Panic room, a multi-purpose room in Oklahoma

The movie "Panic Room" opened this weekend, it stars Jodi Foster. It's about a single mother and daughter who are forced to lock themselves inside a special room in their house when bad guys break

Friday, March 29th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The movie "Panic Room" opened this weekend, it stars Jodi Foster. It's about a single mother and daughter who are forced to lock themselves inside a special room in their house when bad guys break in. News on Six crime reporter Lori Fullbright looks at the local version of panic rooms.

The panic room in this movie is loaded with technological gizmos, TV monitors, remote control doors and more. But, a less Hollywood version does exist and right here in Green Country. Bill Rhees makes them; it's three rooms in one, a closet, a tornado safe room and a room to hide from intruders. Bill Rhees with BMI Construction: "This has three deadbolts, it's made of 12-gauge steel and has a phone jack so you can dial 911 and if you have to stay in here any time, there's a vent so you can get fresh air in, that type of thing." And, the door and walls are bulletproof. Rhees used his 45-caliber gun to shoot at both the door and the walls. Each time, the bullet made a dent, but, didn't go through. "With all the things going on in this world with criminals and scumbags and drugs, people need a place to hide." They install three deadbolts not just for safety, but, so little kids can get the door locked and they do the same thing for peepholes. They'll put them up here for adults and down here for kids. The steel cage, surrounded by two, three- quarter inch plywood sheets can also withstand a two by four flying through the air at 100 miles an hour, which could happen in an F-5 tornado. The safe room could likely withstand a small explosion and is also fire resistant. "The likelihood of getting your door kicked in and someone trying to hurt your family is greater than a tornado." Either way, these rooms provide a place for people in a panic to breathe easier. Rhees says the optimal size room is six by eight, but can be made smaller. They cost around $5,000.