Did you know the United States averages around 1,200 tornadoes each year? Or that tornadoes occur more frequently in the United States than anywhere else?
Considering the fatalities, injuries, and destruction that tornadoes often cause when they strike, many build or install a home storm shelter to reduce their risk and achieve peace of mind.
Do you really need a storm shelter? After all, they require a sizable investment, so a “risk vs. benefit” analysis makes sense. Plus, everyone has a different tolerance level for risk. The simple fact is that storm shelters save lives! Check out this news story from WFIE 14 News in Evansville, IN, about a family that survived a July 2024 tornado due to a storm shelter they purchased less than two months earlier!
FEMA Wind Zone Map
The map below shows that FEMA divides the United States into four zones based on the frequency and strength of tornadoes. This map was developed using 70 years of tornado history and over 160 years of hurricane history. The second image shows the risk and FEMA’s guidance. You can find these images and read more about assessing your risk in the publication FEMA P-320: Taking Shelter from the Storm: Building or Installing a Safe Room for Your Home. Please take a look at sections 2.5 and 2.6.
Several factors will likely influence your decision-making process. I’ll outline the key factors in this article and discuss a storm shelter’s primary benefits. I’ll also explore whether a home basement provides sufficient protection from a tornado.
Do I Even Need A Storm Shelter? Key Factors to Consider…
- Geographic Location: Do you live in an area prone to tornados, hurricanes, or severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging straight-line winds up to 100mph? The above FEMA map will help you determine the risk level where you live.
- Severe Storm Frequency: How frequently do intense, severe weather events occur in your area?
- Home Type/Structure: How structurally sound is your home? Does your home have a fortified basement? Do you live in a mobile home?
- Family Needs: How many people need protection from a storm? Do any have mobility challenges?
- Feasibility: Do you rent or own? Do you live in a single-family home? A duplex or other multi-family unit like an apartment complex? This is an important consideration from both a feasibility and practicality perspective. Landowners may not permit a storm shelter installation even if you rent a single-family home. This is unfortunate since it will likely make the home more appealing to future tenants. Also, even if a landlord will allow it, investing in a storm shelter may not be practical, depending on how long you plan to stay.
- Costs: Storm shelters can cost a few thousand to more than $10,000. The type of shelter (below-ground or above-ground), construction material, and site installation factors all affect the final price. Many companies offer financing to make it easier for buyers.
- Local Codes/Ordinances: Some areas may have specific storm shelter requirements and require approval and permits. It is best to check with your city or county before you buy, especially if you plan to buy a below-ground storm shelter.
Primary Storm Shelter Benefits
As you consider the key factors above, look at a storm shelter’s overall benefits. Here are some of the key advantages:
- Protection: provides a safe space for yourself, family members, and pets during extreme weather events.
- Peace of Mind: knowing you have a shelter that provides a high level of protection can relieve stress and anxiety before or during severe weather conditions.
- Vault for Valuables: a storm shelter (primarily indoor) can also serve as a place to protect valuables (jewelry, important papers, etc.) during a storm. Many storm shelters also include lockable safes designed for this very purpose.
- Increase Property Appeal: notice I said “property appeal” and not “property value.” The storm shelter may or may not increase your home’s monetary value. However, it can certainly be a solid selling point. This is especially true if you live in an area prone to severe weather.
I Have a Basement. Is That Enough?
We had a walkout basement at one of our prior homes. Due to the yard’s slope, part of the basement was at ground level, with a door leading to our backyard. The other part of the basement was below ground level. This was our shelter place whenever we were under a tornado warning. While the below-grade part of the basement would protect us from flying debris, I always worried about the house collapsing into the basement if we took a direct hit from a tornado.
Indeed, a basement can be a relatively safe place to shelter during severe weather, but several important points must be considered. First and foremost, if the basement does not meet FEMA guidelines and ICC standards, it may not offer the same level of near-absolute protection provided by a storm shelter built to these strict specifications.
Advantages:
- Protection from Debris: A basement can offer below-ground protection from strong winds and wind-borne debris.
- Easy Access: A basement is often easy and quick to access. However, this may not be true for people with mobility challenges.
- Emergency Supply Storage: To be better prepared for severe weather, you can store emergency supplies (water, flashlights, etc.) in the basement.
Potential Barriers:
- Structural Integrity: Basements are not typically built to handle a tornado’s fierce winds or impact. You may need to invest in additional fortification.
- Entrapment: The above-ground home may collapse into the basement (my worst fear when we had a basement), which could trap, injure, or kill the occupants. If the basement has a strong workbench or table, being underneath it will provide additional protection.
- Flooding: If the basement is not waterproof, it could flood in extreme rains or due to a ruptured water main.
These are broad statements; not all may apply to your situation. My goal is to give you points to consider. For example, flooding may not be a factor for your home. It wasn’t a possibility in our home’s basement. We lived toward the top of a hill, and the walkout portion of our basement was further down the slope than the below-ground part, so I never had to worry about flooding. It simply wouldn’t happen.
Another option is to install an above-ground storm shelter that meets FEMA guidelines in the basement. Many companies offer shelters designed to meet this need. The shelters are assembled in the installation location and anchored directly to the concrete foundation. This option would provide the highest level of protection.
Do you think a storm shelter is essential? Why or why not? Let’s talk about it below or contact me directly.