| The recent hit movie thriller Panic Room, starring | | | | room include accessibility and supplies. A panic room |
| Jody Foster as a mother who gets caught in an | | | | should be easy to access, for you, not for the |
| unpleasant situation after thieves break into her | | | | criminals. It should include running water and toilet |
| home brought the panic room once again into the | | | | facilities. You may even want a separate home alarm |
| spotlight. Panic rooms are the ultimate weapons in | | | | system installed that doesn't depend on outside |
| your home security arsenal. Of course, the panic | | | | power. The room should, preferably within the house |
| room displayed in the movie was of the ultra high | | | | rather than outside and it should not have windows. |
| end sort. It's the sort of home security measure | | | | If you don't think you can afford to put down 20 |
| reserved for the moneyed. The security features | | | | grand on a more sophisticated panic room, you can |
| were extremely high tech and modern-steel doors, | | | | improvise for less. Bathrooms can be easily modified, |
| bulletproof walls, communications equipment and | | | | for instance. They have water, a toilet and usually |
| air-filtration systems-it's all there. | | | | few if any windows. It's a lot easier to secure one |
| Those that can afford it hide their panic rooms | | | | bathroom window than it is to secure a whole |
| behind bookcases and bathroom walls. They make | | | | roomful of windows, even if you have a home |
| sure no one can get in with reinforced steel doors | | | | security system in place. |
| and swinging steel doors. They also can opt for bullet | | | | Another must have home security feature is a lock |
| resistant Kevlar and a dedicated phone line, backup | | | | on the inside of your panic room, to keep whoever |
| generator and features such as keyless entry or | | | | wants in, out. A side bolt is helpful and simple. Also |
| retinal scans-you really do not want to be searching | | | | consider stashing some sort of communications |
| for keys in moments of panic. Of course, these | | | | device within the room-think a cell phone or even an |
| types of features aren't cheap-they can cost | | | | old ham radio. |
| anywhere from $40,000 to $60,000. Of course, if | | | | Change the door to something more heavy duty |
| your home security plan includes a small private army, | | | | than simple plywood. If you're looking for a more |
| closed circuit cameras, gas detection equipment, | | | | simple, short term solution, simply turn a walk in |
| emergency air supplies, fully equipped entertainment | | | | closet into your safe room by swapping out the |
| systems, beds and even separate spaces for the | | | | doors for steel ones. It's cheaper than going all out |
| kids, you're looking at a safe room that's going to be | | | | and you will be able to survive for a few hours or |
| pretty pricey. | | | | days, depending on your provisions. |
| There are of course, much more affordable affairs. | | | | If you don't want to invest in a panic room, do |
| Most people probably won't need such ample home | | | | consider investing in a home alarm system. Houses |
| security systems in the first place. More modest | | | | with home alarms are less likely to be broken into in |
| panic rooms usually cost around $15,000 to $20, 000. | | | | the first place. |
| Things you need to consider when adding a panic | | | | |