Living in Oklahoma means living with the reality of severe weather. When tornado season arrives, having a reliable safety plan is not just a luxury; it is a necessity. A dedicated tornado shelter is the most effective way to protect your family from high winds and flying debris.
However, once you decide to invest in safety, the next big question is practical: Where should the shelter go?
Many homeowners assume there is only one type of shelter or one place to put it. Fortunately, modern tornado shelters are highly adaptable. They can be installed in various locations depending on your home’s layout, your soil type, and your specific needs.
At Oklahoma Shelters, we provide a range of options to suit every situation. Here is a detailed guide to the common locations for installing tornado shelters.
1. Utilizing the Basement as a Natural Shelter
If your home is one of the few in Oklahoma with a preexisting basement, you have a head start on safety. A basement can serve as a natural tornado shelter because it is already below ground level.
The Need for Reinforcement
However, simply being underground is not always enough during an EF4 or EF5 tornado. A standard basement may still have vulnerabilities. Windows, walk-out doors, and the overhead floor structure can be compromised.
To use a basement effectively, ensure it is reinforced. You should identify the safest corner of the basement, usually surrounded by concrete walls. Many homeowners opt to install a dedicated steel safe room inside the basement for maximum protection against collapsing debris from the house above.
Essential Basement Supplies
If you rely on your basement, you must have an emergency kit readily available in that specific area. Do not count on having time to grab supplies from the kitchen upstairs.
2. Garage Installations for Easy Access
The garage has become one of the most popular locations for storm shelter installations in Oklahoma. The primary benefit is fast, easy access. When the sirens sound, you do not have to run out into heavy rain, hail, or high winds to reach safety. You simply step into your garage.
There are two main ways to install a shelter in a garage:
Underground Garage Shelters
These units are installed flush with your garage floor. We cut out a section of the concrete slab, excavate the soil beneath, and lower a steel or concrete shelter into place. You can park your car right over it. When a storm approaches, you back the car out and enter the shelter. These provide the protective benefits of being underground without taking up yard space.
Above-Ground Garage Safe Rooms
Some homeowners choose to build tornado shelters within their garages above ground. These are reinforced steel rooms bolted directly to the garage slab. They are often designed to double as a standard storage area when not in use. They offer immediate accessibility without the need to navigate stairs or ladders.
3. Above-Ground Tornado Shelters
For many years, people believed that “underground” was the only safe option. Modern engineering has changed that. Above-ground shelters, tested to withstand EF5 wind speeds, are an excellent alternative.
Materials and Placement
These shelters are often made of heavy-duty steel or reinforced concrete. They are designed to withstand massive impact from flying debris.
Above-ground shelters are highly versatile regarding placement. They can be installed as stand-alone structures in your yard, similar to a very robust shed. Alternatively, as mentioned above, they can be integrated into garages or even bolted to a slab on a back patio.
The Accessibility Advantage
Above-ground shelters are often the best choice for homeowners with mobility issues. If navigating steep stairs into an underground bunker is difficult for elderly family members or those with physical disabilities, a ground-level, walk-in safe room is the safest and most practical option.
4. The Traditional Underground Yard Shelter
When many Oklahomans think of a storm shelter, they picture the traditional “storm cellar” in the backyard. These remain an incredibly effective and popular defense against tornadoes.
Common Placements
These shelters are commonly placed beneath the surface of your backyard. They are usually situated near a back door for quick access but far enough away from the house so that falling debris won’t block the door.
Pre-Fabricated vs. Tailored
Underground yard shelters typically come in two forms:
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Pre-fabricated: These are typically steel or concrete units built off-site in standard sizes. They are delivered on a truck and set into an excavated hole on your property. This is often a faster installation process.
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Tailored: Concrete shelters can sometimes be poured in place to meet specific site requirements or unusual landscape challenges.
The surrounding earth provides natural insulation and an undeniable barrier against wind and debris, making these a timeless choice for safety.
Ready to Secure Your Peace of Mind?
Choosing the right location for your shelter depends on your specific circumstances. Do you have rocky soil that makes digging difficult? Do you need wheelchair accessibility? Do you want to avoid going outside during a storm?
No matter your situation, there is a tornado shelter solution that fits your home. Protect your loved ones and secure your peace of mind before the next storm season.
