Du Quoin man storm-proof: Gene Rolando has survived throat cancer and insurance companies; takes on nature with custom tornado shelter

Gene Rolando has weathered some major storms in his life.

At the age of "67 or 68; I can't remember" he has navigated through the treacherous waters of business as a carry-out and delivery pizza restaurant operator and more recently Stage 4 throat cancer.

He's a survivor.

In retirement, he's taking on nature by constructing a very well-engineered oaken storm shelter or "safe room" in the middle of a room addition he and wife Diane are building at their East Olive Street home.

His ingenuity and determination are inspiring as the number of severe storms hitting Southern Illinois grow by the year. He'll have a better tornado shelter at about one-fourth the cost. "I have about $1,200 in this so far," he said. That compares to between $5,000 and $8,000 for a commercial drop-in shelter.

"The concrete pad is about 14 x 14 feet and the shelter is about 9-foot-7 by 8 feet. The ceiling height will be about 7-foot-6," says Rolando.

The shelter is made out of 6-inch rough sewn oak from a sawmill near Ava. The ceiling beams are made of 6-inch oak, as well. "Each log weighs about 300 pounds. We put reinforcing steel bars down in the concrete that run all the way up through the logs to the roof." Then he and friend Dennis Hottes welded threaded steel pieces to the ends so they could install the steel nuts over the steel straps that will cross the roof of the building.

There are a total of 15 or 16 steel rods perfectly aligned in the one and one-eighth inch holes drilled through each log. "It's not going anywhere."

Three-quarter inch OSB plywood goes over the top of the ceiling beams and the steel straps cross over the plywood.

When the storm sirens sound the couple will be able to come down three steps from their home to the front door of the shelter. Behind the safe room there will be a place for tool storage.

Rolando said the recurrent spring and summer storms in Southern Illinois are getting worse and prompted the project that began in the spring and will be largely completed by the end of summer. The room has an escape hatch near the floor in case a tree falls over the door of the building. It will have electricity and a food supply.

Rolando has already weathered two storms. He said it came to a point where he couldn't find a business insurer to reasonably insure his carryout pizza business. That's why there are very few delivery services.

He also beat Stage 4 throat cancer. "I didn't feel a thing, but they found a lump during a checkup at a clinic. He underwent treatments and finally underwent hyperbaric chamber treatments which fully oxygenates damaged cell tissue and helps it heal.

As he and Dennis maneuver the 300 pound logs into place he is fit and trim and will be ready for the next storm.