Preparation Articles

The Importance of Anchors with Tornado Shelters

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…

When Installing an Above-Ground Residential Tornado Shelter Makes Sense

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…

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…

Introducing StormWarn - A Tornado Alert That Removes Doubt

It’s National Preparedness Month, but how prepared will you be when a tornado touches down in your area? As you may have read, the area known as tornado alley is changing, and tornados have touched down in all 50 states.If you live in an area where tornados are a common occurrence during parts of the…

Can I Use My Tornado Shelter During a Flash Flood?

You are under a flash flood warning, and it is pouring rain outside. Suddenly, you hear the sound of tornado sirens. Should you use an underground tornado shelter?The answer is a bit more complex than one might imagine.This situation actually occurred in Big Sandy, Texas, on the morning of August 22, 2022, as a tornado…

National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month, created by the federal government to encourage Americans to prepare for hazards of all kinds. At Survive-A-Storm, we understand safety and the importance of being prepared.What’s Your Tornado Plan?Will you be at work or at home? What’s your plan? How will you prepare? In our personal lives, that might mean…

Tornado Warning Signs and Preparation

Tornadoes, as we have pointed out before, can form on any day of the year, and at any time of the day. And, although some regions are more prone to these destructive twisters than others, tornadoes have struck all 50 states. Of course, if you live in Tornado Alley or Dixie Alley, the threat of…

The Time is Now: Create Your Tornado Safety Plan Today

Tornado season is coming fast and so now is the time to prepare a plan of action or freshen up the plan you may already have in place.For example, your tornado safety plan should include some of the following to-do tasks:Have an evacuation plan in place so that your whole family knows what to do…

Remembering the Tuscaloosa Tornado of 2000

Be prepared, lest we forget. Just ask the folks who live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.Oftentimes after a tragedy occurs, we spend the next few years honoring those who may have fallen, or who may have been affected by said tragedy.  As life goes on and we begin to heal, we move further away from the event…

Storm Shelter Grants - We Accept Them!

Texas is a state that cares about its citizens.  In fact, they care enough to put programs in place to help local citizens feel safe in their own homes.  One such program, the North Central Texas Safe Room Rebate Program, is one of the storm shelter grants that the North Central Texas Council of Governments…

Preparing for What Scares You Most

We live in a world with so much going on around us all the time.  One commodity that we fight for is protection.  We seek shelter from things that scare us or that have the capacity to harm us.  Shelter seekers are often running from things like terrorist attacks, government corruption, economic collapse, home invasions,…