Learn Everything about Storm Shelters This Tornado Season
The vast region between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains, known as Tornado Alley, contains more than half of the United States. Just our luck that Oklahoma is right in the middle of it. More tornadoes occur there than anywhere else in the world. However, there also have been tornadoes in every state, so the rest of the nation is not exempt. In fact, more than 3 billion hours are spent annually by Americans under tornado watches. Thankfully, we have got storm shelters to save the day!
History of Storm Shelters
The development of fallout shelters for nuclear defense has parallels to the history of storm shelters. Ever since the threat of nuclear war became imminent building underground bomb shelters for families and stocking them with survival supplies were urged. These shelters performed a dual duty in tornado-prone locations.
After the massive destruction caused by Hurricane Hugo, the Loma Prieta earthquake of California, and 1992's Hurricane Andrew, FEMA's goal was expanded to include prevention of casualties and property loss in addition to disaster relief and rehabilitation. The American government has currently employed a policy where it provides financial inducement to homeowners that build storm shelters in line with this principle.
Raw Materials Used
The strongest and most protected safe rooms are made out of steel panels (and sometimes reinforced concrete). Reinforced concrete is usually more popular among on-site underground storm shelters. Corrugated steel culverts, steel plate (generally coated in epoxy or galvanized), reinforced fiberglass, high-density polyethylene, and concrete reinforced with rebar or fibermesh are some of the most common materials used to construct prefabricated underground shelters.
Standard materials for shelter doors and hatches include steel, fiberglass, steel-plated plywood, aluminum, and steel. In underground shelters, stairs and ladders are often constructed out of fiberglass, steel, aluminum, or wood. Stainless steel and zinc bolts AJS anchor chains are some other hardware components used in the construction of storm shelters.
Design of the Storm Shelters
There are many different shapes for underground shelters, such as spheres, domes, horizontal tubes, and cuboidal boxes. The majority of producers provide their own proprietary designs, some of which come in different sizes. They often have a ladder or stairs, benches mounted on the wall, and battery-operated lights. Some manufacturers provide optional extras including a weather-band radio, an indoor-outdoor carpet, a telephone jack, and a chemical toilet.
Some storm shelters have a hydraulic or screw jack to pry open the door in case the inhabitants become trapped by debris covering the exit. Other designs have an additional emergency hatch located at the other end of the room.
The majority of subterranean shelters are not made to be entered by people with limited mobility, however some manufacturers, like EF5 Tornado Shelters make certain modifications to their designs that render them disability friendly.
How Can We Help?
Contact EF5 Tornado Shelters to protect your loved ones when severe weather strikes. Know more about us on our website!