When extreme weather threatens, individuals and families need advance warning and protection from the dangerous forces of extreme winds.

Individuals and communities in tornado alley need a structurally sound storm shelter or safe room.

Investing in a storm shelter is a wise choice, deciding whether you want to install a pre-manufactured shelter, or have a shelter built from plans recamended by FEMA will be your first step.

Underground Shelters are the best choice for most home owners. Check the type of rock and water table in your area to avoid any installation problem's.

The In-residence shelter is more like a fortified closet, they are more accessible when a tornado is coming. Building one into an existing house can be difficult and costly. A good alternative would be a pre-built shelter that can be placed almost anywhere in the house.

When buying a shelter you should ask.

What are the total cost, shelter and installation
What is covered by the warranty and for how long
How many people will use the shelter
Do you want seating and or storage space for emergency supplies
What type of ventalation is provided
Is the shelter built to FEMA standards
Do you want electricty in the shelter
What type of feedback has the company that manufactures the shelter recieved
What are the shelter options for homes in the flood plain
Can rodents such as snakes, scorpions, etc, get into the shelter
Is the proposed shelter location free from underground data cables, gas lines, sewer lines, ect.

Never seek shelter under an overpass....

Many people mistakenly think that a highway overpass provides shelter from a tornado. In reality, an overpass may be one of the worst places to seek shelter from a tornado.

Seeking shelter under an overpass puts you at greater risk of being killed or seriously injured by flying debris from the powerful tornadic winds.

The idea that overpasses offer safety probably began in 1991, when a television news crew and some citizens rode out a very weak tornado under an overpass along the Kansas Turnpike. The resulting video continues to be seen by millions, and appears to have fostered the idea that overpasses are preferred sources of shelter, and should be sought out by those in the path of a tornado. In addition, news magazine photographs of people huddled under an overpass with an approaching tornado imply that this is the correct safety procedure, Nothing can be further from the truth!