Tornado
The deadly tornadoes and hurricanes of recent years have prompted many people to invest in manufactured, above- or below-ground storm shelters. Any shelter you consider buying must do three critical things: stop flying debris, resist wind and provide ventilation. Following these simple steps will help you to buy a reliable, safe storm shelter that will protect you and your family. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Determine your risk. Consider whether you live in an area with a lot of tornado or hurricane activity. Review the number of times you've been under tornado watches and warnings or hurricane alerts. Once you determine how much risk you face, decide how much protection you need to achieve peace of mind.
2. Decide whether you want an above- or below-ground shelter, and how big you want it to be. Also consider how much you want to spend.
3. Research storm shelters.Talk to neighbors or friends who have shelters. Ask them how and why they chose their shelter and if they're happy with it. Find shelter manufacturers online, in the phone book or at home and garden shows. Call manufacturers and ask about the price and protection levels in different shelters. To research on-line, type "storm shelters" into a search engine, or use the links below.
4. Ask the following questions before buying an above-ground shelter, as recommended by the National Storm Shelter Association: Have all walls and the roof been tested for debris impact resistance? Is the shelter designed to handle maximum anticipated wind forces? Is the roof connected adequately to the walls? Are the walls adequately anchored to the floor? Will the shelter be anchored to a slab that has steel reinforcement and is in good condition? Is the door designed to meet impact and wind requirements? Is the shelter vented to provide breathing air for occupants and to relieve the atmospheric pressure changes that come with tornadoes?
5. Ask these questions before buying a below-ground shelter: Have all exposed or near-to-the-surface elements been tested for debris impact resistance? Does the shelter have structural integrity? Is the shelter ballasted to prevent uplift from the bouyancy of saturated soils? Is the shelter adequately sealed to prevent water leakage? Is the door tested to withstand debris impacts and wind? Is the shelter adequately vented?
6. Consider buying a storm shelter that has the National Storm Shelter Association's seal of approval. The Association is the only nonprofit organization to apply a safety and quality standard to storm shelters. No government agency has a standard for storm shelters.
Tags: storm shelters, above- below-ground, been tested, been tested debris, before buying, below-ground shelter