Nope, NOT EVEN CLOSE!

Actually, it’s not suction that causes the vast majority of tornado damage. Rather, it is the extreme wind speeds of surface air drawn to the vortex that provide the energy responsible for most tornado damage to buildings, vehicles, and other non-secured structures. If tornado-force winds can get under an object, chances are very likely that the object could go airborne. The actual differential pressure drop (or vacuum if you prefer) is only about 1 psi from normal.

However, with a properly engineered and anchored safe room, the maximum wind force exerted on the outside of the safe room is only a fraction of the hold-down and shear resistance rating of the anchoring system used. The safe room will remain securely anchored to your slab.

Some may say, “I’ve seen roads ripped up”! Yes, but those are blacktop roads where the extreme winds have eroded soil away from the edge. Blacktop is typically thinner and has significantly less strength than concrete, and it also lacks steel reinforcement. Claims of concrete slabs being tossed around actually refer to the raised concrete porches that were popular in the 1940s and 1950s.

The real threat then becomes the impact of airborne debris, which poses the greatest threat of injury or death if you’re not adequately shielded from it

There is no data demonstrating that underground shelters provide any significant safety advantage over above-ground safe rooms manufactured to or exceeding FEMA standards. In fact, many underground shelters pose more potential unintended hazards than they have advantages. This illustration demonstrates just some of the hidden hazards found with a typical in-ground garage floor design.

Outdoor below-ground safe rooms force users to venture out into violent weather conditions - driving rain, high winds, hail, and, worst of all, flying debris - to reach the shelter. Then they have to open the door in high wind, negotiate the wet steps in pouring rain, and secure the door. REMEMBER: Most injuries and fatalities occur as a result of being hit by flying debris while trying to reach safety!  

Underground Storm Shelters are a good idea in theory…but not so much when you think it through

Here is an image taken after heavy rains and flooding that often accompany severe weather outbreaks and tornadoes. Underground shelters can resurface from the ground and cause damage to your property, and also become unusable during a tornado event. Or even worse, flood while you are inside and trapped due to the debris being on top of them, resulting in death from drowning.  

 Less than half of the shelter designs on the market today have been built to meet or exceed the FEMA 320 standard for safe room construction or have undergone impact testing at the Texas Tech Wind Science and Engineering Research Center in Lubbock, TX. However, many claim to be “certified” with no repercussions since the industry isn’t regulated by law.

• Going Outside IN A STORM IS Dangerous

Think about what you hear meteorologists say during a storm, “Don’t go outside!” For those who have backyard storm shelters, that’s exactly what you have to do to run from your home, through the yard, to get inside your shelter. Going outside is dangerous, and you may be exposed to the flying debris while trying to take cover. High winds, hail, and lightning may cause some to delay the effort until the storm gets closer. The best shelter is one that is easily accessible and one that you will actually use. 

•  Steps Are Not An Option For Many

As we get older, or those who have had knee or hip surgery, it is almost impossible to attempt to go down narrow and steep stairs to take cover. As our population ages, ADA-compliant doors and handles to help our physically challenged population will become more common. 

• Some People Have Been Trapped Below Ground

While it is only a small chance, if debris is covering the underground shelter’s door, it makes getting out difficult, if not impossible. Tree limbs, pieces of homes, and other things can land on shelter doors. In our above-ground storm shelters, we ensured the door swung inward. This way, debris, such as the roof of the home, would not keep you from opening the door. There have been malfunctions that have trapped people inside their below-ground shelter. KFOR reported on a woman in Edmond who was trapped in 2012. Also, a Deer Creek woman and her 7-year-old son were trapped for 3 days due to an underground shelter not being able to open.  Both of these families and many others had negative experiences with their below-ground shelters.

Above-ground safe rooms are subjected to the same test protocols as their underground counterparts, and in fact, the number of test impacts on above-ground shelters exceeds those of underground models. This is because underground shelters typically have only their doors tested, while above-ground units endure additional testing of the walls and corner joints.

Do your homework. You’ll agree that Steel Strong Storm Shelters, installed by WatchDog Shelters, offer numerous advantages over any other safe room or storm shelter on the market, making the decision easy.