Deadly Tornado Outbreak Inspires Innovative Safe Room Solution

The annual number of confirmed tornadoes has shown a marked increase so far in 2011. Nearly 1400 tornadoes were reported in the spring of 2011, most of them in the Central Plains and Southeast. The increase in tornadic activity also took a greater toll on those in the path of the storms.

APRIL 2011

Preliminary estimates say there were more tornadoes in a single day in April than any other day in history.

Analysts say there were 312 tornadoes during one week in April, including a record-setting 226 in one day on April 27th. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the largest previous number on record in one event occurred from April 3-4, 1974, with 148 tornadoes. NOAA says 334 people were killed during the 24-hour-period from 8:00 a.m. Wednesday to Thursday.
More people were killed by tornadoes in the two-day period since April 5-6, 1936, when 454 people were killed, mostly in Tupelo, Miss., and Gainesville, Georgia, according to NOAA. And it was the deadliest single day for tornadoes since the March 18, 1925, tornado outbreak that had 747 fatalities across 7 states.

MAY 2011

Over 100 people were killed in a tornado outbreak on May 22 alone; bringing the year's fatalities to nearly 500 and making it the deadliest year since 1953, when 519 people were killed.

More than 124 of the recent fatalities were in Joplin, Missouri after a tornado swept though that town. An additional 750 people were injured and around 8,000 structures were damaged or destroyed in a matter of minutes.

24 MINUTES WARNING

The tornado warning sirens sounded in Joplin a full 24 minutes before the deadly twister arrived, yet sadly there were still a horrific number of fatalities. Many residents simply did not have a plan for severe weather protection, and they had nowhere safe to go as the storm approached. The refuge they took in their homes, vehicles, the stores they were visiting, or wherever they might be that evening was no match for the 200+ mph winds of the EF5 tornado that was about to tear through the heart of Joplin. A better severe weather solution was needed.

INNOVATIVE SAFETY FROM THE STORM

Tornado Alley Armor Safe Rooms are built to exceed FEMA 320 guidelines for safe room construction. They have been successfully impact tested by the punishing "2x4 cannon" operated by the Wind Science and Energy Research Center at Texas Tech University. This device launches numerous 100 mph projectiles at the safe room wall and door panels. Our EZ Armor safe rooms are certified and engineered to withstand debris impacts consistent with an EF5-rated tornado packing 250 mph winds. The solid steel panels absorb debris impacts and remain intact with the occupants safely inside.

SECURELY LOCKED TO YOUR SLAB

Tornado Alley Armor Safe Rooms are anchored securely to the concrete slab floor of your home, garage or patio that meets a minimum size and thickness criteria. Concrete anchors are installed every 10 inches around the perimeter of the Safe Room floor flange, locking it securely to the slab with a hold-down force nearly 10 times the maximum shear force of EF5-rated winds.

SIZED TO FIT YOUR NEED

Tornado Alley Armor Safe Rooms are offered in standard sizes ranging from the economical and family friendly 4-person Defender model to the massive Gibraltar model capable of providing a safe haven for up to 32 people. Larger industrial sizes can easily be installed by simply adding additional courses of wall/roof panel sections.

YOUR LIFETIME SEVERE WEATHER SOLUTION

Tornado Alley Armor Safe Rooms are designed to adapt to your changing lifestyle. Whether you move, remodel, or experience a change in family size, our safe room easily adapts to meet your current need. The innovative panelized design allows the unit to be easily disassembled, moved, expanded or reduced in size with minimal effort and minimal tools. Even if your new home doesn't have a slab floor, our safe room can be anchored to a exterior concrete base made especially for that purpose. You'll never lose the peace of mind that owning a Tornado Alley Armor Safe Room will provide.

Give us a try, you'll find our safe rooms are the ideal severe weather solution.

Deadly Tornado Outbreak Inspires Innovative Safe Room Solution

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