How To Prepare Your Storm Cellar For Tornado Season

As a born and raised Oklahoman, I've taken shelter from tornadoes in several different places, like a bathroom, a school's boiler room, underneath a theater, or the student union at the University of Oklahoma, just to name a few. Out of all the unlikeliest of places I've taken shelter from a tornado in, an old concrete storm cellar is my least favorite.

Now that Oklahoma is only a few days away from tornado season, it's time for residents to take advantage of the warmer weather and see to those cellars. When you're not in and out of the storm shelter, they tend to go neglected until springtime arrives.

Most Oklahoma homes either have an above-ground or underground shelter.

Many Oklahoma residents have different kinds of storm shelters. Some have above-ground shelters in their homes, which may require less TLC in regards to cleaning out for storm season. Others have storm shelters below ground. The underground storm shelters can range from newer shelters that are typically accessible in the home's garage or they're old concrete storm shelters affectionately known as cellars.

If you live in an older home or in the country, it's highly likely that your home came with a cellar in the backyard or a few yards away from the house. These cellars typically have big, heavy doors, and often collect bugs and water when not frequently in use, which is part of the reason they need extra maintenance before storm season.

Tips on how to get your cellar ready for Oklahoma's tornado season.

Every year before March my parents would take a full Saturday to clean out and treat the cellar. So if your home's storm shelter is an old cellar, here are a few tips to get it ready for storm season.

Sweep Out The Cellar

You won't believe all the dust and dead bugs your cellar has accumulated since last spring. Best place to start is by sweeping.

Remove Any Standing Water, Patch Leaks

It hasn't been wet enough, but if there's any standing water in your cellar, you'll want to dry it up. Then you'll want to look for any possible leaks. There's nothing like going swimming in the cellar when seeking shelter from a tornado.

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Spray Your Cellar For Bugs

If you're getting ready to spray your house for bugs this spring, you might as well spray the cellar, too. All the creepy crawlers love the dark, cool cellar.

Inspect The Cellar Door

Like I said, that cellar door is very heavy. You'll still want to check it before storm season though because it may need some WD-40 for the hinges. And you'll want to make sure that the door is securing correctly. But don't lock yourself in. I'm only speaking from experience.

Look Over Cellar Windows

Sometimes these old cellars have little windows, and you'll want to make sure they're not busted out or cracked before storm season arrives.

Add A Handrail And Chairs To The Cellar

My grandma said one of the best things my dad ever did was install a handrail in the cellar. It can help anyone of any generation going down the steep stairs during a severe storm. You'll also want to make sure you bring some chairs down to the cellar that can stay there for the entirety of storm season, like old metal folding chairs or old lawn chairs.

Decorate Your Cellar

The cellar can be scary for kids and often uncomfortable for adults. It can help everyone to add a little decoration to the cellar. Some people go all out with posters and rugs, but just some battery-powered twinkle lights or a string of battery-powered LEDs can add a little whimsy to a frightening situation.

Make sure to review your family's severe weather plan before tornado season.

No matter where your family seeks shelter, it's important to review your family's severe weather plan, especially before storm season. And if you have little ones, it's especially important to practice your severe weather plan before a tornado strikes. This can also help ease storm anxiety for kids.

Also, make sure you have a go-bag ready before storm season kicks off. You may not want to keep it in the underground shelter, especially a cellar, so it's best to have it in a spot in the house that can easily be grabbed on the way to the shelter. See what all you should have in your tornado go-bag below.

Things You'll Need in Your Oklahoma Tornado Prep Kit

Even though the odds of your life being affected by a tornado are extremely thin, there's no harm in being prepared with basic necessities. Even if the storm misses your home you could still find yourself without power or water for days to weeks. Here's a quick rundown on the basics every home should have for tornado season in Oklahoma.

Gallery Credit: Kelso