Safety Articles
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…
Why Most Parents Aren’t Ready for Tornado Season If you’re a parent, you’ve likely done some storm prep. You’ve gathered flashlights, stocked bottled water, maybe even stashed a few granola bars. That’s a good start, but is it enough? According to FEMA’s 2020 preparedness survey, 81% of Americans say they’ve gathered emergency supplies, and 65%…
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…
Why Safety Sells: The Overlooked Market Power of Tornado Shelters Tornado 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…