Renewed fears of nuclear war, as well as chemical and biological attacks have once again permeated the American psyche.
While these worst-case scenarios will likely never materialize, a renewed interest in racing the Doomsday Clock has many survivalists scoping out alternatives for off-the-grid living. Shipping containers quickly jump to the top of their list because of their perceived durability and cost-effectiveness as underground survival shelters. While these makeshift bunkers may appear to be the logical stopgap in thwarting domestic and foreign threats, these bargain boxes could in fact expose you to the very dangers you are trying to avoid.
By design, shipping containers are intended for the safe transport of millions of tons of goods and materials during long sea voyages. Some of these products are harmless to human health, but many domestic staples, including shoes and furniture, are coated in layers of noxious chemicals that can leave a lasting residue.
Shipping containers are also often bereft of ventilation systems. Why you might ask? Because they are not designed for live transport, let alone short-term accommodations. In fact, the National Center for Biotechnology Information estimates that between 10 and 20 percent of all containers arriving in European harbors were shown to contain volatile and poisonous chemicals above normal exposure levels. The list of impairments from exposure to these chemicals include long-term cognitive defects and neurological abnormalities, says the NCBI. These occupational hazards haunt dock workers and ancillary employees daily, so why would you think these subterranean abodes would suffice for your family’s protection?
Pressure from tons of dirt and a lack of adequate trusses can cause sunken containers to buckle and crumple like sardine cans. Compounded with the effects of poisonous fumes, shipping containers used as underground shelters can be easily transformed to coffins for those you care for the most. Spending copious amounts of time in a shipping container can take a tremendous psychological toll on someone, as well.
So why settle for an imitator when vetted and proven safe rooms and underground shelters are just a phone call or click away? U.S. Safe Room is an industry leader in the building and installation of premium underground and survival bunkers. A U.S. Safe Room underground bunker affords you state-of-the-art protection while you maintain creature comforts below ground. Our versatile bunkers allow you to continue live below ground as you would above it along with peace of mind, which you can’t put a price on.
Our installation team remove the guess work of building for you, negating the lone pro – cheapness – of sinking a bulky and cumbersome shipping container. These bunkers come in a variety of sizes ranging from 10’-by-20’ to 10’-by-’50.