Look for testing to recognized tornado shelter standards rather than a general claim of strength, and ask for the documentation rather than the brochure.

Register the shelter with your local authority. Many municipalities in tornado-prone areas maintain a registry so responders know where to look after a storm, it is usually free, and a great many installed shelters are never added to it. Check whether yours runs one before you assume it does not.

Occupancy time is limited by ventilation, not structure. Confirm the rating for the number of people who will actually use it, not the maximum on the label. Permitting and inspection requirements are set locally and vary widely, so confirm what applies in your jurisdiction before installation rather than after.

More on this

• Choosing between in-garage and in-ground
• Registering the shelter with the city
• Anchoring on an existing slab
• Door that opens outward under debris
• Certification standards
• Ventilation and how long you can stay
• Keeping supplies in the shelter
• Retrofit into a finished basement or interior room

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Written by Jaylan Jones. I Like To Exterior Services earns a referral fee when a call connects to a contractor. See our business-model disclosure.