Storm Shelter May Be Wise Addition to New or Existing Home

Although tornadoes generally don't get the press that hurricanes do, they occur far more often, generally without much warning, and can turn deadly in seconds. A storm shelter or safe room offers peace of mind during tornado season, saves lives and can also be a good investment for those who live in those parts of the country that frequently have tornadoes.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average number of tornadoes reported each year in the US is 800. Of those, killer tornadoes result in an average of 80 deaths and 1,500 injuries annually. Tornado Alley, the area that stretches through Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, is known as the breeding ground for tornadoes and other potentially deadly storms. Even though most people probably don't recognize the importance of a storm shelter until a tornado or other severe storm is bearing down, folks living in Tornado Alley do know the importance of storm shelters.

A storm shelter can be built into a closet, food pantry, or just about anywhere there's space for a closet and a cement or concrete pad. In new construction, they can be custom-built to fit into any design within the house, and the added cost to a mortgage will amount to very little. Although it's best if a storm shelter can be built into the design of house at the time of construction, adding a storm shelter to an existing house can certainly be done.

Family Safe is an Oklahoma storm shelter manufacturing company owned by Vince Mims. The company's website says anyone contemplating having a storm shelter built for their home should be careful to use a company that's reputable and experienced in building storm or tornado shelters. Family Safe had their storm shelter design tested at Texas Tech. During the test, a person was inside the shelter while testers fired two-by-fours at the shelter.