Panic rooms, safe rooms and civil unrest

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A tornado safe room and a panic room are different things. Safe rooms and storm shelters are built to ICC 500 and FEMA P-361, which cover tornado and hurricane winds and flying debris (FEMA P-361, Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes). Those standards don't rate a room against break-ins. If you want a door that also resists forced entry, ask the builder which test the door and lock passed, and get it in writing.

Staying put during unrest or an emergency

Ready.gov's shelter-in-place steps are to bring family and pets inside, lock the doors, close windows, vents and fireplace dampers, turn off fans and forced-air heating and cooling, take your kit to an interior room, and follow local media. It notes officials may not have information right away (Ready.gov, Shelter).

Ready.gov also suggests a household plan that answers how you'll get alerts, where you'll shelter, how you'd leave, how you'll reach each other, and whether your kit is up to date (Ready.gov, Make a Plan). The FCC suggests texting when calls won't go through and naming an out-of-area contact (FCC, Tips for Communicating in an Emergency).

Quick answers

Is a tornado safe room the same as a panic room?

No. Tornado safe rooms are built to ICC 500 and FEMA P-361 for wind and flying debris. Those standards don't rate a room against break-ins, so ask the builder what any security door was tested for.

What should I do if officials tell us to shelter in place?

Ready.gov says to bring everyone and pets inside, lock the doors, close windows, vents and fireplace dampers, take your kit to an interior room, and follow local news.

This is a general guide built from public sources, not engineering, medical or legal advice. Follow local officials during an emergency.

Sources: FEMA P-361, Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes; Ready.gov, Shelter; Ready.gov, Make a Plan; FCC, Tips for Communicating in an Emergency.