Tornado and Storm Information Articles

FEMA 361: Understanding Commercial Tornado Shelters and Community Safe Rooms

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 320: A Great Guide for Residential Tornado Shelters

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…

Installing A Commercial Tornado Shelter - Essential Do’s and Don’ts

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…

The Importance of Tornado Shelter Maintenance

In the heart of storm season, your home tornado shelter is like a silent guardian, ready to protect you and your loved ones from nature’s fiercest winds. It’s not just a structure; it’s a haven of safety in the tumult of a storm. But, like a guardian, it needs care and attention to perform its…

Tornado Preparation: Safety Before, During & After a Storm

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…

Survive-A-Storm Partnering with YouTube Weather Analyst, Ryan Hall

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,…

Dispelling Myths: The Truth about Tornado Shelters

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…

How to Gauge a Tornado Threat: Alerts and Polygons Explained

In many areas of the United States, tornado season is well underway. In the Southeast, states like Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee have already had a particularly rough start and they’ll be on edge until June. (And they may have a secondary tornado season in the fall, depending on weather conditions.) Residents of the Central US,…

Tornado Alley vs. Dixie Alley: A Comparison

People have heard the term “Tornado Alley” often enough to know that it is a region of the United States where tornadoes are the most prevalent. However, there is some disagreement over the area’s borders, and whether or not Tornado Alley is “shifting.” While there is no official boundary, the region typically includes the Great…

2022 in Tornadoes – A Look at the “Worst”

Your past 12 months are likely full of ups and downs. Looking back at 2022, many people will size up the events in their lives and the significant accomplishments or setbacks. The purpose might be to set an intention for the coming year or to figure out what we want to accomplish.At Survive-A-Storm, we’d like…

FEMA 320 Shelter Construction Guide

In 1998, FEMA published a guide called “Taking Shelter From the Storm.” The publication, currently in its Fifth Edition, includes construction plans and specifications for building a storm shelter safe room for your home. It is officially called FEMA P-320, but is most commonly referred to as FEMA 320.The tornado shelter construction plans are still…