Determining whether or not you should install a safe room in your home could be one of the most important decisions you make as a homeowner.
Every year, thousands of homes are destroyed by nature’s fury in the form of a hurricane or tornado. With so much wanton destruction, how could one not consider the steel safety that one of these structures offers? While we would love to see one of our quality engineered units make it into the home of every American that finds themselves in harm’s way, we know this is simply impractical advice.
A warming planet requires changing needs
America is a geographical diverse nation. Two prominent mountain chains separate continental divides and three major bodies of water enclose this great land. With such great diversity also comes unparalleled peril and danger. Tornadoes typically terrorize the Midwest and southeast annually. While most of the nation lies out of harm reach from these killer storms, 40 percent of the U.S’s population resides along a coastline. Given the proven the frequency of storms that stand poised to strike any community from Maine to Florida, it’s incredulous to conclude that nearly half of the entire U.S. population stands vulnerable to the threat of a hurricane.
And what about tornadoes? While most Americans will never encounter the destructive prowess of these whirlwinds, their prominence has left an undeniable mark on this nation. From 1997 to 2016, tornadoes accounted for 40 percent of inflation-adjusted insured catastrophe loses. Not only are Texas sized twisters growing in frequency, they are also becoming stronger. In May of last year, the United States was forced to contend with 155 tornadoes. In fact, the U.S. experiences more of these killer storms than any other nation on the planet.
Should you have a safe room?
Only you can decide if a safe room or storm shelter is right for your home or business. At U.S. Safe Room, we would never want to sell you something that you simply don’t need. This is why we encourage all interested parties to take our survey to ascertain if a safe room is right for them. Before you consider investing in steel protection, we urge you to ask yourselves a few key questions about storm protection.
- What is the likelihood of a tornado or hurricane striking my community?
- If I don’t install a safe room, will I be able to easily access a community shelter in the event of a killer storm?
- Am I currently satisfied with the level of comfort my home offers?
- Can a shelter or safe room be retrofitted into my current residence? (If not, we offer above ground external safe rooms, as well).
- Do I plan to remain in my current residence for the foreseeable future?
- Will a safe room ease my fears and concerns about safety?
Basement vs U.S. Safe Room protection
Many residents of storm prone areas have relied on a basement or storm cellar to save them in the event of a tornado. Although these subterranean shelters have saved countless lives over the years, they are not considered the first-line choice of protection by FEMA. Basements are simply not impervious to the gnarling intensity of a tornado. Many unfortunate souls have been killed during a tornado while hiding in a basement due to structural collapse of the basement walls and foundation. Despite their well-executed escape plan, these unknowing residents are simply ill-prepared to survive a tornado. Our underground storm bunker could remedy these fears and give you peace of mind instead of relying on a basement that could easily transform into a concrete tomb or sarcophagus in the event of a tornado.
A U.S. Safe Room® Underground Bunker provides the perfect framework for your prepping plan. Our bunkers are completely underground units that will protect you and your family from outside dangers while letting you maintain your quality of life indoors. Customizable for your needs, you can design your survival bunker to be a media room, home office, gym, or fallout shelter with the living arrangements necessary to encourage longevity. Designed to withstand any force, these units are fitted with security doors and encased in steel.
In-ground or above ground protection?
According to FEMA, “in-ground safe rooms provide inherent protection from windborne debris naturally afforded by the surrounding soil coverage. Above-ground safe rooms are required to be rigorously tested to ensure that they can also provide protection from windborne debris.” Rest assured that all U.S. Safe Room products are rigorously tested to meet the demands of superior protection. Our shelters are ICC-500 certified. To put it simply, ICC 500 includes provisions for peer review and special inspection, structural integrity and quality assurance. When you see the sharpened yellow and white font of a shelter with the U.S. Safe Room logo on it, you know you are in good hands. When you choose a U.S. Safe Room tornado shelter, you also know you are choosing a verified source of protection that cannot be imitated.
