About
Welcome to Storm Shelter 101, your go-to resource for learning about storm shelters. My goal is to provide relevant information to help homeowners (especially those of us living in Tornado Alley and Dixie Alley) understand, compare, and confidently invest in a residential storm shelter.
A storm shelter can be a significant investment, with many factors to consider. When I first started researching storm shelters for my own home, I quickly realized the number of companies offering shelters, the types and sizes, the materials, the options available, and the safety standards can be overwhelming.
That experience inspired me to create this site where you can find clear, unbiased information about storm safety all in one place.
What You’ll Find Here
At Storm Shelter 101, I cover practical topics to help you in your research to buy the right storm shelter for your situation, and how to ensure it is ready when you need it. This includes topics such as:
- Buying a tornado shelter or safe room — comparing sizes, designs, and materials
- Standards and safety — FEMA (P-320, P-361) and ICC 500 guidelines on storm shelters design and construction
- Testing and certification — how storm shelters are proven to withstand EF5 tornadoes
- Maintenance and readiness — keeping your storm shelter safe, stocked, and ready at all times
Why I Started This Site
I do not work for any company that manufactures, sells, or installs storm shelters. I’m just a naturally curious homeowner who wanted the best protection for my family.
Along the way, I studied FEMA and ICC standards, learned how shelters are tested, and visited multiple manufacturers to compare the different types of storm shelters, configurations, and options.
The more I learned, the more I realized how valuable it would be to share this information with other homeowners. My goal is to make Storm Shelter 101 a practical, trustworthy resource for anyone researching storm shelters for their home.
A Work in Progress
Although I now have a storm shelter (see image on this page), my interest in this topic continues to grow. I will continue to add new articles, research, and insights.
Above all, I want to make this website a useful resource for anyone researching to buy or build a storm shelter.
I welcome input. If you have a question or a suggested topic you would like covered, please let me know.
