Residential tornado shelters protect what matters most while shielding finances from overpriced building materials. While home storm shelters were once a luxury reserved for the wealthy, affordable residential tornado shelters trickle down to every demographic. Changes in steel engineering afforded economical options for first-time shelter owners. More than 30 percent of homeowners sought storm protection in 2019. This trend will likely continue with a widening Tornado Alley and growing storm season. Although inflation reprioritizes budget expenditures for most homeowners, a home safe room is an investment of lifetime protection.
What are Residential Tornado Shelters?
A residential tornado shelter is a permanent or temporary, above or belowground safe room comprised with steel paneling and welds resistant to high winds and flying debris. While home safe rooms and bunkers can add floor space to existing housing plans, standing bedrooms, spare offices, and walk-in closets can be retrofitted into a panelized safe room. Our pre-fabricated panelized safe kits are made of easy-to-assemble, lightweight steel panels, providing discreet installation. Aboveground safe rooms and panelized kits offer equal protection. While each model has built-in advantages, both designs can weather severe storms.
Which Shelter Design is Best?
The perfect safe room doesn’t exist. U.S. Safe Room’s tornado shelter line offers equal protection. Although residential tornado shelters protect storm-prone communities, design and budget guide installation. Moreover, customization with optional upgrades impact pricing. Smaller residences or condominiums should consider panelized kits instead of aboveground, stand-alone shelters best suited for backyards and garages. Aboveground safe rooms protect small and significant family sizes. Community safe rooms are ideal for schools, recreation venues, construction sites, manufacturing facilities, and other public facilities.
Home Safe Room Funding
Home safe room funding is challenging for most families. Inflation impacts everyone, undermining paycheck value while further stressing finances. While we offer financing for qualified customers, creative financing options abound. Reprioritizing expenses, such as making a down payment on a safe room instead of an extravagant cruise or beach trip, frees up extra cash for an investment of a lifetime: a safe room that could potentially add value to your home. While crowdsourced funding is another popular avenue for first-time safe room installers, community money pools would benefit blocks looking for community safe room protection. Furthermore, FEMA offers partial safe room reimbursement for tornado-prone communities. Note: we cannot file on your behalf. Please contact your community’s emergency management offer for additional details.
