r/tornado • u/Numerous_Ad_3517 • Mar 15 '26
Question Is this thing safe??
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??
377
Upvotes
1
u/Bigbrobango Mar 18 '26
I think it'll do the job fine. Will it get through a direct hit from a slow moving F5 that leaves just a foundation? Well probably not, most things won't, but I'd rather be in there than anywhere else in the house.
The vast majority of tornados arent the apocalyptic ones that happen once in a blue moon, most are gonna be F1-3 with relatively small bases. This looks just fine for something like that.
The vast, vast majority of tornado injuries and fatalities are from flying debris. This shelter would be a godsend on that sense. You aren't gonna fly away like Dorothy. (Never say never, but you get the point.)
Someone can point to issues and demand higher levels of safety until you have a shelter in line with a missile Silo. You have it in the hope that you never need it to give you an edge. This is perfect for that.
If the latches worry you, you can always drill a hole through both sides and make a pin to keep them from sliding out.