# Do you have a panic room, would you get one, ever been in one? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 6, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668 "2011-08-06T01:09:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/1 "2011-08-06T01:09:01Z")
I know there was that film a few years back but I’ve never seen one. Are they common enough that dopers have either seen them or actually have them in their homes? Anyone? Would you like to have one in your home? I can’t imagine a situation where it would be preferable to shut myself in a room rather than run for the hills so I don’t think I’d have one. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/2 "2011-08-06T01:14:12Z")
No, no, and yes. My mother has one. She’s… a little on the paranoid survivalist side. Hers is specifically for sheltering Jews during the upcoming Second Holocaust instigated by the communists that are invading the country. I think they’re interesting, but 1) I’m dead broke, and 2) that’s way too much like work to set one up and keep it maintained, and 3) even _if_ I gave enough of a shit to try it out, I can’t ever get one because if she found out, she’d never leave me alone about it, and I have enough trouble dodging her crackpot theories as it is. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/3 "2011-08-06T04:10:05Z")
I think most people who have a panic room don’t have a room set aside for just that purpose. It’s usually going to be a modified bedroom. Just put in solid walls, a solid lockable door, security windows, a phone with its own power supply, and a gun if you want. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/4 "2011-08-06T04:19:14Z")
I have a concealed door/room in my house, there’s no lock on the door, though, so I doubt that qualifies. I have been in a home with a bomb shelter, it’d been built in the late 50’s, it was being used as a party room when I was there. An actual dedicated, fortified panic room, I’ve never heard of one. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/5 "2011-08-06T04:50:24Z")
If you are that worried about security, why wouldn’t you make the whole house out of “panic room”? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/6 "2011-08-06T06:06:39Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > If you are that worried about security, why wouldn’t you make the whole house out of “panic room”? Money maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/7 "2011-08-06T06:08:03Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > If you are that worried about security, why wouldn’t you make the whole house out of “panic room”? Because then it would be too heavy to fly. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/8 "2011-08-07T14:02:12Z")
I would feel trapped and would run out of it in about 2 minutes. I would not have one. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/9 "2011-08-07T15:10:37Z")
I’ve had one living overseas- basically a bedroom with a locking metal door, barred windows and some emergency supplies. I’ve known people who have had to use theirs when faced with angry mobs, robberies, etc.You don’t always get time to run. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/10 "2011-08-07T15:15:01Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > Because then it would be too heavy to fly. snerk > [@even\_sven](#): > > I’ve known people who have had to use theirs when faced with angry mobs, robberies, etc.You don’t always get time to run. I bet if your friends stopped hobbling together monsters in their labs, the angry mobs would stop showing up. Seriously though…who has a problem with angry mobs? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/11 "2011-08-07T16:03:29Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Seriously though…who has a problem with angry mobs? Scott Walker. You should know that one. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/12 "2011-08-07T16:04:41Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Seriously though…who has a problem with angry mobs? Who DOESN’T? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/13 "2011-08-07T16:08:14Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I can’t imagine a situation where it would be preferable to shut myself in a room rather than run for the hills so I don’t think I’d have one. Tornado. Well, it depends partly on where in the house the panic room is (basement good, attic not so much) and how it’s constructed, but in a tornado I definitely would prefer to hide in a secure room than attempt a “run for the hills”. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/14 "2011-08-07T16:18:35Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Seriously though…who has a problem with angry mobs? Peace Corps volunteers end up in some unusual situations. I’ve got some stories. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/15 "2011-08-07T16:29:45Z")
I took a tour of the NORAD base underneath Cheyenne Mountain. That’s the ultimate panic room. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/16 "2011-08-07T16:32:27Z")
I would have one if I could. But then I’ve got a psychopathic ex who wants me dead, so there’s more than the usual reason to dream. Trouble is, I’m most likely to need it during the night, so putting it on the top floor makes the most sense. But then what if he sets the house on fire? And what use is it during bad weather? But if I have to get past the intruder to get into it the whole point is moot. Nope, I don’t have a good answer. Besides, all my money is tied up in keeping him from getting time alone with our daughter. :sigh: I have toured houses which had really nice ones, and my Dad’s old place had a less elaborate version. (basically just toughening of the walls in the Master bath/closet area,and some food storage.) The best one had a dedicated solar cell to provide power, charging area for cell phones, etc. A stationary bike hooked up to create electricity and a faucet straight from the hot water heater (so, what 30 gallons of back-up water?). It also had a ladder which went down inside the wall and provided secret outside access through the garden shed/leanto. Trouble is, of course, that they were showing it all to everyone who toured the house. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/17 "2011-08-07T18:50:42Z")
When I was 11 or so, my family’s house caught fire. The house we ended up renting while ours was being rebuilt had a rather elaborate security system that had panic buttons in every room that tripped a silent alarm, some other stuff I didn’t really understand, and a room that had originally been designed as a panic room, but that had been converted to other uses. The entire system had been powered by an auxiliary generator, and while I don’t know the specifics, it had been designed more or less in parallel, so if one wire were to be cut, the rest of the system would still function. (We were later told that one of the developers or the original owners casually knew at least one of the Manson victims, hence the elaborate security.) Most of the system had been dismantled by the time we moved in, but damn it was freaky. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/18 "2011-08-07T19:12:02Z")
I live in a one room hotel room, it’s where I do all of my panicking, so the answer is yes, I have a panic room. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/19 "2011-08-07T20:18:19Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I know there was that film a few years back but I’ve never seen one. Are they common enough that dopers have either seen them or actually have them in their homes? Anyone? > > Would you like to have one in your home? > > I can’t imagine a situation where it would be preferable to shut myself in a room rather than run for the hills so I don’t think I’d have one. [I do have a panic room, but it’s rather small.](http://www.libertysafe.com/productsmain.php?pt_id=1) And I think the idea behind it is less “getting in” and more “getting things out” in the case of the type of “panic” that you are describing. Other forms of “panic” (Debt Crisis, political opposition, home mortgage, the Jonses…) can also be handled this way, but that sort of thing tends to be frowned upon; most folks would rather you just cope or turn to drugs. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > Seriously though…who has a problem with angry mobs? [Not any more!](http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=564256) [Boo-YAH! Get SOME!](http://www.keltecweapons.com/uploaded_files/tinymce/images/KSG_3357web.jpg) j/k ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-panic-room-would-you-get-one-ever-been-in-one/591668/20 "2011-08-07T23:56:07Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > Because then it would be too heavy to fly. Hahaha that’s a good one.