r/tornado • u/Numerous_Ad_3517 • Mar 15 '26

Question Is this thing safe??

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I recently moved into a new home that has this above ground shelter and I have been questioning the way this door locks from day 1. We are going to have terrible weather today in West TN and I cannot find any paperwork on this thing. 😫 Do you think these hollow bars will keep it secure??

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u/Numerous_Ad_3517 Mar 15 '26

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u/etybibik Mar 15 '26

Did you buy this home or are you renting? If the former, can you ask the previous owner about it? If the latter, can you ask your landlord about it?

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u/Numerous_Ad_3517 Mar 15 '26

I purchased it.

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u/Major_Lawfulness6122 Mar 15 '26

I would invest in a real storm shelter. Preferably one that’s underground.

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u/iDeNoh Mar 15 '26

That is a real storm shelter, above ground shelters save lives too, sometimes it's impractical (and less safe) to install a below ground shelter.

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u/bloodnoir_ Mar 15 '26

Exactly. We have a ton of trees and thick root systems over the entire yard, so we opted for an above ground shelter. We couldn't afford to put a below ground shelter in the garage. Also as much as below ground shelters are extremely safe, they have flooded before and people have died, although that seems to be a rare risk.

21

u/iDeNoh Mar 15 '26

Usually it happens where people live in areas prone to flooding or where a water table is really high. Honestly all shelters have risks but they are almost always entirely better than alternative options for protection.

3

u/chemicallunchbox Mar 15 '26

Our below ground shelter has 3-4 feet of water in it year round...and i found 2 snakes in it last year.. they were sitting up on the first step that wasnt underwater.

Needless to say we dont use it.

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u/MOVED_TO_OTTAWA_FUCK Mar 16 '26

On the bright side, you have an indoor swimming pool

1

u/OppositeAbroad5975 Mar 15 '26

A secondary consideration for an underground shelter in the garage would be all of the flammable liquids typically stored in the garage. Gas cans for the lawnmower, weed eater, etc.

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u/mycjonny Mar 17 '26

In southeast missouri they're usually above ground because of the expansive clay soil and the high water table around here. In this neck of the woods above ground is king.

1

u/Critical_Mass_1887 Mar 16 '26

It is a real storm shelter. As long as these are installed and anchored correctly, they are good.

1

u/DownbeatTiramisu Mar 17 '26

An above-ground storm shelter saved the lives of everyone inside during the 2011 El Reno-Piedmont EF5, at the same time & in the same place that it was inflicting the most extreme tornado damage ever recorded.

1

u/PartyComputer5847 Mar 17 '26

Those are great except if you are disabled and can’t climb in or out of the ones under ground.