Can Above Ground Storm Shelters Survive F5 Tornadoes? - Sprague's Backhoe (2024)

FAQs

Can Above Ground Storm Shelters Survive F5 Tornadoes? - Sprague's Backhoe? ›

Above ground storm shelters are not only capable of surviving F5 tornadoes but can provide a level of protection that meets and exceeds expectations.

An above-ground tornado shelter is 100% capable of withstanding the force applied by even an EF5 tornado. If you live in a place where tornadoes are common, it's important that you have a place to go when a storm strikes.

You may simply value preparedness, and know that it's an easy and cost-effective solution. But understanding a few other advantages and considerations is also essential. Above-ground tornado shelters, when built to the right specifications, are a reliable and effective solution.

The TwisterPod and TwisterPod Max above ground tornado shelters are some of our most popular residential models. Engineered to withstand EF5 tornado winds (250+ mph). Made from 100% steel – you will never have to worry about cracking, crumbling, or leaking.

As a Producer Member of the NSSA, Survive-A-Storm Shelters offers near-absolute protection with a full line of above-ground storm shelters and below-ground shelters for residential use. Survive-A-Storm Shelters are FEMA-compliant and able to withstand winds and debris from any EF5 tornado.

How is the above ground shelter anchored? All our safe rooms must be appropriately anchored to a concrete slab that weighs at least two (2) cubic yards, has steel reinforcement, has wire or rebar, and is not severally cracked. Typically, storm shelters are installed inside the house or in the garage.

Being underground in a basem*nt is certainly preferable in all situations. You'll need to be underground to survive an EF5 tornado, as that will completely remove a house from its foundation and can even strip concrete and grass from the ground.

Homes built with insulated concrete forms (ICF), like Fox Blocks, maintain their integrity during the high winds of a tornado. Insulating concrete forms can withstand winds of over 200 mph.

But the truth is that above-ground safe rooms are just as secure as their underground counterparts. Researchers from Texas Tech University claim that there is no evidence of above-ground safe room failures.

Engineering for Maximum Strength

Safe rooms are not your average shelter. They are meticulously engineered to endure extreme weather conditions, including the ferocious winds and flying debris generated by an F5 tornado.

Is there such thing as a tornado proof building? ›

Simply, no. There's no such thing as a completely tornado-proof house. According to a report on wind research, a tornado-resistant home would need the following components: Missile-resistant walls, roof, windows, doors, and garage doors to protect it from airborne debris.

The safest place in the home is the interior part of a basem*nt. If there is no basem*nt, go to an inside room, without windows, on the lowest floor. This could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet. For added protection, get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or workbench.

conclusion. Above ground storm shelters are not only capable of surviving F5 tornadoes but can provide a level of protection that meets and exceeds expectations. With our shelters, you can rest assured knowing that you're prepared for whatever nature throws your way.

Misconception #1: Tornados can blow above ground shelters right off the concrete slab. This is far from the truth. Though many think that it's suction that causes the majority of tornado damage, the truth is that it is extreme wind speeds of surface air that is drawn to the vortex.

The most affordable and weather-resistant tornado shelter material is concrete, but it's brittle and can crumble in the face of extreme weather. Though costlier, steel is a lightweight and durable option best for protecting you from flying debris.

Above ground storm shelters are also just as safe as below ground shelters. They are constructed from high-quality materials and engineered to withstand the forces of severe weather.

FamilySAFE is the PROVEN leader in EF5-tested, above-ground tornado shelters and safe rooms. Not just tested, but PROVEN in 13 of the worst tornadoes in history!

There is little danger that the room in which you are taking shelter will run out of oxygen and you will suffocate.

“The standard safe room, with 6- inch-thick walls and rebar at 2-foot spacings vertically and horizontally, can resist winds up to 250 mph,” says Lite-Form marketing director Wayne Fenton.

For an exposed shelter, the structure will be installed 48 inches (4 feet) deep leaving 28 inches above the surface. Excavated earth is graded around the shelter walls and tapered to the existing ground level. Standard shelters are not pre-wired for Internet or electricity. The structures can be wired easily.

What makes a tornado shelter safe? ›

These shelters should be able to withstand high winds and flying debris, the two primary dangers posed by tornadoes. Tornado shelters should be constructed using reinforced steel or concrete and anchored securely to resist overturning or uplift. (Or alternatively, they should be underground.)

Tornadoes are rated on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which gives these storms a rating from EF0 to EF5, with EF5 being the most intense and destructive. While no structure is entirely tornado-proof, a well-built brick house can typically hold its ground against tornadoes rated up to EF3 and even EF4 in some cases.

Forget about the old notion of opening windows to equalize pressure; the tornado will blast open the windows for you! If you shop frequently at certain stores, learn where there are bathrooms, storage rooms or other interior shelter areas away from windows, and the shortest ways to get there.

In total, two tornadoes received the rating of F6, but both were later downgraded to F5. Based on aerial photographs of the damage it caused, Fujita assigned the strongest tornado of the 1974 Super Outbreak, which affected Xenia, Ohio, a preliminary rating of F6 intensity ± 1 scale.

If a basem*nt isn't possible and tornado shelters aren't practical, the next safest option during a tornado is any area fully inside the building. This means that the room should have no exterior walls. Under a stairwell, in an interior hallway or even in a room within your apartment can work.

Once the wind gets inside, there can be severe damage to offices and apartments near the windows. Most tall buildings are engineered with strong enough foundations and steel framing to withstand tornado force winds.

During a Tornado

Safest place to be is an underground shelter, basem*nt or safe room. Cover your head with your arms, a mattress, or heavy blanket. If no underground shelter is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.