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A 4x6 steel safe room painted white

What Specifications Should My Steel Safe Room Have?

Safe rooms are common across South America, given how often it is ravaged by natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes. That’s why your Oklahoman home needs a reliable storm shelter since it sees storms almost all year round.

So if you plan on getting a steel safe room for your property, go through this blog to learn which features it should have for the safety of your family.

1. Accessibility

One of the major features your steel safe room should have is easy access for all your family members. This means that you might need your safe room to also be disability-friendly, meaning that people on wheelchairs can also access it as needed.

A good steel room would have a ramp that allows wheelchairs to go inside or a staircase if the shelter is installed underground. Lastly, your storm shelter should also be installed in an area of your home that everyone can reach quickly when a disaster warning is given by the authorities.

2. Security

Some necessary features that we think a steel safe room should have include deadbolts on the door, which should be secured with strong anchor bolts. The bolts that we use for our shelters are incredibly strong, with each one offering 10,000 lbs.

The entire structure of the storm shelter should be encased in steel, with the door at the thickest for maximum protection. We also ensure that all our shelters are deemed safe by authorities and pass the Texas Tech Impact Test.

3. Ventilation And Storage

Every storm shelter or safe room requires a fully functional ventilation system to keep everyone safe during a storm. That’s why our shelters have two large vents so that everyone can ride out the storm safely.

It’s also important for your safe room to have ample storage space where you can keep necessities, i.e., food, medical supplies, emergency radio, etc.

A steel safe room with a staircase installed in the ground

Does your storm shelter need an upgrade for the upcoming seasons? Our steel safe rooms are fully compliant with FEMA’s standards, offering protection even against EF5 tornadoes. We also install underground garage shelters, concrete storm shelters, and underground bunkers for residents of Oklahoma City and nearby areas.

Call 405-367-7901 to speak with an expert on setting up a safe room on your property. If you have queries regarding our installation process, you can also send them to sales@sm.dev-version.com.


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An underground bunker with its door wide open

3 Advantages of an Underground Bunker

Are you considering installing an underground bunker on your property in Oklahoma? As a resident of Oklahoma and nearby states, it’s quite necessary to have access to a safe room or storm shelter, as South America is bombarded with earthquakes and tornadoes all year.

Underground bunkers have historically been used in times of war, but with modern technologies, they have been adapted to homes and community spaces for protection against many crises.

Here are a few advantages of having an underground bunker in or near your home.

Safety During Natural Disasters

Depending on how they’re built, underground bunkers offer homeowners safety against natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, cyclones, and many others. Given the climate of where you live, your bunker should be ideally built, keeping in mind the kind of disasters you might face.

For example, in areas where floods are common, underground shelters should be made using non-porous materials – such as steel – to avoid seepage. In the same vein, underground bunkers and storm shelters built using concrete can provide solid protection against tornadoes.

Protection Against Man-Made Disasters

If you find yourself in a burglary situation, your underground bunker can serve as a safe room from where you can call for help. Similarly, if the electric grid in your area fails, your bunker – if equipped with the right items – can be your haven to ride out the disaster.

For more information about the kind of protection an underground bunker can afford you and your family, call us at 405-367-7901.

The inside of an underground bunker with some essentials on both sides of the walls.

Increase In Property Value

Because tornadoes and earthquakes are as common as they are in Oklahoma and neighboring states of the South, underground bunkers and safe rooms oklahoma can add to your home’s property value. So, whenever it’s time to sell the place, you’ll gain financial benefits from the investment you made earlier.

Now that you know of the benefits an Underground bunkers in OKC brings, it’s time to call in the experts at Oklahoma Shelters for a free shelter quote! Our bunkers are FEMA-approved and can be custom-built according to your requirements. You can also browse through our website to discover our varieties of flat-top and slope-top shelters and choose between concrete or steel underground bunkers if you’d like.

For a specialist to weigh in, call us between the hours of 7:00 am to 10:00 pm any day.

 


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A steel safe room being transported on a truck

Concrete Vs. Steel: Which Storm Shelter Is Better?

Deciding the kind of safe room or storm shelter you want to build is one of the most important decisions you’ll take for your family’s safety. That’s why it’s best to be informed on what options you have given your unique requirements, i.e., number of family members, whether anyone has special needs, etc.

This blog will discuss the two most common materials used to build safe rooms across Oklahoma: concrete and steel storm shelters. After the comparison, you’ll know which shelter works best for you.

Deciding Your Specifications

To choose the right type of safe room, ask yourself the following three questions:

  1. Do I need an above-ground shelter or an underground one?
  2. Do I want my shelter to be installed indoors or outdoors?
  3. Do I want to save costs by buying cheaper materials?

Depending on your answers, we can recommend the type of material that would work best for your storm shelter. Keep reading to learn which material would suit your needs better.

Concrete

Concrete is generally considered a heavy material and is readily used in construction because of this feature. As a result, it can withstand harsh winds without being too reliant on anchorages. Additionally, the density of concrete also makes it ideal for the outdoors as well as underground environments. And what’s more, is that it’s cheaper in comparison to other materials.

However, there are some serious downsides to using concrete in your storm shelters. For one, it’s a porous and brittle material which means water can seep through. This also makes it vulnerable to cracks, worsening the seepage issue. Due to this, using concrete to build your safe rooms oklahoma might not be the best idea if your area sees regular heavy flooding.

Steel

On the other hand, steel, while more expensive, is ultimately more durable due to its non-porous properties. Using steel to construct your storm shelter can thus be a desirable long-term investment, given its moisture resistance. Installing steel rooms is also relatively easier, takes up less space, and works for both outdoor and indoor spaces!

That’s why you can install a steel Storm Safe Shelters OKC underground or above ground.

A concrete safe room built with a slope

 

Have you decided on which kind of safe room you’d like installed? Call Oklahoma Shelters for concrete or steel Storm Shelter Expert OKC services and get the process started with a  free shelter quote on your property! We’ll take a quick assessment of where you’d like to install the Storm Safe Shelters OKC, take down the measurements, and get to installing. We can also build a custom shelter for you upon request.

For more information about our services, visit our FAQ page.

 


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A tornado in an open field

Why Is Spring Popular For Tornadoes?

Spring is a warm season that is perfect for flowers to bloom. What most people do not know is that it is also perfect for storm formation. Thunderstorms and tornadoes are historically known to occur during the spring. Similarly, cyclones are famous in the Gulf of Mexico, where dry air collides with cooler air.

This blog discusses how tornadoes are formed in spring and how you can remain safe during extreme weather with the help of storm shelters.

How Tornadoes Are Formed

Tornadoes result from cooler air colliding with more humid, warm air. As the dense air takes over its warmer counterpart, a thunderstorm is formed. This is how many different types of storms form in general.

A mesocycle then sucks in more warm air as the thunderstorm starts gaining momentum. The moist air around the mesocyclone has water droplets that form the funnel cloud, also known as the physical manifestation of a tornado storm.

Let’s look at a few tornado characteristics.

Characteristics of a tornado

  • As a tornado hits the ground, it may only last a few seconds before it vanishes. It only takes a few seconds to cause irreparable damage.
  • A twister, a much speedy tornado, is usually about 660 feet wide and has a speed of 30 mph, and travels for only about six miles before it dies out.
  • Massive tornadoes, which are much rare, travel at an astonishing 300 miles per hour and are responsible for millions of dollarsin property destruction every year.

Where Are Tornadoes Common?

In the United States, tornadoes are famously found in the Great Plains, which is the centre point of the country. This is because the atmosphere here is ideal for the formation of such thunderstorms. The area is also popularly referred to as the Tornado Alley, where storms are formed when cold air traveling south comes in contact with warm air that meets at the Gulf of Mexico.

Tornadoes are not time-bound and can form throughout the year, but the favorable conditions of the spring season make them popular around May and June.

A thunderstorm forming over an open field

 

Preventative Measure During A Tornado

  • If you live in an area that experiences tornadoes, it is best to invest in an underground storm shelter for your safety. Here are a few ways to protect yourself and your loved ones during a tornado:
  • Find a cozy spot to hide in. The basement, a room without windows, or the lowest area in your house are ideal.
  • Keep protective gear over yourself to avoid harm or injury, such as a table or a working bench.

The best way to keep yourself safe during a tornado is to get yourself a storm shelter with enough room for your family. If your area is known to be populated by tornadoes during the spring, it might be a good idea to prepare beforehand.

Oklahoma Shelters may be the right choice for you and your family if you are looking for storm shelters. We provide in-ground shelters, above ground storm shelters, and even Underground bunkers in OKC for our customers in Oklahoma. You can contact us for more information or a free quote shelter.


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a steel storm shelter

3 Ways Safe Room Boost Your Home Value

There are many ways to boost your home’s value. You can remodel your kitchen, install new windows, or add a patio. But if you live in areas that come under tornado regions, such as Oklahoma and Normandy, building a storm safe shelter can add a lot of value to your home.

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Community

Why Does Oklahoma Need More Community Storm Shelters?

Imagine you’re at work or running errands on the other side of town, or your kids are scattered in different parts of town because that’s where their schools are. Your partner works in yet another part of town, and things seem like an ordinary day. It’s raining but that’s business as usual.

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Tornado

Debunking Common Tornado Myths

In the age of the internet, nearly everyone is an expert on everything under the sun—and out of the thunderstorm, like tornadoes!

There’s a wealth of information out there by very credible sources, weather experts, survivors, scientists, and other specialists—but there is also a lot of misinformation that could prove to be fateful.

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Storm Shelters

Underground Slope Top Shelter

Concrete Shelter

Underground Garage Shelter

Garage Shelter

Installing Steel Safe Room

Steel Safe Room

Underground Bunker

Underground Bunker

 

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