Below Ground Articles
For Skylar Henson, owner of Latitude 37 Development in Wichita, Kansas, tornado shelters aren’t a luxury upgrade or an optional add-on. They’re a standard feature in every new home his company builds.In a region where severe weather is part of life, Henson believes tornado shelters in new home construction are a must-have feature for both…
You’ve probably wondered whether installing a tornado shelter is just an expense or an actual investment. The short answer is that it depends entirely on where you live and what type of shelter you choose. In tornado-prone regions, shelters can add thousands to your home’s value and help it sell faster. In low-risk areas, you…
If you ask any business owner in tornado country about tornadoes, they’ll want one thing: a straight yes or no on whether they need a storm shelter. Instead, they get federal guidelines stacked on top of state rules, stacked on top of city ordinances—and none of them quite match up. Plenty of people discover what…
The tornado sirens sound, and the countdown begins. A family in Central Oklahoma hears a warning and faces a split-second choice between a familiar basement staircase and a steel safe room bolted to the slab in their garage. The next decision determines the margin between minor injury and life-altering loss, between safety and disaster. Tornado…
Why Code Compliance with ICC-500 & FEMA P-320 Isn’t Just a Label, It’s a Homeowner’s LifelineTornado shelters built to ICC and FEMA standards are engineered to save lives. These life-safety structures are designed from tested materials, like high-strength steel, to meet or exceed federal best practices in wind and impact performance. The stakes are revealed…
Absolute protection means thinking about those who need it most.Why the Most Vulnerable Deserve Careful Planning for Tornado SafetyTornadoes are among the most unpredictable natural disasters. And, as with other disasters, tornado preparedness isn’t just about having flashlights and bottled water. Families often only have minutes after a tornado warning or sirens sound to get…
Tornado Shelter Choices Have Changed Here’s What Builders Miss Tornado shelter technology and design have evolved significantly in recent years. While shelters were once viewed as bunker-style, utilitarian structures, today’s options are sleek, efficient, and can be seamlessly integrated into modern home plans. Yet, many builders and homeowners still think of them as costly, intrusive…
The New Reality: Why Tornado Safety Is Also a Smart Financial Strategy In 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…
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,…
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…
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,…