Latest Blog Articles
Safe Room vs. Storm Shelter for Your Home
If you’ve been researching tornado protection for your home, you’ve probably seen “safe room” and “storm shelter” used interchangeably. One product brochure calls it a safe room. The next calls it a storm shelter. A third says “tornado shelter.” Are they the same thing? Does the label even matter? The short answer: the terms overlap,…
FEMA-Approved Commercial Tornado Shelters? What The Term Actually Means
You see the term “FEMA-approved” a lot in reference to tornado shelters. Or even FEMA certified. So, what does it mean when a vendor tells you their shelter is “FEMA-approved”? The phrase sounds reassuring. It sounds like a federal inspector showed up, tested the product, and stamped it with government backing.The reality is that FEMA…
Storm Shelter Mortgage Financing: What Lenders Allow (And What They Don't)
Can you finance a storm shelter through your mortgage? The short answer is yes, but only under the right conditions. The right answer depends on three things: when you’re financing (at purchase or after), what type of shelter you’re installing, and how your lender classifies that shelter under their underwriting rules. If you get those…
What Prepared Homeowners Do Differently Before a Tornado
Prepared homeowners don’t just react when tornado warnings blare. They’ve already made the critical decisions, stocked the supplies, and practiced the plan so that they know what to do when sirens sound. The difference between being prepared and unprepared isn’t luck or extra money. It’s systematic preparation that transforms tornado threats into manageable, survivable events.…
How Much Can a Commercial Tornado Shelter Actually Lower Your Insurance Premium?
If you recently installed a commercial tornado shelter, or you’re seriously considering one, you’re probably wondering whether the insurance savings are real. We are here to give you steps to capture the savings most business owners leave on the table. Does a Commercial Tornado Shelter Lower Insurance Premiums? Yes, a commercial storm shelter or safe…
What is the Installation Process for Community Storm Shelters? 5 Steps Explained
Community storm shelter installation is a process that transforms an empty plot of land into a storm shelter that meets FEMA P-361 guidance and ICC-500 standards. A community storm shelter can protect dozens or even hundreds of people during EF5 tornadoes. The entire process typically spans 8-12 weeks from the initial permit application to the…
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to buy a storm shelter?
What happens if the house collapses on top of my storm shelter after a tornado?
Survive-A-Storm off our proprietary StormWarn Service with every shelter. If a tornado touches down in your area, we will attempt to be sure you are safe. If we are unable to contact you or your emergency contacts, we notify emergency crews and send them the exact GPS coordinates of your shelter so provide assistance.
If I have a basement or interior bathroom why do I need a storm shelter?
Tornadoes can be strong enough to destroy houses, and tear up even the strongest floor framing. Flying debris can punch through wood beams in excess of eight inches thick. Survive-A-Storm residential storm shelters have been tested to withstand an EF5 tornado, and are manufactured to be in compliance with FEMA 320 standards.
Do I have to move my vehicle to get into my garage cube?
Where can I see your storm shelters?
How many storm shelters have you manufactured?
What if lightning strikes my unit?
Michael Faraday invented the “Faraday Cage” in 1836 to protect against electrocution. In fact, electrical lineman wear a Faraday Cage when working on high-voltage lines. All of our shelters are a Faraday Cage and the result is the electrical charge is eliminated from the interior, providing lightning protection from the shelter.
Do you offer handicapped accessible tornado shelters?
How does the tornado shelter door open if debris falls on it?
Will my cell phone work inside the tornado shelter?
Do you produce commercial storm shelters?
Where can I put a TwisterPod or Extreme safe room?
Most garages, carports, or patios can accept either model. For customers serviced from one of our more than 100 Home Depot locations, we can conduct a virtual site visit to confirm that your concrete will meet specifications.
Do you offer financing for your storm shelters?
Do you offer financing for customers with poor credit?
Where are your storm shelters made?
How do you determine the amount of people your storm shelter will fit?
FEMA 320 requires that each occupant have 3 square feet of space, and FEMA 361 requires each occupant to have 5 square feet.
Can my above ground shelter be moved if I sell my home?
Will a shelter add value to my home?
Why is it important for a storm shelter company to be an NSSA member?
Which items should I keep inside my storm shelter?
How are your storm shelters vented?
Which is safer, a below ground or above ground tornado shelter?
How is your GarageCube different from other garage models?
We have several reasons our garage cube is superior:
- It is encased in 5″ of concrete to mitigate against floating
- The oversized door provides a more aesthetic look than seeing patched concrete
- It comes standard with removable steel benches/steps, storage locker, and winch
- It contains a sacrificial anode to protect against galvanic corrosion
- It comes with the strongest lid in the industry
- The Geolocator service is included
Do your underground tornado shelters condensate?
How do you treat the condensation in a below ground storm shelter?
Are your units FEMA 320 and/or FEMA 361 compliant?
Are your units ICC500 compliant?
Have your units passed the Texas Tech wind research institute testing replicating an F5 storm?
Will your shelters stand-up to an EF5 tornado?
What is the warranty on your tornado shelters?
Our tornado shelters and safe rooms carry a limited lifetime warranty.
What is the advantage of steel tornado shelters over concrete tornado shelters?
What is the advantage of steel tornado shelters over fiberglass?
What keeps it from rusting?
How does the tornado shelter door open if debris falls on it?
Do you have electrical entrances in your storm shelters?
What keeps the door on your tornado shelters from opening in a storm?
Are your tornado shelter doors lockable from the outside?
How are your storm shelters vented?
What is the gauge of steel?
Which is safer, a below ground or above ground tornado shelter?
Will I need a building permit to install my tornado shelter?
Do you deliver your storm shelters?
Yes, we deliver to the lower 48 states with our own special equipment and keep storm shelters in stock for immediate pick-up in most of our five locations.
Do you install the tornado safe room, or do I have to install my safe room?
We have factory install teams that install our tornado shelters throughout tornado alley.
Do you pour the concrete for the safe room?
We do not pour concrete.
Where can I install a storm shelter?
How long does it take to install a storm shelter?
When you install a storm shelter is there a mess to clean up?
How deep do you bury your underground tornado shelters?
Can I install a tornado shelter myself?
Depending on your knowledge of construction you could reference our online YouTube videos and install your shelter.