shelter. You could even be crushed by the weight of something falling on you.
It's a clever idea that could easily be improved. I would add metal latches because those lids won't stay down for even a landspout. I'd also be curious as to how those cans are anchored down?
I think spending a little more money is well worth it. Probably cheaper than pouring concrete, just get a large concrete culvert about 8 feet long and bury it in the ground and put a steel lid on it and ladder inside. Or above ground shipping container that is welded to pipes sunk about 6 feet in the ground. It ain't moving.
Great idea, better than being above ground for sure, don't listen to all the lame comments from the haters. I have never heard of anyone getting sucked out by a tornado and that includes people in basements who had the house above them torn off. Stuff only gets torn off when its a large flat surface which the wind flowing over can create a negative pressure to suck it up, it has to be large enough and flat, a human being in vertical position will not get sucked up, but if they are above ground the wind will blow them away as it hits them from the side. As you see in the article below people that had a concrete roof torn off the top of their shelter did not get sucked out it, and that concrete roof weight tons more than they did but it had the right geometry whereas they didn't. Your shelter is basically a mini basement. Here are some interesting facts below I found on the net.... "To start with the obvious, one place you don’t want to wait out a tornado is in a mobile home. This year trailers have accounted for nearly one in four fatalities, and a review of tornado deaths from 1996-2005 found that 44 percent happened in mobile homes. The safest place to be is a reinforced concrete building, but if that’s not an option a basement really is your best bet. An analysis of the Oklahoma twister outbreak of May 1999, which featured an EF5 (i.e., scale-topping monster) tornado, found that out of 40 deaths, 133 severe injuries, and 265 minor injuries, the total harm inflicted on people holed up in basements amounted to just one minor injury. In the Joplin, Missouri area - where the death toll stands at a staggering 155 following the tornado of May 22 - 82 percent of homes had no basements. What’s the safest corner of the basement? A common belief is that since most tornadoes in the U.S. travel from west-southwest to east-northeast, the southwest side of the basement is the safest place to hide out. The originator of this advice may be John Park Finley, one of the first serious meteorological researchers, who studied hundreds of tornadoes in a career spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Finley said you should never take refuge in the east side of a basement, and specifically warned against the northeast corner - he reasoned that debris from the house would be blown in that direction. Unfortunately, he was wrong, especially where brick or stone houses are concerned. In 1966 Joe Eagleman of the University of Kansas studied the wreckage of the EF5 Topeka tornado of that year and concluded that if you had a full basement, the northeast corner was the safest place to be and the south side the most dangerous. Why? External debris knocked down southern walls and blew in through south-facing basement windows; when winds shifted the whole house to the northeast, the southwest corner of the basement was where the upper stories fell in. Can basements be dangerous regardless? Absolutely. In April an Iowa couple took cover in an all-concrete “tornado room” they'd built in their basement only to have the wind rip away the eight-inch-thick slab that served as its ceiling. Their pickup truck was then flung into the basement, flattening their pool table but leaving the remains of the bunker (and them) unharmed. No basement? Running for it won’t do you much good, but driving for it might. A study of the 1999 Oklahoma City tornado concluded that those who fled in vehicles were much less likely to be injured than those who stayed put. No vehicle either? A review of the “core remnants” of houses hit by EF3 tornadoes found the safest places were an interior bathroom or closet. Another study of that Oklahoma City tornado found that, safetywise, interior hallways were a distant second to basements. Looking ahead, a backyard storm cellar like Auntie Em’s is starting to sound like a good investment. If you’d like your house to survive too, you can take some relatively simple precautions. Homes typically come apart in high winds because the roof gets blown off and the exterior walls collapse inward. Using steel hurricane straps to anchor your roof to the house is cheap and easy, and other steel reinforcements can be used to strengthen the walls. Flimsy garage doors are another common source of house failure - the wind blows them in, then blasts through the house and rips the walls and ceiling apart. A 1982 review found that in 104 cases of home roof damage after a tornado in Grand Island, Nebraska, nearly 50 percent started via the garage. Steel or reinforced garage doors are the solution. Give it some thought. Times are changing. One wants to be prepared." - Cecil Adams
Who did the God awful concrete pouring job? They barely, if at all, used a trowel or leveling edge to smooth out the patio portion of the concrete pour. It looks like they just dumped it in thinking it would self-level. But anyway, about the tornado cans: They are a great idea. Might I suggest an ejection cord with an explosive charge under each can just in case you need to abort the mission? Or an ejection cord in case a heavy tree limb keeps you trapped inside without any breathing holes in the lid? A tree on top of those lids won't allow you to get out for air. You definitely need an explosive ejection cord to blast out of there in case something heavy traps you inside the tornado cans. Otherwise, it's a fabulous idea.
so, ignoring the fact that there is a thin plastic roof that will be no help, if something falls on your lid (assuming it doesn't fly away) you are going to be 100% unable to get new oxygen... and don't forget compartment syndrome!
The scary thing is that a bunch of people who commented before Reed tweeted it actually thought it was a good idea. How many of these things are out there now? Although if you are choosing between this and a mobile home to ride out a tornado in, neither option is looking great.
My only concerns are the lid and the fact that it will fill with water once the lid is ripped off in the first millisecond. Still probably better than being in a mobile home above ground.
Bravo! great idea! some sort of clamps on the inside to keep the lid from blowing open.. if that isnt possible, then maybe a heavy blanket to cover your body with so your body doesnt get penetrated with debris.
Neat IDea but it is so close to the wall of your home that if it were to get devasted by an actual tornado, the debris could fall on the shelter's lid making it difficult if not impossible to open.
Brilliant Idea !!!!....somethings better than nuttin !....however, I do hope the Cans are anchored into the ground to avoid getting sucked out of the holes. The lids need reinforcement with a 3 sided latching system inside. ...and last but least, Give "Myth Busters" a call, let them be the judge......
I was waiting for daughter to kick mom in the back to get her in there. Then daughter slams lid down on mom's head...lol Actually, that's not a good idea. The structure needs to be A LOT STRONGER. A 2x4 board can spear right into that plastic lid.
Seriously, in a RAIN storm a garbage can lid flies up and sometimes is torn off and that is a 25 mph wind. The smallest E0 is like 50 to 90 mph. I hope you never attempted to use these. Ever.
I've lived through a terrible tornado, and I have to say that I think you did a wonderful job of preparing. No, it isn't perfect, but it is strong, and underground, and around here, that is exactly what was needed, and saved lives. This could be the only solution for some, so I'm really glad that you posted it. Too bad there are so many nasty people in the world, but this is one lady that thinks your idea is wonderful. God bless you and your family.
what storm was that?
A tornada is easily strong enough to rip you out of there. You need a metal lid that CLAMPS down.
+GuerinGrad09 Do you not get the joke?
What joke?
GuerinGrad09 Its clearly a joke. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to take cover in a TRASH can. It is pretty easy to understand that this is staged, and it gave me a good laugh.
You seriously think this is a joke? Its not a joke. This older lady had two trash cans CEMENTED on her front porch. Nobody else in the comments thought it was a joke.
+Wildinho I don't think you watched the whole video, seems you only watched the first two minutes of it.
I designed one like this in high school. Mine was metal trash cans, and I made it so there was an 8 inch pipe connecting the 2 barrels. That allows communication. Great video!
yes that would work with one exception - the tornado suction would flip the lid open unless you put some latching mechanism ,and also you need a ventalaton hole -- but yes that would work because those containers are below the earth -below grade
Till the building collapses on top of it, the lid gets ripped out or lack of ventilation kills you . In tornado prone area there should be some kind of community shelter that’s being maintained and supplied on regular bases. Especially in trailer parks.
except it is right next to the house so if it gets destroyed they will be buried.
You could make an inside handle and latch with ½inch pvc a few crews, washers an silicone... Lastly don't forget fitst aid kit radio and a head lamp..so you can see..
Clearly it's not ment to be taken seriously
With a bit of reinforcing, and a more sturdy lid, this could arguably work.
cynderfan2233 and venting
The lid is the major problem, it has to have a strong latching system at multiple points, solid enough no debris can penetrate and there's a good possibility of being trapped from debris.
Might need to somehow make it walk in for your mom or anyone else elderly
I definitely respect the creativity and affordability of something like this.
Awesome idea to expand on. This can be done with larger trash bin as well....metal or strong plastic. They can be modified as needed. A Tornado situation only last for just a few minutes anyways...so no real need to pretty and perfect. Strong and safe it what counts. The life of your loved ones is most important. Thank you for sharing.
I just finished mine in the back yard. Two 98 gallon bins one for each the wife and I and a 40 gallon for the 8'year old and two 13 gallon kitchen trash cans for the 1 year old twins. They all have led lights installed and I used pvc pipe between all of them to be used as conversation tubes. Instead of whistles, I used the old fashion method of two tin cans with a string with one of the cans above ground so outside conversation can be done in case debris is on top of the lids. Each can has a bicycle air pump for oxygen with the eight year old being able to pump air into the twins units. Such a good idea this lady had. We now feel so much safer. JUST KIDDING PEOPLE!!!!!🤣😂
😂😂😂
I needed that laugh.
Hahaha
This lady have a great idea - with a little help to anchor this concept and have a 3" steel lid on top anchored properly 4ft down she could save her own life. No kidding!
Lmfao!!!!!!!
This has got to be a joke right?
Poor old lady will be flying in the sky before she can even get in that "coffin".
An old lady flew around the room
+maddieaes lol
+maddieaes Container in the sky. Hold on tight mom!
+maddieaes lol XD
If she even get in there the lid would come off it is not looked down
I like it! Really creative!! My only critique would be to reinforce the lids, but I like your idea!!
This is incredible... the best tornadoe shelter is the one you can afford and does the job.
Like she says....the live in a MOBILE HOME community, and this is better than staying inside of a mobile home. Our local weather station ALWAYS warns people to get OUT of any mobile home, even if it means going and laying flat in an open field if possible. Most deaths are caused by flying debris, so even though these lids would pop right off, if suction from wind does not go immediately over the top of them, being underground still offers a measure of protection that is better than nothing. People should not be so quick to criticize......
Yeah I see your point but a tornado can rip up any house so it can take a trash can lid off the trash can so you would die
Judith Copeland mhm
Congratulations, Fast food for tornados, "to go" box.
Many starving tornados thank you for the failure in logic.
cameron O **** can't stop laughing at your comment****
Now!!! with drive in
Lolrotf
Best. Comment. Here.
Better than nothing, serious I applaud you for this.
Realization, they died during this last tornado season. Sorry to break it to you but the shelter was taken out with 100mph winds.
Mom looks great! Bless her 💗❣❣❣
There seems to be a lot of tornado experts here.
This is actually a pretty good idea depending on what the concrete is anchored to.
something has to be done with the lid - it will be flapping around until it breaks off, but that can be addressed.
I think it's a fabulous idea! I loved seeing how your mom got into and out of it! Good thinking! Yay mom!
None of these criticisms have much of a point. These ladies are showing a method of avoiding injuries during a tornado, for you, for free. No methods are full proof. Professional storm shelters have had many fatal flaws in design over the years and they are hugely more expensive than these trashcans. The most impressive part of the video is the older lady's ability to get in and out of it. It shows that she would be able to perform this operation if she were alone in a tornado.
Your "common sense" should tell you if you can't get the lid to stay closed in the store, the chances of it staying closed in a tornado don't exist.
Canadian Tornado will rip you out of this trash can. Need to build in a 3" metal lid anchored 4 feet deep under ground for this concept to work safely. Good inexpensive idea - but do not forget rain and hail can drown you out there if it does not seal properly. Also needs vent pipe at 4 feet down to upper ground - else you suffocate.
Easy fix, just add a short concrete wall around both cans. With a built in sliding and locking steel plate door.
Well, I'm not going to debate the issues of Tornado damage with you. I have personally seen more then my share too and fully appreciate the devastation they can produce. Above ground in a trailer (or home with no basement for that matter) or below ground in a hole. I'll choose the hole every time. Not to mention the piece of mind this little shelter must give the older woman. If nothing else, it's worth the effort of constructing this just for that.
Thank God we have a Laundry room for our shelter! It underground and big enough to fit 6 people in it and maybe more. Only thing is in there is our washer and dryer.
Everyone laughs but it is not that bad of a idea. Being under ground only a few feet is great protection. I would use a concrete pipe where I can secure a lid on top. As in any emergency family and friend should know about it so if your trapped inside you can be rescued. Keep a little water and a L.E.D. camp lite and a few snacks and you are set for very little money. Their concept is sound. The plastic trash can is not.
I believe you miss the whole point. This solution is much better then being inside the mobile home. Add an older senior citizen into the picture and I understand the desire to have it as close to the exterior door of the mobile home as possible. I give them a high five for coming up with a workable idea that doesn't cost a fortune and puts them in a much safer place then just hiding in the structure.
I myself think she did a great job! You can always improve on something once you've seen it. So, my hat is or to you. You can sit around waiting on something to happen and do nothing and make fun of someone who is at least trying to save her dog, her mother and herself. We'll see who laughs the last laugh , you who does nothing or her.
I helped clean up at a f4 tornado today--200mph + winds. It would have packed those trashcans full of branches, 2 by 4s and metal of all kinds. You would have died!
The hole in the ground isn't a bad idea, BUT, you need a 1/4 inch plate over you that will not move if a 2000lb tree moving at 100mph hits it. Or--car.
A 55 gal plastic barrel-- a 6 inch reinforced slab and 1/4 plate lids recessed below the surface so they can't be peeled up. You may be wet, but you will live.
Did you notice she slammed the lid down on her Mom in mid sentence! Couldn't get it across to Mom the importance of hurrying!
A great idea. Just a thought - make some kind of a handle maybe with rope. Drill a hole in the lid of the trash can just wide enough for the rope to go through. Tie it in a heavy knot from the outside and thread through to the inside. When the tornado arrives, just pull on the rope down and tight which will give the lid more resistance. You could also use a long rope and weigh it down with something inside so that the lid is less likely to blow open. Just a note. You can credit my name to the trash can designer shelter list. 😄
Trust me, those trash can lids will not stay on, not without a very good lock on every side. In addition, those cans will not hold something heavy flying straight down on top of them. Finally, those cans are cemented into the ground, so. They probably won't move, but that doesnt mean the people inside are attached.
Okay. My gut says a strong "no," but is this really less safe than the advice to go down into a ditch when out in the open? They'd be below and with head gear. The plastic lid is just for looks until the wind kicks up. Still, I pray that being set below is better than just sitting above. 🙏
bolt a racing seat to the can,and put your seat belt on...when the storms sucks up the whole rig at least you will be securely to the can,and this will make it easier for rescuers to locate you...and bring a cowbell so you can signal for help. and a door from a 64 impala so you can roll up the window when it rains.
If you had serious weight on the lid I believe this could work but a strong tornado would suck you out of the top. Your mom is amazing and her little dog is adorable and you’re an awesome daughter!
Well I guess it's better than the bathtub in a mobile home. Good effort. I hope you never have to use it.
I think you came up with a super idea, only thing I see wrong with it is the lid. I concur with some of the other folks comments, the lid would need to be secured as it would get sucked off. I'd build a lid that went down over BOTH, and latched somehow onto the concrete. Good luck, great idea though.
:)
STICK AROUND I DISCOVERED HOW THEY ARE GOING TO KNOCK OUT OUR GRID, IT'S UPLOADING NOW
This would not work in a tornado. First of all, the old lady would have died because it is not easy to quickly get in. Second of all, if there were debris flying through the air, it would probably easily go right through the top of the garbage can. Last of all, the lid would open while the tornado is overhead and anyone inside would get sucked out.
Strap in... and they have a helmet
All these negative comments are unnecessary. No one thinks you are clever or funny. Do something for humanity and design a better solution that's just as affordable. Otherwise you have no right to complain. It may not be perfect but it is better than taking your chances in a trailer.
They should have just made it out of ziplock bags and taped it to the roof..
I like the idea but her 89 yr old mother is going to break a hip getting in and out of that thing just demonstrating it! I would put a step stool in the bottom that she can step down on and also sit on.
How do you prevent the tornado from ripping the lid off and you out? Maybe put a lock or something on the inside.
All these tornado and shelter "experts" are so fast to call names and pass judgment . If your really that concerned why not just leave a nice suggestion on how to make the shelter Better . Sometimes you just have to use the resources you have , not the ones you wish you had , not the ones other people think you should have
May I suggest a seat belt, anchored deeply into the ground with "screw" type shed anchors. This would serve to hold both you and the trash cans
in place. I agree with others that the lid needs some improving, as well. Make sure family or friends know about the shelter so they can check on you when a storm passes. Debris could block your exit, so someone needs to know you are there. I give you an A for creativity and wish you safe passage.
I think this is a great idea. It is simple, yet very effective and I hope more people take it to heart. Well done.
That’s perfectly fine but what happens if you suffocate have you thought about that one I must say for your mum for 89 she’s marvellous stay safe and take care
Great idea. After the tornado left only to put over the tombstones with your name on them and you have solved the problem for good.
They live in a mobile home people... This is definitely better than the alternative for them.
Don't take off your shoes❗Lid has got to be reinforced as it could easily be sucked open and torn off, not to mention being crushed. Otherwise a clever idea, just needs some modifications .
Not my ideal, but I can guarantee that it's better than sitting in front of the TV, or lying in bed, saying "Que Sera, Sera"....
Welcome to the internet, where everyone who has never done anything is an expert and will trash your idea. So many assholes, so many comments that offer zero constructive comments.
Can you imagine the winds swirlin' and that old ass lady is shoved into that thing, "MOM GET THE F%$K DOWN, THERE'S A TORNADO!!!!!"
Change the lids if you're set on using these bins as shelter. Once winds get caught in a crack, it's in, and it will lift those lids right off. Btw, that old lady doesn't look 89. I took her for younger.
In the time that "Mom" took to get in the bin, they'd all be dead
😂
JeeperCreeperMC I may have yelled dead by the time the would be dead from how long they took
Ruth you are a hoot! God bless
You need to replace that lid with something way stronger anything could come through it or wind could rip it off!!! But great ideal though !!
This is a bad idea. I lived in western PA during the spring of 1985. On May 31, 1985 an EF5 touched down in Wheatland, PA. There had to be close to several miles of industrial plants located on that strip. The tornado swept through the town and leveled the buildings to the concrete, Houses were tossed like toy houses. A tornado is to be taken seriously. Seek a basement or sturdy structure. I hope the family seeks a safer shelter in event of a tornado. Please don't use this idea.
ROFL Great Idea at least your trying to help yourself survive the next big storm. The lid is definately the weak link in your system but is much better than doing nothing. A used metal heavy duty commercial building door and frame on top of your trash cans would provide some increased debris protection and would be easy to install.
@lcaneer like I commented , this shelter design is not perfect. But its better to have this than have no shelter. Not everyone can afford thousands of $ for a "proper" shelter. With a little more thought and ingenuity the top could be redone and it would be more safe than being in a basement or in the bathtub .
You know, this isn't a perfect solution, but it's better than nothing. I'd rather be in one of these than above ground. Being that close to the side of the house scares me a bit, in case something falls on top of the lids, it could be a long time before you're found- I'd add some more food and water in those shelters, just in case part of the house falls on the lid.
I would also take some pictures and take them to the fire department, so they'll know to look for you there!
I don't know how a tornado's not going to rip that lid off and vacuum you out. Also, you risk being trapped in there if the house falls on you. You're better off getting one of those cheap plastic storage sheds from Home Depot and burying that with cement in your back yard. At least you'd have a shelter you could all huddle in.
you could maybe add a handle to the inside of the trash can & maybe an over the shoulder seat belt to strap in with :)
Its better them a bathtub.. You need a handle on the inside top of the lid to hold it down.. good idea.
And who would have been so iresponsible to have done this labor for them in that area and have been so sorely misinformed? It seems highly irresponsible for anyone to have performed this work for that purpose. See the CNN video about the people in the underground shelter with a steel plate lid and three latches which a big burly man inside had to hold down with all his might as a tornado passed overhead. watch?v=6xkntSlVu-8 or search for CNN tornado shelter and it is the first one that came up for me, its title is:See the shelter that saved 12 lives
1:12 dang she really did grandma like that
"Trash can."
"Another trash can."
"Actually, I think that was the same one."
"I got to go Mom, we got trash cans."
That's a terrific idea! So well thought out.. thank you!!
Deep research statistics show about 20% of tornado deaths are from being hit by flying
debris. I think they've improved their odds. The other 80% are from being thrown. Some are thoughtfully suggesting how they'd improve theirs as opposed to just running or sitting on the couch. I appreciate the creative thinking. Sorry for the book cover beside the comment. It's how it tags me. Remove my comment as you wish.
Thats some people with humour. Thumbs up for the Grandma
I sure am glad that I didn't have to watch Mom get out of the garbage can, it was painful enough to watch her try to get into the garbage can, red wine makes me feel so fine
Y’all some haters, trash can will survive 100xs the wind as a trailer, I would bet they could withstand a bomb. They’re on a budget.
I'm guessing that in the news in th next couple of years the head lines will be 'two older women sucked out of home made wheely bin tornado shelter found dead 300 metres from them'. I think i would take my cahnces with the bath tub. Even the dog is thinking ' get me outta here. I want a proper shelter'.
The trash cans mounted into concrete are fine.. but the plastic lids would rip off even in a high end ef1 twister.. I’d recommend fixing that with a concrete or solid steel door.. maybe even a sliding option.. but if you want too go the approved NSSAA route then a “new day” storm shelter is a great option.. slim, cylindrical and has withstood an ef5 tornado in multiple home in Moore.. which was in 2013.. several pre fab shelters like the new day shelter completely handled the ferocious ef5 winds on that day when the houses around them were completely leveled.. and many of those shelters were above ground anchor bolted shelters.. all certified and tested by the NSSAA under strict fema regulations
Click on " Inside a tornado " and try to speculate whether or not these folks will be safe !
I maintain that the little dog would be the first to be sucked out, followed by the 80 year old lady, then the daughter's back teeth !
Better than locating in the kitchen sink, I suppose.
This is a very dangerous idea, and I seriously hope no one actually tries this at home.....
Might I suggest taking a piece of 8" pvc pipe and opening up a hole between the 2 shelters, using the pipe to connect the 2. It would be good to be able to speak and see each other if you ever truly had to use these. It should be an easy thing to add.
Joke or not who would put momma in that? Daughter should be evaluated.
seriously? its a plastic lid and it secured shut with a hook attached to it on the inside - they'd be sucked out the minute it passes
I'm sorry ladies but until the lids are secure I don't think you would survive in this shelter. You could even be crushed by the weight of something falling on you.
It's a clever idea that could easily be improved. I would add metal latches because those lids won't stay down for even a landspout. I'd also be curious as to how those cans are anchored down?
I think spending a little more money is well worth it. Probably cheaper than pouring concrete, just get a large concrete culvert about 8 feet long and bury it in the ground and put a steel lid on it and ladder inside. Or above ground shipping container that is welded to pipes sunk about 6 feet in the ground. It ain't moving.
Dangerous as hell. What happens if the house is leveled and your trash can lid is buried under mounds of rubble and you can’t get out? Instant coffin.
Great idea, better than being above ground for sure, don't listen to all the lame comments from the haters. I have never heard of anyone getting sucked out by a tornado and that includes people in basements who had the house above them torn off. Stuff only gets torn off when its a large flat surface which the wind flowing over can create a negative pressure to suck it up, it has to be large enough and flat, a human being in vertical position will not get sucked up, but if they are above ground the wind will blow them away as it hits them from the side. As you see in the article below people that had a concrete roof torn off the top of their shelter did not get sucked out it, and that concrete roof weight tons more than they did but it had the right geometry whereas they didn't. Your shelter is basically a mini basement.
Here are some interesting facts below I found on the net....
"To start with the obvious, one place you don’t want to wait out a tornado is in a mobile home. This year trailers have accounted for nearly one in four fatalities, and a review of tornado deaths from 1996-2005 found that 44 percent happened in mobile homes.
The safest place to be is a reinforced concrete building, but if that’s not an option a basement really is your best bet. An analysis of the Oklahoma twister outbreak of May 1999, which featured an EF5 (i.e., scale-topping monster) tornado, found that out of 40 deaths, 133 severe injuries, and 265 minor injuries, the total harm inflicted on people holed up in basements amounted to just one minor injury. In the Joplin, Missouri area - where the death toll stands at a staggering 155 following the tornado of May 22 - 82 percent of homes had no basements.
What’s the safest corner of the basement? A common belief is that since most tornadoes in the U.S. travel from west-southwest to east-northeast, the southwest side of the basement is the safest place to hide out.
The originator of this advice may be John Park Finley, one of the first serious meteorological researchers, who studied hundreds of tornadoes in a career spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Finley said you should never take refuge in the east side of a basement, and specifically warned against the northeast corner - he reasoned that debris from the house would be blown in that direction.
Unfortunately, he was wrong, especially where brick or stone houses are concerned. In 1966 Joe Eagleman of the University of Kansas studied the wreckage of the EF5 Topeka tornado of that year and concluded that if you had a full basement, the northeast corner was the safest place to be and the south side the most dangerous. Why? External debris knocked down southern walls and blew in through south-facing basement windows; when winds shifted the whole house to the northeast, the southwest corner of the basement was where the upper stories fell in.
Can basements be dangerous regardless? Absolutely. In April an Iowa couple took cover in an all-concrete “tornado room” they'd built in their basement only to have the wind rip away the eight-inch-thick slab that served as its ceiling. Their pickup truck was then flung into the basement, flattening their pool table but leaving the remains of the bunker (and them) unharmed.
No basement? Running for it won’t do you much good, but driving for it might. A study of the 1999 Oklahoma City tornado concluded that those who fled in vehicles were much less likely to be injured than those who stayed put. No vehicle either? A review of the “core remnants” of houses hit by EF3 tornadoes found the safest places were an interior bathroom or closet. Another study of that Oklahoma City tornado found that, safetywise, interior hallways were a distant second to basements.
Looking ahead, a backyard storm cellar like Auntie Em’s is starting to sound like a good investment. If you’d like your house to survive too, you can take some relatively simple precautions. Homes typically come apart in high winds because the roof gets blown off and the exterior walls collapse inward. Using steel hurricane straps to anchor your roof to the house is cheap and easy, and other steel reinforcements can be used to strengthen the walls.
Flimsy garage doors are another common source of house failure - the wind blows them in, then blasts through the house and rips the walls and ceiling apart. A 1982 review found that in 104 cases of home roof damage after a tornado in Grand Island, Nebraska, nearly 50 percent started via the garage. Steel or reinforced garage doors are the solution.
Give it some thought. Times are changing. One wants to be prepared."
- Cecil Adams
Who did the God awful concrete pouring job? They barely, if at all, used a trowel or leveling edge to smooth out the patio portion of the concrete pour. It looks like they just dumped it in thinking it would self-level. But anyway, about the tornado cans: They are a great idea. Might I suggest an ejection cord with an explosive charge under each can just in case you need to abort the mission? Or an ejection cord in case a heavy tree limb keeps you trapped inside without any breathing holes in the lid? A tree on top of those lids won't allow you to get out for air. You definitely need an explosive ejection cord to blast out of there in case something heavy traps you inside the tornado cans. Otherwise, it's a fabulous idea.
If Reed Timmer says is a bad idea, its a bad idea!
What if you put the trash cans on an angle with dirt mounded over all but the opening? Still need a secure lid...
My only concern is the plastic lid. Maybe place a metal one on top of the plastic lid for stronger reinforcement.
so, ignoring the fact that there is a thin plastic roof that will be no help, if something falls on your lid (assuming it doesn't fly away) you are going to be 100% unable to get new oxygen... and don't forget compartment syndrome!
The scary thing is that a bunch of people who commented before Reed tweeted it actually thought it was a good idea. How many of these things are out there now? Although if you are choosing between this and a mobile home to ride out a tornado in, neither option is looking great.
My only concerns are the lid and the fact that it will fill with water once the lid is ripped off in the first millisecond. Still probably better than being in a mobile home above ground.
It's a good idea, but maybe move a little further from the house in case house collapses and improvise a better and more secure lid.
When the house falls on you, you're dead! The lid will blow off! What fools!
Bravo! great idea! some sort of clamps on the inside to keep the lid from blowing open.. if that isnt possible, then maybe a heavy blanket to cover your body with so your body doesnt get penetrated with debris.
Neat IDea but it is so close to the wall of your home that if it were to get devasted by an actual tornado, the debris could fall on the shelter's lid making it difficult if not impossible to open.
If this was my only option, heck yeh I'd climb in one. Good idea, Ladies.
Brilliant Idea !!!!....somethings better than nuttin !....however, I do hope the Cans are anchored into the ground to avoid getting sucked out of the holes. The lids need reinforcement with a 3 sided latching system inside. ...and last but least, Give "Myth Busters" a call, let them be the judge......
That's a great solution to cost just would reinforce the lid somehow cause it will flip open if not held down somehow
Great idea! Cheap and at least your underground and safe from flying debris!
Regards from Arizona
WingmanGVT
I was waiting for daughter to kick mom in the back to get her in there.
Then daughter slams lid down on mom's head...lol
Actually, that's not a good idea. The structure needs to be A LOT STRONGER.
A 2x4 board can spear right into that plastic lid.
Seriously, in a RAIN storm a garbage can lid flies up and sometimes is torn off and that is a 25 mph wind. The smallest E0 is like 50 to 90 mph.
I hope you never attempted to use these. Ever.
Not a bad idea at least to make the form in the cement. Need a better hatch though. I like the whistle idea too! Good job.
please please get metal lids for your trash cans with metal closure from the inside.