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Why Community Shelter Sizing Matters More Than You ThinkThe size of a community shelter can be a matter of life and death during severe weather events. Overcrowded shelters have led to dangerous conditions. During recent tornado outbreaks, some shelters reported turning away dozens of people due to a lack of space, forcing families to seek…
The New Reality: Why Tornado Safety Is Also a Smart Financial StrategyIn regions like Oklahoma, Texas, and Alabama, designated as Tornado Alley and Dixie Alley, severe weather is not a “maybe.” It’s a matter of when. Nationwide, tornadoes are increasing in both frequency and intensity, shifting how homeowners think about safety and about value.What was once…
Why Safety Sells: The Overlooked Market Power of Tornado SheltersTornado shelters are no longer just a safety upgrade; they’ve become a significant market differentiator for homes in storm-prone regions. Recent surveys reveal that more than 60% of U.S. homeowners want detailed information about storm safety features when buying a home, and nearly half actively seek…
Why Tornado Shelters Are More Than a Legal RequirementTornado shelters in schools aren’t just about checking a legal box; they are a life-or-death safeguard for students, staff, and the wider community. The U.S. experiences around 1,000 tornadoes each year, the highest frequency globally, resulting in hundreds of injuries and dozens of fatalities. In 2024 alone, tornadoes injured…
Think Tornado Season Ends in Spring? Think Again.For many homeowners, tornado season feels like a springtime concern, something that peaks between March and June and then fades away with the heat of summer. Late summer tornadoes are not a fluke, they’re part of the normal seasonal shift. Waiting until next spring to prepare may be…
As a homebuilder, one of your key priorities is ensuring that your clients are satisfied with their new homes and safe in the face of severe weather. Tornadoes, especially in Tornado Alley, can pose a significant threat to homes and families. That’s where Survive-A-Storm’s Homebuilder and Dealer Wholesale Program comes in, offering a cost-effective solution…
Severe weather events, like tornados, are increasingly common, making the need for reliable storm shelters even more critical. At Survive-A-Storm, we understand the importance of protecting your loved ones during life-threatening situations. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our latest innovation: the 3 x 5 Extreme Shelter. Developed with valuable input from our customers, this…
When it comes to protecting people from the devastating effects of storms, having a well-designed tornado shelter is crucial. While FEMA 320 provides valuable guidance for homeowners looking to build or buy individual tornado shelters, FEMA 361 takes things a step further by offering extensive guidelines specifically for commercial and community safe rooms. The document,…
This blog post was originally posted in 2020, but it has been updated with current data. We were warned that this year (2024) would bring a particularly harsh season for hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30, and though it started mild, the violence of hurricane season has officially…
FEMA P-320 is a guide to residential storm shelters: it promotes understanding tornadoes and deciding on the best protection for you and your loved ones. Survive-A-Storm Shelters follows the regulations outlined in the FEMA P-320 publication, from size and occupancy standards to engineering specifications in the construction of storm shelters.Why Should I Use FEMA 320…
Having a reliable commercial tornado shelter is important, but it’s not just about picking and installing a shelter. First, you must make informed decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of your team, customers, or anyone on your commercial site. There are many factors to consider that will impact the effectiveness of your shelter.In this…
According to the US Census Bureau, in 2022, approximately 27.1 million people—about 8.4% of the U.S. population—moved to a new home, highlighting how the days of buying a house and staying in it for decades are becoming less common. With so many people on the move, it’s no surprise that a frequent question about our…
If you’re looking for a tornado shelter company in your area, it can be hard to know who to call. After all, you have choices. Should you go with a regional supplier or one with a more national presence? You can always roll the dice and Google this information, but there is probably no comprehensive,…
When it comes to tornadoes, the EF5 tornado stands as a colossal force, unparalleled in its power and capacity for destruction. It’s the maximum measurable level for tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. And they are certainly a phenomenon that defies the ordinary. With wind speeds exceeding 200 mph, these massive storms bring devastation and…
There’s a lot of fear around tornadoes and staying protected – and for good reason. We’ve all seen the pictures of entire towns decimated by tornadoes. At Survive-A-Storm, we’re in the business of protecting people. Our tornado shelters are constructed using sturdy steel and tested to withstand the high winds and powerful force of an…
Being home during a tornado threat is not for the faint of heart. The sky turns dark quickly, which can make your home’s interior darker, even during the day. The wind picks up speed, and you may hear sounds you don’t normally hear: the rafters of your home creaking, branches scraping the house, the gusting…
The threat of tornadoes is a constant reminder of nature’s unpredictable power. We understand the worry that comes with sheltering from a powerful tornado. We see this fear present in the questions asked by those who wonder how we can possibly anchor down something above ground against an EF5 tornado.The answer is in the science…
As the sun sets on a quiet suburban neighborhood, families gather in their homes in relative comfort and security. Inside, children play in the living room, parents prepare the evening meal, and the world outside is a distant concern. It’s a testament to the peace that a safe home can offer. But, there’s also an…
Tornadoes are unpredictable and if you’re not prepared the results could be devastating – injuries to you and your family, or even death. The best way to stay safe during a tornado is inside a tornado shelter. Installing a tornado shelter at your home requires a lot of consideration and careful planning. We’ve covered the intricacies…
Imagine this scenario:Dark clouds are gathering rapidly in the sky, a warning siren is howling in the distance, the wind is picking up an ominous speed and you have a building full of employees and customers.Tornado shelters are an essential part of staying protected against severe weather. That is no less true during the hours…
When you live in Tornado Alley or Dixie Alley, you soon learn that the skies can be brutal, with fierce winds that can spiral into dangerous tornadoes. Against this backdrop, Ryan Hall found his purpose, and on YouTube, he found his audience as a tornado expert and severe weather expert. Now, in collaboration with Survive-A-Storm,…
Natural disasters like tornadoes can wreak havoc on communities, leaving behind destruction and displacement. It’s been such an ongoing challenge in the service area of the Alabama-West Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church (AWFUMC) that the church created the Disaster Response and Recovery Ministry to assist after these natural disasters strike. The team typically…
Social media has changed us as a society. Instant opinions are everywhere. It’s no surprise that even the most well-intentioned topics face scrutiny from naysayers. Tornado shelters, designed to be safe havens during severe storms, are no exception.We have many kinds of shelters because there are many, many different environmental concerns in the US. Think…