Tearing Down 5 Myths about Tornadoes

Tornadoes are one of nature’s most terrifying and destructive calamities, and several myths surround this phenomenon. Separating fact from fiction can help protect you and your family during a crisis. Here is a list of some of the most common tornado myths.

Myth #1: Seeking Refuge Beneath an Underpass Is Safe

Reality: An underpass is never a good option to take shelter from a tornado. The tornado winds can slam cars and send debris flying underneath the bridge. The bridge’s structural integrity can also become weak due to strong winds causing the bridge to collapse. Take refuge immediately in a storm shelter instead.

Myth #2 :Tornadoes Are Always Visible Ahead

Reality: Due to rain and clouds, tornadoes can be invisible, even obscured. Always stay alert to the latest weather developments by tuning in to NOAA Weather Radio or your local radio and television channels and prepare for immediate shelter.

Myth #3: You Should Take Refuge in the Southwest Corner of Your House

Reality: Tornadoes are unpredictable in terms of movement. They can travel in any direction. Hiding in one specific corner of your house isn’t safe. Instead, take refuge away from the windows, preferably in a room, a bathtub, or the lowest floor of your house, such as the basement. Or invest in a concrete storm shelter for better protection.

Myth #4: Tornadoes Do Not Hit Big Cities or Tall Buildings

Reality:  While certain geographic locations are more prone to tornadoes than others, tall buildings and big cities are equally at risk of being hit by a tornado. Recently, many US cities, for instance, Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City, Nashville, and Miami, have been directly hit by tornadoes.

Myth #5: Tornadoes Only Strike in Spring

Reality: While the optimal time for tornadoes can be May to July for cities like Oklahoma, Dallas, and Kansas, they can occur at any time and any day of the year. Tornado Alley has a reputation of receiving dozens of tornadoes annually, but recently there has been a shift due to the climate crisis. Other big cities in the US are receiving heavy downpours and tornadoes more often.

Now that you are aware of some of the myths and know the reality, it’s better to prepare an emergency plan in the event of a storm. Contact us today to help you and your family prepare for the storm through our storm shelters.

You can also visit our website to learn more about us.

How Are Safe Rooms Different from Storm Shelters?

The terms “Safe Rooms” and “Storm Shelters” have been used synonymously over the years, but when it comes to your family’s safety and protection against deadly tornadoes and hurricanes, it is of utmost importance to know the difference between the two.

At Oklahoma Shelters, we want our customers to be well-informed about the types of shelters so that they make informed decisions for themselves. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is The Difference Between a Safe Room And a Storm Shelter?

A safe room is a fortified building specially created to meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) safe room requirements. It offers nearly complete protection in extreme weather events, including tornadoes and hurricanes. The doors, windows, and walls are made of heavy concrete to withstand high winds, bullets, and debris. Moreover, it is equipped with communication devices and a panic button. They are insulated to maintain a neutral temperature inside.

In contrast, a storm shelter is constructed using reinforced concrete to resist the impact of tornado debris, hurricanes, and winds of up to 250 mph. There are two types of storm shelters:

1) Community Storm Shelters: They can serve as a dwelling unit for a group of homes or an apartment building because their design occupant capacity is over 16.

2) Residential Storm Shelters: These serve as dwelling units for a single-family home and have a maximum design occupant capacity of 16.

Most of the storm shelters come with additional space for chemical toilets and sinks since they cater to a large number of refugees.

Which One Is the Correct Choice For You?

The main difference between safe rooms and storm shelters depends on the level of protection they both provide.

Safe rooms are better for any untoward accident ranging from fire and bullets to various other threats. In contrast, storm shelters are specifically designed to protect you against natural calamities and EF5 tornadoes.

Homeowners can make the right choice based on where they reside. For instance, if you are a resident of Tornado Alley, then you might experience tornadoes all year round. In this case, a concrete underground shelter should be your choice.

Let Us Help!

There is no clear choice to make when it comes to choosing between safe rooms and storm shelters. Ultimately, you need to choose a safety unit that best suits your needs.

Let our team at Oklahoma Shelters help you more on how to go about this.

Learn more about our products by contacting us today.

The Downsides of Building Your Own Storm Shelter

It is quite common to feel anxious about your safety, especially if you live in a tornado-prone area. Unfortunately, modern homes are not built to withstand severe weather crises such as storms and tornadoes. Moreover, not many communities and neighborhoods have easily accessible public shelter homes. Hence, you may be tempted to try your best to build a shelter room.

Should you attempt to do this? Here’s why it’s not a good idea.

Types of Storm Shelters

Before getting to work, you might want to know the two types of shelter homes. They are:

• Above-Ground Storm Shelters

It is recommended that these shelters be independent of your homes. They are usually built in hurricane-prone areas to avoid flooding. However, the cost of materials needed to build an above-ground shelter is hefty.

• Underground Concrete Shelter  

They are used in tornado zones. These shelters are built in basements, which is also the cheapest way to build your own storm shelter.

Hold Up! It’s Not a D.I.Y Project, And Here’s Why:

Now that you are familiar with the types of shelters, let’s discuss the risks associated with building your own storm shelter.

It’s better to know the risks associated with building your own storm shelter house before actually putting the plan into action. The downside of building your own storm shelter includes:

• The cost: The renovation cost will be expensive since extensive retrofitting is required to build a shelter house. The material needed for pouring concrete, reinforced concrete blocks, or wood with steel sheathing may not be readily available in a nearby hardware store.
• The entry doorway: The door alone costs a hefty amount. It must also be sturdy and resilient enough to withstand high winds and airborne debris. To test the safe rooms’ doors, companies either shoot them with 2×4’s at 100 mphor run a test impact to check if they are for installation.
• The locks:You cannot use regular bolts that are available at home depot. Commercially made storm shelters use sheer-strength steel bolts that can resist high-velocity winds and debris flying at 100mph speed.
• Ventilation: There is a high chance of ventilation holes getting clogged by debris. Companies that provide storm sheltersensure that there are enough ventilation holes and that they are protected so that they don’t get clogged.

Whether you are building a garage shelter or an underground concrete shelter, it is always a good idea to get professional assistance.

Oklahoma Shelters Has Got You Covered!

Oklahoma shelters provide safety from injuries that are caused by these deadly tornadoes. Our storm shelters are engineered and tested for high-impact force and flying debris.

Visit our website to learn more about us.

What Is An Enhanced Fujita Scale, And How Does An EF5 On The Scale Affect Oklahoma Residents?

Tornadoes occur on almost every continent except Antarctica, and the United States is among the countries that encounter the most tornadoes. Approximately 1000 tornadoes are reported in the US every year, raising the need for research and development into disaster management. One particular research that has helped identify the intensity of tornadoes is the EF scale. An EF5 tornado scale is an Enhanced Fujita Scale, which rates the tornado on a scale from 0 to 5.

Scroll down to know more details about the EF scale.

Who developed the EF scale?

The Enhanced Fujita Scale was developed by Ted Fujita, a professor at the University of Chicago. Due to his extensive contributions to the study of tornadoes, he was called “Mr. Tornado.” The US National Weather Service has been using the EF scale to study tornadoes since 1973.

Before the introduction of this scale, it was hard to predict the intensity of tornadoes because there wasn’t enough information available, but thanks to Prof. Ted Fujita, this is now possible.

How does it work?

The EF scale studies the damage caused by tornadoes and rates them accordingly. It considers different metrics to assess the damage, such as the damages caused to the roofs of the house, collapsed outside walls, or damage caused to the whole house. These factors help scientists determine the speed of the tornado.

If the tornado’s speed exceeds 200 miles per hour, it is called an EF5 tornado, while if the speed is between 65 to 85 miles an hour, it is called an EF0 tornado.

Has there ever been an EF5 scale tornado?

The most recent EF5 scale tornado occurred on May 20, 2013, in Moore, Oklahoma. It was a 40-minute tornado that caused 25 deaths and severe property loss.

However, the most dangerous EF5 scale tornado happened on March 18, 1925. It was a “Tri-State Tornado,” which was 219 miles wide. It caused 695 deaths and damaged around 15,000 homes.

How can Oklahoma residents prepare for an EF5 Tornado?

An EF5 scale tornado is deadly and life-threatening, as it can spread to a significantly larger area, giving residents less time to prepare and causing more fatalities. You must have a storm shelter in your home to save yourself and your family from an EF5 tornado, as it is easily accessible and doesn’t require much preparation before the tornado.

Contact Oklahoma Shelters if you want to install a storm shelter in Norman!

The introduction of the EF scale has simplified the study of tornadoes to a great extent. However, tornadoes are a force of nature, and you can never be fully sure of them. Even with all the technology, houses get damaged, and people lose their lives because of tornadoes, and in a country like the US, the need to build a storm shelter is more than ever.

If you don’t have a storm shelter in your house yet,  contact us. We build all kinds of storm shelters in Norman.

Why Was A Tornado Warning Issued Across Oklahoma Recently?

If you live in Oklahoma, you must have heard the tornado warnings issued recently. It was reported that a storm was developing and would reach Oklahoma in a few days. The storm hit the state of Oklahoma on February 26^th, leaving at least a dozen people injured across the state. There were nine tornadoes, one of which was reported in Norman, while the others were reported in the west-central part of Oklahoma.

The tornadoes came from the Texas Panhandle and were part of a bigger storm system.

This blog will walk through what exactly happened.

Loss of life

Whenever a storm hits, the first thing that you want to know is if there were any fatalities. This storm was no different; official reports tell that at least one person lost their life in Cheyenne. Apart from this, there were at least a dozen people who were injured and taken to the hospital.

Storm shelters are great at protecting lives. If you live in Norman and haven’t installed a storm shelter yet, you must contact us.

Damaged Property

Storms can very easily rip houses off and destroy cars. This is what happened, as several videos emerged on the internet showing the destruction of property. The cars were flipped on the roads, and some buildings had their roofs ripped off.

According to official data, at least 46 homes were damaged.

Power Outage

Because of the wind pressure, tornadoes deposit debris when they pass through the area. This causes the debris to break electric wires and lines, which in turn causes power breakdowns.

Oklahoma went through the same situation, as a power outage led to more than 16,000 people being without power in the state.

The Current Situation

The storm has moved Midwest towards Illinois and Ohio, and all the emergency state warnings issued previously are now nullified. This means another storm isn’t coming, and you can start the rebuilding work.

A disaster relief station has been set up at Lindsay Street to help people in the rebuilding and cleanup work.

This is why tornado warnings were issued in Oklahoma. Some people got lucky, while some suffered damages in the form of their property.

Storms can affect anyone, so you need to care for yourself. Build a safe room in your home, and don’t just rely on your basement; in the case of a flood, your basement will be the first to get flooded with water.

We build storm shelters in Oklahoma City and Norman. Reach out to us now!

Why Should You Invest In A Safe Room For Your Home In Norman?

Tornado activity has increased drastically over the past decade. In 2022 alone, the US received 18 weather disasters, each causing more than $1 billion in damages and collectively resulting in at least 474 fatalities.

We’re just two months into 2023, and Norman has already been hit by a storm. The need to invest in a safe room for your home is greater than ever. It can save you from getting injured because you will know where to go the next time a storm comes.

Here are more reasons why having a safe room in Norman is important.

1. It’s above the ground

Many people treat their basements as safe rooms, which isn’t an issue until the flood water fills the space. Yes, flood water can easily come into your basement during a storm, putting your whole family at risk.

This is why it is advised to have an above-ground storm shelter designed specifically to withstand any climatic disaster, so even if there is a flood, you and your loved ones will be completely safe.

2. It provides safety from theft

A good thing about installing a safe room in Norman is that it provides safety not only from storms but also from theft or any criminal activity. You can keep your belongings, such as jewelry, money, and other valuables, in your safe room, saving them from falling into the wrong hands.

3. It increases the value of the house

You can never be sure of the future. You may not want to sell your house right now, but this can change in the future.

Having a safe room in the house will help you increase your home’s market value and get a good offer because the buyer will not have to install one on their own.

4. It helps you stay prepared for unpredictable weather

Sometimes, the weather can be unpredictable, not allowing you enough time to prepare for the storm. Having a safe room in your home will save you from worrying about unpredictable storm conditions. You will just have to take your whole family and some important stuff into the safe room and be there until the storm is gone.

Now that you understand the importance of investing in a safe room, it’s time to get one for your home. If you want to install a safe room in Norman, Oklahoma Shelters is here for you. We are storm shelter experts in Norman.

Give us a call now!

5 Historic Natural Disasters To Hit Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City, situated in the “tornado alley,” has earned its reputation as one of the most severely affected cities by tornadoes and hurricanes. Tornadoes such as F5 and EF5 are most likely to hit Oklahoma City than any other region of Oklahoma. There have been several natural disasters that have left the city devastated.

Here’s a list of some deadliest natural disasters in Oklahoma City.

1. The F5 tornado 1999

This was one of the most destructive tornadoes to ever hit Oklahoma City. This F5 tornado struck the Oklahoma City metro area on May 3 1999, causing 36 deaths. The total cost of damage was $1 billion.

2. The EF5 tornado 2013

The EF5 tornado hit the metro area of Oklahoma City on May 20th, 2013. This was the costliest natural disaster and amounted to 2 billion dollars worth of damage. It claimed 24 lives being the fourth deadliest disaster and was the first EF5 tornado recorded in Oklahoma City.

3. The 1942 tornado

The tornado hit Oklahoma City on June 12th, 1948, and was the second deadliest tornado claiming 35 lives.

4. The 1948 tornado

This was the third costliest tornado in Oklahoma City that occurred on March 20th, 1948. The damage summed up to 10 million dollars. Most damages were caused to the aircraft at Tinker Air Force Base. To put the damage cost into perspective, even after adjusting for inflation, the May 2013 tornado and the May 1999 tornado were 200 times and 100 times more costly, respectively.

5. The 2015 Flooding  

In May 2015, Oklahoma City suffered the worst flooding ever recorded. The official recorded rain was 19.48 inches. Several drownings and other deaths were reported leaving irreparable damage behind.

Oklahoma City has been recorded to have 5 tornadoes in one day in 1974, 2013 and 2018. The state’s capital is known to have been hit 30 times by two or more tornadoes in one day.

Living in Oklahoma City can be challenging and needs precautionary arrangements. Installing storm shelters is the safest way to protect yourself and your family from these deadly natural disasters. At Oklahoma Shelters, we build custom-made concrete storm shelters, underground bunkers, garage shelters and safe rooms according to your family’s requirements.

Get in touch with us if you’re looking for a reliable company with FEMA-approved products to install a storm shelter in Oklahoma.

Install A Community Storm Shelter In Norman, OK

Norman is one of the cities in Oklahoma that faces a high number of hurricanes and tornadoes. These natural disasters cause severe destruction and sweep away homes. Therefore, installing a community storm shelter in Norman is important to protect the residents.

Here are some factors to be considered when installing a community storm shelter.

1. Sufficient Resident Accommodation

While building a storm shelter for public use, it is important to get your data right. The total number of residents, the number of elderly and children, the number of people with special needs such as a wheelchair, and other relevant technical data need to be collected and studied thoroughly to make sure the storm shelter is equipped to accommodate all the residents. Space allocation, inside the shelter, per person, is a very important factor to consider to avoid any mishaps during and after the chaos of a storm.

2. Built According To Guidelines

All storm shelters have to be built according to FEMA guidelines to provide maximum safety and protection. It has to be built strictly according to the FEMA protocols and requirements to make sure the shelter can withstand strong tornadoes and hurricanes and provide safety,

3. Ventilation

When you have a large number of people gathered, it is important to provide hygiene and a clean environment. Failure to do so can lead to the spread of diseases and a number of other problems. Therefore, proper ventilation systems are a must to provide people with clean air in a storm shelter.

4. System Functionality

There are complex systems that are installed to ensure a proper smooth running of a storm shelter. It is important to make sure all the systems installed are safe to use and don’t cause any technical difficulties. This connects to everything, from the working of ventilation systems to the functioning of the kitchen equipment and operating automated doors.

There are many details that have to be taken care of when building a storm shelter for a large group of people. FEMA provides guidelines, protocols, and instructions on how to build the safest storm shelters for a community or in your house.

If you’re interested in installing a storm shelter in your house, feel free to get in touch with us to learn more about us. We provide custom-made underground bunkers, concrete storm shelters, and safe rooms. We can design your shelter or safe rooms according to your family’s unique requirements to provide the highest level of safety and protection.