What Is a Storm Shelter? What to Know Before Buying

Ever wonder what a storm shelter is? It helps keep you and your family safe during tornadoes and hurricanes. If you live in a region with these frequent weather concerns, buying a storm shelter can give you peace and physical safety in case of an emergency. Read on to learn what type of storm shelter will meet your and your family’s needs and some more essential things to know before buying a storm shelter.

Storm Shelter vs. Safe Room 

A storm shelter is a structure designed to protect people from tornadoes, hurricanes, strong winds, and airborne debris. The term “safe room” is often used to describe the specifics of a storm shelter intended to withstand tornadoes or hurricanes. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has specific criteria that safe rooms must meet to protect you from harm. Before buying your storm shelter, you’ll want to ensure it meets these guidelines. 

The main rules center on performance requirements:

• Must resist impact from airborne debris coming into contact with the shelter due to high-speed winds

• Needs structural integrity to withstand pressure from high-speed winds, remain intact, and not collapse

Why Do I Need a Storm Shelter?

Storm shelters (built to the guidelines from FEMA) provide near-absolute protection from injury and death during severe weather events, like hurricanes, storms, and tornadoes. If you live in a region with extreme weather, consider building a storm shelter or safe room for your household to keep everyone safe during an emergency. During a severe weather event, you may not have time to leave your home and find shelter elsewhere. Having a storm shelter at your house can help you quickly get to safety. 

Underground vs. Aboveground Storm Shelters

When buying a storm shelter, you’ll choose between an underground or aboveground shelter. Base your decision on the needs of your family, home, and yard. 

Underground Storm Shelters

These shelters can be very safe and effective. Your home may have an existing cellar door that, with a few modifications, can be turned into a storm shelter. 

Pros

• They offer excellent protection from high-speed winds and flying debris. 

• They may increase the value of your home, particularly in areas that experience numerous extreme weather events.

Cons

• They’re not easily accessible for people using wheelchairs, people with mobility issues, and older adults.

• Depending on the severity of the storm and how quickly it comes on, leaving your home to go outside to access the doors can be a safety concern.

• Animals like mice and rats may be able to enter these types of shelters. You don’t want to see these unwelcome visitors during an emergency.

Experts don’t recommend underground shelters for homes in regions where flooding is common or have high groundwater tables. Underground storm shelters can leak at times, as well. Before installing an underground shelter, call Dig Safe (also known as Call-Before-You-Dig and 811) to check that there are no utility lines in the area where you need to excavate.

Aboveground Storm Shelters

You can install storm shelters aboveground in your home's basement, closet, garage, or storage room. They can also fit inconspicuously in a corner. 

Pros

• They’re easier to get to in times of dangerous weather.

• There’s no exposure to the elements (if the shelter is inside your home).

• They’re more accessible for people using wheelchairs or with mobility issues.

Cons

• Since an aboveground shelter is built in the living area of a home, you may lose some square footage of your home or garage.

• The shelter may not be strong enough to withstand extremely high winds.

• The shelter may not be large enough to house your entire family.

Storm shelter walls are made of steel, able to withstand high winds, and designed to resist denting from debris that may come in contact with it at high speeds. Aboveground shelters must be securely anchored to a steel-reinforced concrete slab with bolts. It’s possible to install aboveground shelters outdoors, but installing them inside your home or garage is safer and more efficient.

Prebuilt shelters can also be a great option since they can be attached to your home (most commonly on the side of the house). A pro can securely anchor the shelter to the foundation of your house. 

What Size Storm Shelter Should You Buy?

When buying a storm shelter, you’ll need to consider the size and needs of your family to ensure everyone can safely fit inside. FEMA recommends calculating a minimum of square feet per person to determine the size of your residential shelter based on the following factors:

For tornado shelters:

• 5 square feet per standing person

• 10 square feet for wheelchair users

• 30 square feet for people who need a bed or stretcher

For hurricane shelters:

• 20 square feet per standing or sitting person, including wheelchair users

• 40 square feet for people who need a bed or stretcher

The minimum floor space per person for a safe room is greater for a hurricane-safe room than for a tornado-safe room because you’ll need to shelter for a longer period of time during a hurricane. A battery-operated unit can assist with proper ventilation, air filtration, and lighting during use. You want to be as comfortable as possible when using the shelter.

Essential Supplies to Stock in Your Storm Shelter

When preparing for a hurricane or tornado, save room in your storm shelter for essential emergency supplies. These include items such as:

• First aid kit

• Bottled water

• Canned and nonperishable foods

• Radio

• Flashlight

• Batteries

Can You DIY Your Storm Shelter?

It’s possible to build a homemade storm shelter yourself, but it requires equipment, skills, and experience that most homeowners don’t often possess. Because of the criteria and specificity of the project, building a storm shelter is best left to professionals. An underground shelter would require you to excavate and build a below-ground room. 

An aboveground shelter is constructed from high-grade steel. Both shelter installations are very technical, require expertise on the subject, and must meet all local codes and FEMA criteria. A prefabricated aboveground storm shelter is the more DIY-friendly option.

Therefore, it’s best to buy a storm shelter from a reputable company or have one made by an expert who knows the proper guidelines to ensure it keeps you and your family safe from the elements.

Registering Your Storm Shelter

Once a pro has installed your storm shelter, register it with your local emergency management department or storm shelter registry. This will allow emergency services to locate you and assist you if the door is blocked or you cannot safely come out of your storm shelter on your own. 

Taking these preventative steps can help you feel prepared for any inclement weather coming your way. An added bonus to either type of storm shelter installation is that it can add value to your home. Find a local storm shelter builder who can install the best structure to meet your needs.