The Heart of Tornado Alley
The city of Moore, Oklahoma, sits squarely in the heart of “Tornado Alley.” For residents in this region, the threat of severe weather, particularly violent tornadoes, is a constant reality. Moore’s history with these catastrophic storms serves as a powerful, somber lesson in the absolute necessity of preparedness.
Moore has faced more than its share of devastating tornadoes. The two most infamous—occurring in 1999 and 2013—were both rated as rare, powerful EF5 tornadoes. These storms did not just damage homes; they obliterated entire neighborhoods, schools, and essential infrastructure.
Living in a place with this kind of severe weather risk demands a proactive approach to safety. You cannot rely on luck or simple interior rooms. You need a dedicated, reinforced structure built specifically to withstand the incredible forces of a violent tornado.
Oklahoma Shelters, based in Oklahoma City and serving all of Oklahoma, specializes in installing certified storm shelters and safe rooms that meet the highest standards. We are committed to helping you protect your family against the reality of the next major storm.
This comprehensive guide delves into Moore’s tornado history, explains the destructive power of EF5 storms, and walks you through the essential steps you must take to prepare your home and family, emphasizing why a certified storm shelter from Oklahoma Shelters is your safest option.
Section 1: The Devastating History of Moore Tornadoes
Moore’s history is inextricably linked to the tornado. The Oklahoma City metro area has endured the most direct tornado hits of any American city since 1890, and Moore is often right in the path.
The 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore Tornado (F5)
On May 3, 1999, a massive tornado tore through the area. This storm was initially rated F5 on the original Fujita scale.
Impact: The tornado was responsible for 36 fatalities and injured 583 people. It showed residents just how vulnerable traditional homes were to these powerful forces.
The Response: The devastating death and injury toll spurred a massive increase in awareness and—critically—a surge in the installation of residential storm shelters among the city’s population. This proactive preparation proved vital in future events.
The 2013 Moore Tornado (EF5)
On May 20, 2013, almost exactly 14 years later, another monster tornado struck, following a similar, deadly path through the city’s heart. This storm was rated EF5 on the enhanced scale.
Catastrophic Destruction: The 2013 EF5 tornado destroyed approximately 1,150 homes and damaged thousands more, resulting in an estimated $2 billion in damages. Entire subdivisions were flattened.
School Tragedies: The tornado directly hit Plaza Towers Elementary School and Briarwood Elementary School, tragically resulting in the deaths of children and highlighting the vulnerability of older public structures.
The Difference: Due to the preparedness spurred by the 1999 storm, including the increase in storm shelters, the number of fatalities (24 people) was lower than it otherwise might have been, demonstrating the life-saving value of dedicated shelter.
Moore’s Legacy of Resilience
The frequency and violence of these storms forced Moore to become a national leader in storm resilience. In 2014, less than a year after the 2013 disaster, Moore became the first city in the U.S. to adopt a strict, tornado-specific building code.
These codes require new residential homes to be strong enough to withstand winds up to 135 mph (EF2 level), incorporating features like hurricane clips and foundation bolts. While this is a massive step forward, it is crucial to understand its limits:
A home built to EF2 standards cannot guarantee survival in an EF5 event.
When the wind speeds exceed 200 mph—the force of an EF4 or EF5—only a certified, purpose-built safe room or shelter can provide near-absolute protection.
Section 2: Understanding the EF5 Threat
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale rates tornado intensity based on the damage caused. In Oklahoma, especially in the OKC metro area, you are exposed to the highest levels of this scale.
What Happens at EF5?
An EF5 tornado has estimated wind speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour. The damage description for this category is categorized as “Incredible damage.”
Complete Obliteration: Well-built and well-anchored homes are swept cleanly off their foundations and completely obliterated. There is often “very little recognizable structural debris.”
Missile Generation: The powerful winds turn common household items—lumber, appliances, roof shingles—into high-velocity, deadly wind-driven missiles. These missiles cause the vast majority of tornado casualties.
Non-Shelter Risk: If you are sheltering in an interior closet or bathroom in a traditional home, the risk is twofold: the structure around you may completely collapse, and you are vulnerable to flying debris traveling through interior walls.
The Flaw of “Interior Room” Shelter
While state and federal guidelines correctly state that an interior room on the lowest floor is the best option if no dedicated shelter is available, the history of Moore shows this is inadequate against an EF4 or EF5 storm.
When the entire house is reduced to rubble, a closet or bathtub offers minimal structural protection against the thousands of pounds of falling debris and the pressure changes that accompany a violent tornado. The only guaranteed method of surviving these wind speeds is to place yourself within a structure designed and tested to withstand the forces and flying debris of an EF5 tornado.
Section 3: Your Three-Part Tornado Preparedness Plan
A successful tornado preparation plan requires three synchronized steps: stay informed, create a plan, and secure dedicated shelter.
Part 1: Stay Informed (Know the Terms)
Preparation begins long before the sirens sound.
NOAA Weather Radio: Every Oklahoma home needs a battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio with a tone alert feature. This is the most reliable way to receive warnings, even during power outages.
Tornado Watch: Be aware. Conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop in or near your area.
Tornado Warning: Take action immediately. A tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. This is the moment to execute your family safety plan and move to your dedicated shelter. Note that the lead time for a warning is typically short—often less than 15 minutes.
Part 2: Create a Family Emergency Plan
A practiced plan saves precious time when the warning is issued.
Designated Meeting Place: Establish an emergency meeting place outside the home (e.g., a neighbor’s house, a specific corner) in case family members are separated during or after the storm.
Emergency Kit: Prepare and store a compact emergency kit inside your storm shelter. This kit should include:
Flashlights and extra batteries.
A first aid kit.
Bottled water and non-perishable food.
Important documents (insurance policies, deeds) in a waterproof container.
A helmet or other head protection for every family member.
Practice the Routine: Conduct regular drills. Every family member must know the fastest, safest route to the storm shelter, even in the dark.
Part 3: Secure Your Dedicated Storm Shelter
This is the single most critical investment you can make for life safety in Moore, Oklahoma. The government and emergency officials advocate that every residence in the region should have a storm safe room or underground cellar.
Certified Protection: Ensure any shelter you purchase is built and installed according to national safety standards. Look for compliance with FEMA 320, FEMA 361, and ICC-500 guidelines. These standards certify that the structure can withstand the winds and debris impact of an EF5 tornado.
Accessibility and Space: Your shelter must be accessible to everyone in the household, including those with mobility issues. Ensure adequate space, generally a minimum of 3 square feet per person.
Registration: Once installed, register your storm shelter or safe room with your local city and county emergency management office. This crucial step helps first responders locate you after a disaster.
Section 4: Why Oklahoma Shelters is Your Best Choice for Moore Oklahoma
Choosing a storm shelter is a life-or-death decision. You need a company that provides certified products, expert installation, and deep local knowledge.
Oklahoma Shelters, based in Oklahoma City, has been serving the region for years. We understand the specific soil conditions and regulations unique to the entire state of Oklahoma, including Moore. We offer certified protection across multiple designs.
Certified and Proven Protection
We specialize in two primary types of certified shelters, providing solutions for different needs and properties:
Underground Garage Shelters:
Advantage: Offers the highest level of protection by placing you below ground, naturally shielding you from high winds and debris. They are conveniently located inside the garage floor, providing easy access without going outside in the storm.
Installation: We handle the necessary Excavation and use precision methods to install the shelter, often backfilling with sack or ready-mix concrete for stability and flood resistance.
Above-Ground Safe Rooms (Steel or Concrete):
Advantage: Ideal for those with mobility issues, as they require no climbing of stairs. They are installed in a closet, utility room, or garage and are anchored directly to the concrete slab with powerful bolts.
Construction: Built with reinforced, missile-resistant materials—often heavy gauge steel or poured concrete—to meet EF5 standards.
Local Expertise and Compliance
We manage the entire process, ensuring your shelter is safe, secure, and compliant.
Permitting and Zoning: In cities like Moore, permits are required before installation. We provide the necessary engineered, stamped drawings and site plans required for local authorities. We ensure placement adheres to setbacks and avoids utility easements.
Installation Integrity: Our professional installation teams are experts in dealing with Oklahoma soil and ground conditions, preventing issues like shelter floating or leakage. We ensure proper anchoring is complete, which is the key to an above-ground safe room’s stability.
The Sooner Safe Program: The State of Oklahoma often offers the Sooner Safe lottery program, which provides rebates toward the purchase and installation of a shelter. Our shelters comply with the necessary FEMA 320, FEMA 361, and ICC-500 guidelines required for this program. This helps make life-saving protection more accessible. For official information and guidelines on these standards, reference the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) documentation. [External Link 1: FEMA P-320 Safe Room Guidelines]
Commitment to Safety and Community
The history of tornadoes in Moore is a constant reminder of the risk faced by every Oklahoma resident. Our mission is to provide peace of mind through verifiable, certified protection. We encourage all residents to use the resources provided by the National Weather Service for accurate forecasting and warnings.
The Time to Act is Now
You know the history of Moore, Oklahoma. You understand the devastating power of an EF5 tornado, which can reduce a standard home to unrecognizable debris in minutes. Waiting until a tornado watch is issued is too late to secure your safety.
A reinforced, certified storm shelter is not an accessory—it is a non-negotiable insurance policy against the most violent natural threats in the region. It is the single safest place for you and your loved ones during an extreme weather event.
Oklahoma Shelters provides certified products, professional installation, and expert guidance to ensure your shelter is the reliable, life-saving refuge you need.
Ready to secure your family’s safety against the next storm?
Contact Oklahoma Shelters, located in OKC and serving all of Oklahoma, for a consultation on the best shelter type for your home. View our certified Types of Storm Shelters today.
People Also Ask (PAA) Questions for Oklahoma Shelters
1. What is the difference between an EF4 and an EF5 tornado, and why does it matter for my shelter?
Answer: The Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale rates EF4 tornadoes with wind speeds between 166–200 mph, causing devastating damage, while EF5 tornadoes exceed 200 mph, resulting in incredible damage where well-built homes are swept completely off their foundations. This distinction matters because only a shelter built and certified to meet ICC-500 or FEMA 361 guidelines—standards for surviving an EF5—offers near-absolute protection against the highest wind speeds and deadly flying debris.
2. Does the Moore, OK, building code require storm shelters for new homes?
Answer: No, the Moore building code adopted in 2014 does not specifically mandate a storm shelter. However, it requires all new homes to be built to withstand winds up to 135 mph (EF2 level), incorporating features like hurricane clips and foundation bolts. While this is a strong measure, it is not sufficient for an EF5 tornado, which is why a separate, certified shelter remains the most secure option.
3. What certification should I look for when buying a storm shelter in Oklahoma?
Answer: You should only purchase a shelter that adheres to national safety standards set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the International Code Council (ICC). Specifically, look for shelters certified to meet FEMA P-320, FEMA P-361, or ICC-500 standards. These certifications verify that the shelter has been tested and engineered to withstand the debris impact and high winds of an EF5 tornado.
4. What are ‘wind-driven missiles’ and how does an above-ground safe room protect against them?
Answer: Wind-driven missiles are common household items—like pieces of lumber, roof shingles, or patio furniture—that are lifted and accelerated by powerful tornado winds to speeds over 100 mph, turning them into deadly projectiles. Above-ground safe rooms from Oklahoma Shelters protect against these missiles by using reinforced steel walls (often 1/4″ thick) and reinforced concrete slabs that have been impact-tested to withstand the forces defined in FEMA and ICC standards.
5. What is the Sooner Safe program, and do Oklahoma Shelters qualify for the rebate?
Answer: The Sooner Safe program is a state-funded lottery that provides rebates to Oklahoma homeowners for the purchase and installation of a storm shelter or safe room. Oklahoma Shelters’ products do qualify because they are manufactured and installed to meet the required FEMA 320, FEMA 361, and ICC-500 guidelines necessary to be eligible for the rebate program.
6. Where is the safest place to put an underground storm shelter in my home?
Answer: The safest and most convenient place for an underground shelter is typically beneath the concrete slab of your garage floor. This location allows for quick, direct access without needing to go outside in dangerous weather, and the surrounding concrete and ground provide maximum structural stability and protection from wind uplift.
7. Can I use an interior closet or bathtub to survive an EF5 tornado?
Answer: While an interior closet or bathtub on the lowest floor is the last resort if you have no dedicated shelter, the history of EF5 storms in Moore demonstrates this is often insufficient. These spaces offer minimal protection when the entire structure is swept away or collapses. Only a certified, purpose-built safe room or shelteranchored to the foundation can provide near-absolute protection against EF4 and EF5 wind forces and structural collapse.
8. How often should I practice my family’s tornado emergency drill?
Answer: You should practice your family’s tornado emergency drill, including the route to the shelter and what tasks need to be done (e.g., grabbing the emergency kit), at least twice per year—once before the start of the primary tornado season (typically March through June) and again later in the year. This ensures that every family member, especially children, knows the routine instantly when a sudden warning is issued.
9. What is the risk of an underground shelter floating or flooding in high water?
Answer: In the Oklahoma City metro area where the water table can be high, the risk of shelter floating (buoyancy) or flooding is real if not installed correctly. Professional installers like Oklahoma Shelters mitigate this risk by using specific anchoring methods and backfilling the shelter with sack concrete or ready-mix concrete. This weight and sealing process securely locks the shelter into the ground, ensuring it remains stable even in saturated conditions.
10. What specific items should I keep in my storm shelter emergency kit?
Answer: Your storm shelter emergency kit should contain essential items to sustain your family for at least 24 hours. Key items include a battery-operated NOAA weather radio, a working flashlight and extra batteries, a comprehensive first aid kit, bottled water (one gallon per person), non-perishable food (energy bars), sturdy helmets or head protection for everyone, and copies of important documents (insurance policies, identification) sealed in a waterproof container.
