10 Tips for Protecting Your Family from Tornadoes
Recent devastation from tornadoes across Georgia have us thinking about shelter from such violent storms. How can you protect your family from such a powerful event?
A tornado recently swept through a rural residential community east of Atlanta. The path of the tornado is relatively short and it wasn’t among the most powerful storms yet it still demolished houses and trees in its path. It will take at least a generation for the smaller trees to grow back.
Thankfully, there are now multiple options for storm shelters in the market. They can often be used for more than one event. For example, a property in the southeast may be at risk for tornadoes and high winds from hurricanes that have made landfall.
The following is a collection of a few notes to help you find your way if you’re considering a shelter….
Above-Ground Shelters
Shelters that are completely above ground seem to be gaining traction in the market for shelters from storms. Examples include products like the TwisterPod - a 4’-0” wide by 6’-0” tall solid-steel shelter that can be purchased from bib-box hardware stores like Home Depot. Since we’re Americans, of course there’s a TwisterPod Max with a slightly larger diameter.
The strength of the TwisterPod is your ability to locate it wherever suits you. There’s some concern about this located within a house because it could be covered by debris from the house if the tornado passes close enough to only collapse the house onto the shelter.
A TwisterPod could be located away from a house or at least outside the footprint of the house. The TwisterPod also includes a conduit connection in case you need to provide power. (We have some concerns about providing power to an all steel shelter.)
Shelter in the Ground
More traditional shelters are built into the ground, similar to the root cellars in which previous generations would take shelter. Many of these are now available as single units that can be set into the ground. They may be able to accommodate more occupants in more comfort and they’re not as susceptible to large wind-blown debris.
That’s not to say the TwisterPod couldn’t protect you from large wind-blown debris - we don’t know. We’re still learning about the units. Part of that research is better understanding the testing requirements of the National Storm Shelter Association.
In-ground shelters can be more expensive to purchase and install because they may be substantially larger than the steel tube of the TwisterPod. In-ground shelters can be made of precast concrete and fiberglass. They come with a door, steps, seating and other amenities already installed.
The image above is “The Refuge” tornado shelter. It’s a fiberglass shelter manufactured by Fiberglass Creations of Wedowee, Alamaba. Though quarters in the shelter are tight, the largest shelter currently available from the company can accommodate twelve adults.
The shelter is designed to be buried so that only the door in the upper right-hand corner of the image is above the ground. You can see the outside of the built-in steps from the door to the bottom of the shelter.
What’s It Going to Cost?
Many shelters, from precast concrete to solid steel and fiberglass, can be installed for less than $10,000. That’s a significant investment though better than the risk of losing loved ones in a storm.
Don’t Forget…
Here are a few important notes we share with clients interested in a shelter:
Place your shelter with any future projects in mind. You don’t want to incur the expense of moving the shelter for a future home or property improvement project.
It’s helpful to have the shelter close to your house since you’re going to have to travel from your house to the shelter entrance. Tornadoes can strike with little warning - they’re difficult to see if you live on a heavily wooded property so you may have less time to get into the shelter than you imagine.
It’s important to place your shelter carefully to avoid water getting into the shelter - be sure the area around the shelter can drain easily.
Don’t forget to account for pets when choosing the size of your shelter. You may have to be in the shelter for an extended period so choose a shelter that doesn’t require you to keep a pet in your lap.
It’s possible to buy an accessible shelter. These are typically precast concrete structures that sit above ground though they’re significantly heavier and stronger than typical residential construction.
Get an app to warn you of a coming threat. A shelter won’t help you if you don’t make it to the shelter before the storm strikes. Consider using an app or weather radio to alert you to any growing threats so you have time to collect your family and enter the shelter.
Register your shelter with local rescue agencies such as fire and police departments. Many departments allow residents to register their shelters so rescue personnel can check the shelters after a storm to be sure any occupants were able to get out of the shelter - the occupants are not trapped by debris.
Check regularly to be sure the ventilation for your storm shelter is working properly. This is also a good time to check for any water or pest intrusions and deal with any issues before you need to use the shelter.
Keep a bag of shelter supplies ready. You’ll likely want some basic supplies in your shelter if you’re riding out a storm. They might be things like a flashlight or electric lantern, phone charger, water, snacks, etc. You’ll need to keep these current so everything is ready whenever you need to enter your shelter.
Keep comfort items ready as well. Leaving the comfort of your home for a storm shelter can be a scary event. There’s no heating/cooling or soft surfaces in the shelter so having a blanket can help people deal with the changing temperatures and/or provide some cushioning. You may also wish to have hearing protection, especially for children.
Don’t store anything in your shelter. Though it may be tempting, storm shelters shouldn’t be used for storage since you may not have enough time to empty the shelter of the stored items so there’s room for you.
What did we forget to include? Leave a comment below to share advice about safe and comfortable operation.
In Conclusion
We don’t receive any consideration for the products we’ve mentioned in this post. We hope this post has helped you appreciate there are several good shelter options available so you can choose one that best fits your needs.
Having a plan and remaining ready are more challenging than the purchase and installation of a storm shelter. For example, don’t buy a shelter and assume everyone will just pile in if you realize you have to use it. Instead, practice getting everyone (awake and) collected so you can get into the shelter. It’s critically important to know how long it takes you to get into the shelter so you can be proactive when there’s a storm warning.
We hope you’ll never have to use your storm shelter though you’ll be glad you were prepared if you do.
Other Posts of Interest:
How to Find Risk Factors for a Home
Could Your Home Withstand Hurricane Winds?
What Outside Temps Are Too Hot for Your Cooling System?
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