Tornado Alley Armor AwesomeBlog!

Q: I'm trying to decide between buying an underground tornado cellar or an above ground storm shelter. Can you help me compare? A: When considering underground storm cellars I highly recommend that you take 5 minutes to look at this information about in-floor shelters before committing to go that route. There are many unintended hazards associated with those designs, which are outlined in the link, and they forget to mention in their sales presentations. All information in the link is documented. http://www.tornadoalleyarmor.com/above-ground-or-below-ground That’s why we do one thing, above ground panelized steel safe rooms, and we do it better than anyone in the industry. We can prove it. Take a look at these comparisons on our website, clicking each of the 20 reasons why we’re better than any other design or manufacturer out there. It’ll be the most informative and educational 5 minutes you’ll find on the ins and outs of...

I'm looking into buying one of your tornado shelters and am curious about how they are anchored to the slab. How do you anchor your storm shelters to a slab foundation? We anchor the safe room to your reinforced slab of adequate mass and geometry by using Red Head brand wedge anchors. FEMA recommends 10” maximum spacing, our spacing is 6-10-10-6-10-10-6…you get the idea. Each anchor “officially” provides around 3500 lbs of hold down resistance and even more shear resistance. However, we installed a safe room for a Mechanical Engineer from Hilti ( one of the world leaders in bolting and anchoring fasteners), and he told us they and other manufacturers use a safety factor of 13 when publishing their spec sheets. So in reality, each bolt literally provides about 50k lbs of hold down before it fails, and the number of bolts in your storm shelter is determined by the...

I'm claustrophobic and concerned about being able to get fresh air and being able to breathe while inside a Tornado Alley Armor above ground storm shelter. Where are the vents and how does that work? We have two methods of ventilation in our tornado shelters The first is primarily ornamental, for folks who want to see something that looks like ventilation. It’s a grid punched in the lower portion of the door, covered by a protective shield bolted to the door. It provides enough air supply for 3-4 occupants. The real ventilation is a ¼” “S”-path gap around the entire door perimeter. The door frame has a flange that protrudes out, and the door had a flange that faces inward. The door overlaps the frame when closed, creating a ¼” path where air can flow freely around the path but debris can’t. It also creates a soothing glow of outside light...

Our hearts go out to the people of Moore, OK who were attacked by a devasting EF4 tornado earlier today. It breaks our hearts to think of what those families are going through... some still trying to find their loved ones. We at Tornado Alley Armor express our deepest sympathy for the families and the lives lost in Moore. God Bless you all....

  The tornado that tore through Shawnee, Oklahoma on 5-19-13 has left at least one dead and much destruction. This isn’t too far from home for Tornado Alley Armor. Sometimes it takes something like this hitting close to home to bring things into perspective. Please have a safe place planned out ahead of time that you can go to for protection from severe weather like what happened in Oklahoma today.  If you don’t have a safe room to protect your family then please put a plan in place of the safest place for you and your family so you can be prepared. Spring isn’t over yet, and as we’re finding out tornadoes now happen all year long. Stay safe!  ...

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people in Northern Texas, especially Granbury, TX where they were hit so hard by the tornadoes that ripped through the area last night. Spring isn't over yet. May is the peak month for tornadoes and June has almost as many tornadoes on average as April. Even if you don't have a Tornado Alley Armor Safe Room please have a plan of action for your family when severe weather strikes near you. The National Weather Service’s Dallas-Fort Worth office announced at least ten tornadoes touched ground across Texas on Wednesday evening according to Mark Fox, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Dallas-Fort Worth. Be careful in planning your safe place and always be prepared to take shelter because these storms can pop up with such a short notice. Some witnesses have said the tornado that swept through Johnson County may have been...

I live in Grayson County in Sherman, Texas and have been chosen by FEMA to get a rebate on a Safe Room. Why does it matter who I buy it from? Basically it’s because the tornado shelter industry is unregulated and anyone can make storm shelters and say anything they want about it. Notice how many septic tank companies have joined the bandwagon and turned them into underground tornado shelters? The only way to know who to trust is by relying on the National Storm Shelter Association to give you guidance.  You can find their website here: http://www.nssa.cc/Origins.php. To qualify for Producer Member status in the NSSA shelter manufacturers must comply with FEMA 320 for storm shelters and have their designs and engineering calculations verified by a third party engineering company to be in compliance with the standard. The International Code Council (ICC) and the National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA) developed...

  The myth that tornado alley is in the Plains and Midwest states have been shattered in recent decades. Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia have all had deadly tornado outbreaks in the past few years. Of the top ten cities most likely to be hit by a tornado, Jackson, MS came in at #2. Tornado expert Dr Greg Forbes of weather.com has studied tornadoes extensively. He tracks and monitors tornadoes year-round for The Weather Channel and weather.com. Dr. Forbes is a foremost expert in his field, studying under Tetsuya Fujita, who developed the F-rating scale by which we classify tornadoes. The Dixie Alley, in the Deep South, may have the biggest risk for tornadoes. Five of the top ten cities on this list are in the Gulf Coast, or Dixie Alley, states. Jackson, MS came in at number 2. The most active months are March, April, and November. Spring isn’t the...

  Dr. Ernst Kiesling, Executive Director of the National Storm Shelter Association and professor of Engineering at the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University, addressing an emergency preparedness conference in Alabama.   Dr. Kiesling admonishes the conference attendees to beware of misleading claims used by the majority of non-NSSA storm shelter and safe room manufactures, implying they have NSSA, Texas Tech or FEMA endorsements, or meet requirements which are not true or verified.   The primary function of the NSSA is to provide a process by which reputable manufacturers can be independently verified to be in compliance with all NSSA, FEMA320 and ICC-500 design standards and recommendations for safe rooms and storm shelters. Consumers who purchase a safe room with the NSSA seal can rest assured that they have purchased a safe, quality severe weather product.    ...

  Hunstville, Alabama are you aware that your town was rated #1 in top 10 of cities where homes are most likely to get hit by a tornado by Tornado expert Dr Greg Forbes of The Weather Channel and weather.com? Birmingham, Alabama was rated #3. Dr. Forbes is a foremost expert in his field, studying under Tetsuya Fujita, who developed the F-rating scale by which we classify tornadoes. Dr. Forbes gathered data from the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center between 1962-2011 and added up the areas of the tornado paths within 75 miles of the city highlighted, including the tornado damage path lengths and widths. This methodology gives a more realistic probability of a particular location getting hit by a tornado than simply by using the raw numbers of tornado that have occurred within a metro area. Huntsville lies in the Tennessee Valley, surrounded by the hills of the Cumberland Plateau. It also lies within Dixie Alley, an area...

Historically speaking, this is one of the worst weeks of the year for severe weather. Experts say we shouldn't let these blue skies fool us; this is the time of year when moisture from the gulf starts meeting up with hot, dry air from the southwest. That’s when we become “Tornado Alley.” Now is the time to get prepared for tornado season by having an emergency kit that contains a battery-powered radio or TV, a flashlight, plenty of batteries and first-aid supplies. Who better to buy your storm shelter and emergency supplies from than Tornado Alley Safe Rooms? We KNOW tornadoes. The top 10 cities in order of ranking are: Huntsville, AL Jackson, MS Birmingham, AL Tuscaloosa, AL Little Rock, AR Tulsa, OK Oklahoma City, OK Atlanta, GA Wichita, KS Nashville, TN   Visit our website at www.tornadoalleyarmor.com for more information.    ...

I'm terrified of tornadoes and also claustrophobic. I need a tornado shelter that I can't get trapped in. I need more than one way out in case the door gets blocked! Tornado Alley Armor NSSA verified EF5 safe rooms bolt together andcan be totally disassembled from the inside, rendering them entrapment-proof regardless of door swing. Our door swings outward so it's stronger than an inward swinging door. And no claustrophobia worries here since you can't get trapped inside our tornado shelter! We include two new wrenches (American made) with every storm shelter, zip tied inside for emergency egress. Plus Tornado Alley Armor Safe Rooms are totally re-locatable and fit entirely in a van or pickup bed. You’ll never have to buy another safe room… it’s truly Your Lifetime Tornado Defense. Call us at 855-55-ARMOR!  ...

I'm looking for an above ground tornado shelter that I don't have to leave behind when I move. Can you help me?     Your storm shelter investment can travel when you do. With Tornado Alley Armor Safe Rooms EZ Armor, a wrench is all that’s needed to disassemble your safe room and take it with you. The individual panels are EZ to handle, EZ to move, and EZ to reassemble at your new home. No need for forklifts, contract labor or heavy duty trailers to move our tornado shelters. And underground units…you can kiss them goodbye when you leave. Make a life-long investment in your safe room...buy a Tornado Alley Armor Safe Room.   Call us at 855-55-ARMOR or visit www.tornadoalleyarmor.com for more info!...

  Since you have an outward swinging door on your above ground storm shelters how will I get out if something gets up against the door? Thanks for the great question. We understand your concern. I get the willies myself thinking about being trapped and helpless. With virtually every other safe room on the market, the door swings inward. In theory it’s supposed to make it more difficult to have your egress blocked. But…that’s one, and only one door meaning one way in and one way out. If a car or wall or debris comes to rest against the door opening it doesn't matter which way it swings…you’re still trapped inside. Tornado Alley Armor doors swings outward, which means full contact door-to-frame protection around the entire door perimeter when debris missiles impact the door. An inward swinging door is only as strong as the hinge and latch points holding it to the frame...

GOING OUTSIDE TO GET INTO AN UNDERGROUND TORNADO CELLAR DRAMATICALLY INCREASES YOUR RISK OF SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH Did you know that most injuries and fatalities from tornadoes occur while people are searching for a safe haven from the violent winds and flying debris? It's a fact. As severe weather approaches, warnings to “take shelter immediately” are often disregarded as homeowners remain inside their homes to monitor the path of the storm on live televised weather alerts. It is only when their “safety comfort zone” is exceeded that the decision is made to move to an emergency shelter. Unfortunately, many times this decision is delayed until the tornado is within striking distance with its extreme wind and airborne debris...not to mention high winds, driving rain and hail. Although many homes located in the path of a tornado may be severely damaged or destroyed, they still offer a significant level of...

Aren't all above ground tornado shelters pretty much the same, aside from the name?   Great question! The answer is no. Although most storm shelters are pretty comparable, Tornado Alley Armor Safe Rooms have lots of advantages you just don't find with other manufacturers. We are producer members of the prestigious National Storm Shelter Association, and of course are EF5 rated. One of the most important ways we differ from other manufacturers is that you absolutely CANNOT get trapped inside. Even if the door gets blocked all you have to do is take down the wrenches that we include with every safe room and start unbolting. It's that simple. Another great way we differ is that our safe rooms easily move when you do. You don't ever have to purchase another one. You can unbolt it and move it to your new home in the back of a pickup, van, trailer,...

In a previous blog we referred to a "standard reinforced concrete slab of adequate mass and geometry" for an acceptable anchoring location for safe rooms. So what the heck did we mean by that? "A STANDARD REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB": As a general rule, if the slab you're considering is less than 40-50 years old or so, it's most likely a "standard reinforced concrete slab". The newer the slab, the higher the probability that it is of suitable construction for a safe room. That means a few things are most likely true: The slab has most likely been inspected by a building inspector during construction to ensure it meets local building codes The concrete mixture used is most likely classified as 3000# or greater test strength, which meets FEMA and NSSA recommendations The slab is most likely 4" thick or more. (Contractors often use 2x4's or 2x6's to frame in the area...

  Q: How will I know I’ll be able to breathe once I’m inside the safe room with the door shut?   A: .. The vent cover you see on the Tornado Alley Armor Safe Room door covers a perforated grid rated to provide enough continuous air supply for three people. The real air supply is hidden in the door design. We engineered in a ¼” gap around the entire perimeter of the door, with the air following an “S” path to enter the safe room around the door, then reversing around the door frame flange and into the safe room. Debris cannot follow that path but the air can, and believe it or not the gap is enough to provide 24 people with air indefinitely. That, along with the wrenches we hang inside, should set your claustrophobic mind at ease. Not only will you be able to breathe easily, you...

We recently had a customer ask:I really like the idea of the panels allowing for alternate escape routes. I have seen other products that have dropped a car from 40 feet to demonstrate the resilience of their rooms. I am wondering how well your products would stand up if my house collapsed down onto the room. Any info will be greatly appreciated. How crush proof are your safe rooms? Thanks Chris   To which our reply was: Chris, Great question! The mechanics involved with a house falling on a steel safe room involves minimal energy spread over a large area. There is virtually no plausible scenario where a house could even create a slight deflection in a safe room wall or roof. Our steel safe room weighs less than 1/2 the steel of a conventional safe room, yet it endured an onslaught of nine F5 missile impacts when only four...

Q: I want to buy a safe room to protect my family from severe weather. When do I need to order to have it installed this spring?     A: While most above ground safe room companies take 7-8 weeks to manufacture a storm shelter, and even longer if you order during the months of March and April, Tornado Alley Armor can have your safe room ready for pick up or installation in 3-4 weeks. That’s a really fast turnaround time for storm shelters. If you’re thinking of buying a safe room to protect your family from this spring’s unpredictable storms gives us a call today! 855-55-ARMOR  ...

  Tornado season is right around the corner. Be prepared by gathering items for a disaster supply kit. If you have a storm shelter keep these items in a tote or other container inside so that you are always prepared. With a Tornado Alley Armor Safe Room you won’t have to worry about getting out of your safe room after the storm, even if debris blocks your door, because you’ll have emergency wrenches hanging inside. Here are some other items to keep on hand: 3 day supply of water Portable Toilet and rolls of toilet paper Moist Towelettes Toilet Liners Sturdy shoes and work gloves Toilet Disinfectant AM Radio w/Batteries Alert horn Roll of duct tape Large Mylar Blanket Glow sticks Matches in a waterproof container   Remember to keep your kits in working order by changing the food and water every six months and replacing batteries as necessary. Keep items...

  Tornado Alley Armor Safe Rooms expresses its sympathy for the people that went through the Hattiesburg, MS tornado yesterday. Although it’s still winter tornadoes don’t seem to care. Hattiesburg, MS found that out first hand when a tornado ripped through their town damaging buildings and harming residents. Luckily, everyone survived this one.Tornado Ally Armor Safe Rooms ship and install nationwide. Hattiesburg, Purva, Columbia, Collins, Laurel, Elisville, and Poplarville- be prepared for the next severe weather outbreak by protecting your loved ones with a storm shelter from Tornado Alley Armor. Entrapment Proof, F5 Rated, NSSA, and you can take it with you if you move. Find more great features on our website.    ...

Q: Is the safe room industry regulated by the government? A: No, it is not. There is no regulation or follow-up done by the government to verify a tornado shelter or safe room company’s claims are true. That being said, the National Storm Shelter Association is a voluntary organization that is very strict on following the guidelines set forth by FEMA. Tornado Alley Armor is a Producer Member in the prestigious National Storm Shelter Association…best of the best in the safe room industry. Our safe room design meets or exceeds the design standards found in FEMA 320/361, ICC-500 and NSSA publications, and the NSSA has verified that our design has been checked by 2 separate engineering firms for FEMA design compliance. We have been successfully tested with over 2x the required number of F5 debris impacts at Texas Tech University. We’re one of only 2-3 safe room companies in the...

Q: I’m extremely claustrophobic and am scared to get in an above ground tornado shelter or underground shelter because I’m afraid I’ll get trapped inside. What do you suggest?   A: You don’t have to worry about getting trapped inside a Tornado Alley Armor Safe Room. Even if something blocks the door, our safe rooms can be totally disassembled from the inside, rendering them guaranteed entrapment-proof regardless of door swing. We include two wrenches with every safe room, zip tied inside for emergency egress. No hydraulic jacks, no hoists, no come-alongs. If you can use a wrench to loosen a nut you can get out. You won’t have to wonder if and when someone will come along to help you from the outside. With our safe rooms you can help yourself from the inside. Plus, since it bolts together it’s totally re-locatable if you decide to move. The disassembled unit...

Q: Where can I buy a Do It Yourself Bolt Together Safe Room, Tornado Shelter or above ground Storm Shelter kit that also has a professional installation option?     A: If you live within 100 miles of any of the following locations you can have your own Tornado Alley Armor DIY Safe Room kit with all necessary hardware delivered to your door within 4-5 weeks, palletized on a 40” x 80” wooden skid, with professional installation available upon request. A good rule of thumb to estimate freight cost is between $0.75 and $1.05 per mile depending on the weight of your selected model. As of January 31, 2013 we have safe rooms in states designated with red font and an asterisk. We ship and deliver nationwide, so if you don’t see your state or area listed, or if you are in a state that isn’t red, give us a...

Question: Can I install an above ground safe room in my home with a crawl space? Answer:   First, let’s define the general types of residential construction: Slab on grade: A concrete slab is poured in a properly prepared area with the slab sitting directly on the ground. It is often designed to be thicker around the perimeter to support the weight of the walls. Walls and structure are fastened directly to the concrete floor. Raised floor: Also known as crawl space, pier and beam, footer and stem wall. Wooden floor joists and decking are built on top of concrete piers and stem wall, with an air space between the soil and the floor. The raised floor, stem wall and piers provide support for the walls and a “crawl space” underneath. Basement: A combination of slab and raised floor construction, with the slab poured far enough below grade to allow...

Question: Does it matter whether an above ground safe room door swings inward or outward? Answer: With virtually every other safe room on the market, the door swings inward. In theory it’s supposed to make it more difficult to have your egress blocked. But…that’s one, and only one door meaning one way in and one way out. If a car or wall or debris comes to rest against the door opening it doesn’t matter which way it swings…you’re still trapped inside. Our door swings outward, which means full contact door-to-frame protection around the entire door perimeter when debris missiles impact the door. An inward swinging door is only as strong as the hinge and latch points holding it to the frame and they must absorb the entire impact. I’ll take full perimeter impact protection any day over hinges and bolts only. With a Tornado Alley Armor safe room you have as...

Hi! Thanks for checking out the launch of our inaugural Tornado Alley Armor Awesomeblog!Our goal is to provide you with the most comprehensive storm shelter information...discussions, news, facts, videos, tips, how-to's, how-NOT-to's, and more...found anywhere on the web.As you know, weather patterns are going crazy and tornado outbreaks are definitely on the rise. The need for a severe weather protection plan, including an easily accessible tornado shelter, is becoming a must for every home and business in "Tornado Alley".In the coming months we'll be sharing a wealth of tornado and severe weather preparedness information, including: FEMA safe room design standards - What design features you should expect in your storm shelter FEMA grant programs - Where active FEMA grant programs are currently in place, what it takes to qualify Storm Shelter and Safe Room Certifications - What do they really mean? How do you really know certification claims are legit? Severe...