A 5,000-DVD collection is part of the stockpile inside a 60-foot-long survival bunker in the western United States. Buried beneath 30 feet of rock, the shelter also holds enough groceries for a decade.
Luxury homes are another line of work for the shelter's builder, Andrew Mazzella of Bozeman, Montana, whose projects include fortified bunkers.
Here's what to know
Steel and heavy equipment had to travel seven miles along a mountain route to reach the project, which required months of breaking through bedrock, according to Cowboy State Daily.
A bulldozer and excavators helped move the crane where the rugged access road proved too difficult.
Independent systems support the finished shelter's air filtration and sewage disposal, as well as its water supply and electricity.
Concerns about civil unrest, economic collapse, or nuclear war have brought entrepreneurs and small-business owners to Mazzella. Many of his early clients were in their 50s and 60s and wanted to protect what they had built.
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"It kind of becomes a bit of an identity for them," Mazzella said.
More background
Mazzella noticed interest in shelters after the Great Recession of 2008 shook confidence in economic stability.
After COVID-19, he saw extremely wealthy buyers enter the market, sometimes treating fortified compounds as another luxury purchase alongside yachts and private jets.
His experience with insulated concrete forms helped him serve customers seeking stronger buildings. The construction method sandwiches concrete between layers of insulating foam, creating sturdy, quiet, energy-efficient structures.
Not every customer is preparing for an extended underground stay. Some want homes designed to withstand severe weather or wildfires.
David Miller, a Republican from Riverton and former member of Wyoming's state House, pointed to a more everyday concern: interruptions to electricity or natural gas during a northern winter.
For communities facing temperatures well below zero, losing those services can become life-threatening.
What can be done?
Miller tried to address those concerns through legislation in 2012. His proposal would have created a task force to examine ways of keeping Wyoming's essential services running during a serious disruption to federal operations.
Nicknamed the "doomsday bill," the proposal failed in the state House on a 27-30 vote.
At home, Miller has taken smaller-scale steps to prepare for emergencies. When designing his house in the 1980s, he wanted the option of heating the whole home with wood if needed.
He also keeps extra food and emphasizes having drinking water available from storage, a private well, or a neighbor's well.
Beyond household supplies, Miller values close community relationships. He believes smaller rural communities may benefit from access to tools, land, stored food, and relatives and friends experienced in tackling problems together.
"The bunker mentality is not a good mentality," he said. "A little preparedness, though, goes a long way."
Where can I learn more?
Building a shelter and stocking up for emergencies can be costly and complicated. These stories cover preparedness advice, battery storage, tornado shelter costs, and water storage concerns.
• In Britain, a prepper with a £315,000 bunker urges families to stock cash and supplies.
• A homeowner's $18,000 battery bank stores 216 kWh inside its own concrete bunker.
• An Alabama homeowner seeking an underground tornado shelter hears that $20,000 won't cover it.
• A prepper worried about 25 water barrels cracking a garage floor gets cistern suggestions.
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