The safe room at home: how to choose it for each type of danger and what to keep in it
There's no single safe room for every situation. How to choose the right spot in your house or apartment for an earthquake, air raid, nuclear emergency, chemical accident, tornado or severe storm and a break-in, and what to keep there.
In short
- The safest spot depends on the danger: basement or interior room for air raids, tornadoes and radiation; an upstairs sealed room for chemical accidents; under a sturdy table wherever you are in an earthquake.
- For most homes, an interior room or hallway without windows, with at least two walls between you and the outside, is the default choice.
- Prepare the room in advance: water, flashlight, radio, first aid kit, charger, sealing materials.
- Everyone in the household should know where it is and when to use it.
“Safe room” sounds like something from a movie, but the idea is simple: a place in your home you’ve chosen in advance, where you go when something happens and where a few essentials are ready. The catch is that no single room suits every danger. The best spot in an air raid is the worst in a chemical accident.
Where to go, by danger
| Danger | Where to go | Why | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | Stay where you are, under a sturdy table | Moving during shaking causes injuries | Earthquake |
| Air raid, drones | Basement, shelter or windowless interior room | Walls stop fragments and blast | Air raid alerts |
| Nuclear emergency | Basement or center of the building, away from outer walls | Building mass blocks radiation | Nuclear emergency |
| Chemical accident | Interior room above ground, sealed | Heavy gases settle low | Chemical accident |
| Tornado, severe storm | Basement or interior room on the lowest floor, no windows | Windows and roofs fail first | Thunderstorms and wind |
| Break-in | A room that locks, with a phone | Buys time until police arrive | Home security |
Choosing your default room
For most situations (alerts, storms, radiation), choose:
- an interior room or hallway with as few windows and outside doors as possible;
- at least two walls between you and the outside;
- away from the roof if you’re on the top floor, and out of the basement if flooding is a risk;
- big enough for everyone, including pets;
- ideally with access to water and a toilet (a bathroom is often a good choice);
- with phone and radio reception.
Note a second option too: the building’s basement, the stairwell or the nearest public shelter.
What to keep there
You don’t need much. A box or bag kept in or near the room:
- Water: a few bottles
- Non-perishable snacks
- Flashlight or LED lantern and batteries
- Battery radio. See emergency radios
- Power bank and phone cable
- First aid kit
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Wide duct tape, plastic sheeting and a towel (for sealing)
- Whistle
- N95/FFP2 masks
- Daily medication for a day or two
- Something for the kids: a game, a book, a toy
Prepare the room
- Secure tall furniture and remove things that could fall. See securing furniture.
- Apply safety film to any windows.
- Pre-cut plastic sheeting for windows and vents and label where it goes.
- Check reception for phone and radio.
Practice
Run a drill once a year: call “Alert!” and everyone goes to the room with what they need, pets included. Time it. Add the location to your family plan.
Frequently asked questions
What if I live in a studio with windows everywhere?
Use the hallway, bathroom or stairwell, which usually have fewer outside walls. For tornadoes or air raids, go to the building's basement or the nearest public shelter. Find out in advance where shelters are in your area.
Do I need to build a special room?
Not usually. For most people, a well-chosen and prepared existing room is enough. In tornado-prone areas, FEMA-standard storm shelters or safe rooms built to ICC 500 offer near-absolute protection and may be worth it. Elsewhere, knowing where to go and having a few things ready matters more.
Where is safest in an earthquake?
In an earthquake, don't run to a particular room during shaking. Protect yourself where you are: drop, take cover under a sturdy table or desk and hold on, away from windows and furniture that can fall. Only move or leave once the shaking stops.
Sources and further reading
Preper is for general education and does not replace instructions from your local authorities or advice from a doctor. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.