Kentucky Residents Bury Minivan Using Temu Excavator to Build DIY Storm Shelter

      @erikan84 via TikTok

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      Last week, severe storms hit the central United States hard. I live in Missouri, where we experienced flooding one day and snow the next. People in other states, like Kentucky, faced even harsher conditions. Ryan Hagan and Buddy Rolley, who are from Kentucky, took matters into their own hands by constructing their own storm shelter using available materials: a minivan, some dirt, and an excavator they purchased from the online discount site Temu. As you might expect, this drew a lot of attention.

      Hagan’s cousin, Erika Cobb, shared a TikTok video of their DIY shelter on Wednesday, which has since garnered 1.9 million views. The comments section is quite entertaining, with many chiming in to say, "Country boys can survive."

      Cobb also uploaded a follow-up video showing the van's interior at the request of commenters.

      Cobb mentioned that her uncle owns a salvage yard, giving him access to various vehicles. He selected an early 2000s Nissan Quest from the lot and buried it. Since the van was operational, they could listen to storm alerts on the radio—after ensuring that the exhaust would not enter the cabin, of course.

      The excavator used for this project is a CO-Z model with a 13.5-horsepower engine, according to the ad on Temu. It retails for roughly $6,000, which is quite affordable for new mini excavators. I suspect they already had the CO-Z and decided to utilize it for this project; I doubt they purchased it solely for digging this hole.

      @erikan84 via TikTok

      It's striking to see the windows covered in dirt in that second video. That sight alone would likely cause me to panic inside. However, as Hagan shared with the Lexington Herald-Leader, it was a practical solution under the circumstances.

      “They may think we’re the biggest rednecks for burying a van, but we needed a way to escape the weather,” Hagan said in an interview. “That was the best temporary option we had.”

      Honestly, if you're criticizing these guys for their efforts, it’s worth reflecting on your perspective. They didn’t anticipate this would be a flawless solution.

      “People often underestimate the weight of dirt… it’s unlikely a tornado would uproot it,” Hagan continued in the Herald-Leader. “The entire hood and everything are buried beneath three feet of dirt, so we feel secure.”

      The National Weather Service office in Memphis issued a total of 223 warnings for severe thunderstorms, flash floods, and tornadoes from April 2 to 6; for comparison, it issued 262 such warnings for all of 2024. Fortunately, there were no confirmed tornado touchdowns in Muhlenberg County, where Hagan and Roller reside. That doesn't mean it could never happen, which is why they’re keeping the van buried for future emergencies.

      Good on you, boys.

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