Storm Shelters

[mkjeeves]

Good choice. I've heard more than one story about people putting in below ground and later either getting injured or not being healthy enough to make it down the stairs. I bought a 120 and 12 volt TV and put an antenna in the attic. Reception is good enough to pick up the primary local channels so I should be good through power and cable outages until the garage blows away and takes the antenna with it. My above ground shelter is in my garage. My cell phone works inside without any problems too, both voice and data.

[PennyQuilts]

Good choice. I've heard more than one story about people putting in below ground and later either getting injured or not being healthy enough to make it down the stairs. I bought a 120 and 12 volt TV and put an antenna in the attic. Reception is good enough to pick up the primary local channels so I should be good through power and cable outages until the garage blows away and takes the antenna with it. My above ground shelter is in my garage. My cell phone works inside without any problems too, both voice and data.

Getting an antenna sounds like a good idea. We're looking forward to tarting it up with emergency gear. I am not sure how well the cell will work in a concrete reinforced building but will find out. We've found some supercool led lanterns. There are some battery things that would be helpful but don't want to store certain things in an enclosed building for any length of time. Not sure if we will move the portable generator over there during storm season but gas cans would have to stay outside. I'll have to think about whether we want to bring them in with us during a warning or leave them out and hope nothing hits. So much to think about.

[mkjeeves]

I tried a couple of rabbit ear type of antennas first and they just wouldn't do it. Then bought this one which is not recommended to be inside a house but it works inside my garage in the eve. You are farther away from the stations IIRC like Mustang? so I don't know if it would work for you or not. Also don't know what one does about lightning and TV antennas which is one reason I put mine inside, besides the fact it was easy to do.

Amazon.com: Antennas Direct ClearStream4 HDTV Antenna: Electronics

I have a 12 volt battery I use for my CPAP and it will run the TV. I also thought about getting a long cord to plug into the car parked in the garage and leaving it coiled up and ready.

One thing that always makes us wait until the last minute is being glued to coverage, so I wanted to eliminate that by making it quick and easy to watch from the shelter.

Other prepper supplies I've gathered, 5-gallon bucket with lid for a toilet, paper, kitty litter, litter pan for the kitties. Plus water and usual other stuff one might think of. I plan to gather up some extra clothes, gloves, raincoat and basic stuff one might need after a tornado but haven't yet.

[PennyQuilts]

I read somewhere that you should leave a pair of clothes, including heavy shoes, in your shelter in case you have to go there while in your pj's. A couple of pairs of heavy gloves would be a must. I figure if the house blew down we'd just go stay with family but having medication, glasses and extra contacts needs to be there.

[boscorama]

We have an old (1970ish) cellar built into the front porch. It has real concrete stairs (not a ladder) and big enough except in height for someone as tall as the husband. No built-in seating but a couple of folding chairs await. Metal shelves hold many gallons of water, candles, and lighters.

I'm not sure how secure the door would be in an F5, as we've never had to go down and close it. IIRC there are chains involved. Really should figure it out or get a safe room. One neat thing is the dogs have access on hot days, or when they're home alone, frightened of thunder.

[PennyQuilts]

I liked having a basement back in Virginia because it stayed cool in the summer time and our Samoyeds could stay there, in comfort, while we were at work. It was a walkout so they could get outside. One of the reasons I liked the idea of a panic room attached to the house was that one of my dogs is really afraid of storms. She'd be so happy to go in there where it is quiet. When we looked at the model we bought, it was soooo quiet, even with the door open.

Never having had a storm shelter, I am having to wrap my brain around that option, stocking it, etc. Before, I just hauled the dogs' crates into the center closet, had their leashes ready, locked the gates outside (in case the girls got scared and bolted - NOT to keep the twister out), gathered up batteries, flashlights, blankets, pillows and gassed up the phones/ipads. If things got too hairy looking, we could leave but the only time we ever did that was last May 31. Knowing we can stay at home with the dogs will be a lot less stressful, especially since we are planning to wire it to keep internet and power (as long as it holds). We have an extra futon out in the barn that is just in the way so we'll probably stick it in there. I suggested putting in a bucket if we needed it but husband says if we are using a bucket as a toilet, he will be standing outside with the tornado. Or going back inside the house.

Yeah, you might want to take a look at that door to make sure it works or is workable. Surely it could be replaced if it needed to be and that would be cheaper than getting a whole new shelter. Having some place with cement stairs sounds pretty sturdy, to me. And very handy.

[Servicetech571]

We've ordered a 9 X 7 (internal measurements) above ground shelter from Storm Shelters - Highway 76 Sales LLC. It was originally scheduled to be installed about now but the weather has delayed pouring it. We're not sure when they will have it ready but we need to get the ground prepared before it gets here. It is going in right off our back patio next to the house so we can wire it for internet, power, etc. Obviously, we'd lose power if a tornado came through but usually that doesn't happen and we could monitor the weather in safety while we hunkered down - probably check in on Venture's weather website. The shed can be used for storage in the off season.

We wanted an above ground because we have dogs and are getting older. We could have put one in the garage but it would have had to be really small and even then would have crowded husband's mini workshop. I looked into the under the car ones but he was adamant that he didn't want one of those. He was worried about the car being damaged and leaking nasty fluids while we were trapped inside. Our garage door faces south and that made me a little nervous about such a big opening just waiting for the winds to snatch away the house.

We had some people out to give us estimates on a below ground right outside the back door. One didn't show and one came out and spent almost two hours going over the yard. He seemed very thorough and upfront, and enthusiastically assured us he had lots of people who had shelters we could go look at, installed. He promised to set up a time for us to go see one - and we never heard back from him.

We also had someone who had done a lot of work for us who specializes in concrete buildings. He gave us an estimate for an above ground that attached to the house and had a door to the master bathroom. I would have loved that but didn't want to spend $18,000 even though the room would have been fantastic for a panic room/office/etc. I think the estimate was more than reasonable for what he was suggesting but more than we needed.

I looked at the website and they are quoting $5300. Did the price they quoted include everythign or were there last minute "extras" not included in price? Was there an issue getting the shelter into the back yard?

[PennyQuilts]

I looked at the website and they are quoting $5300. Did the price they quoted include everythign or were there last minute "extras" not included in price? Was there an issue getting the shelter into the back yard?

We are still waiting on the installation but my understanding is that it is all inclusive except we prepare the ground (either with a slab or with a flat area - our choice). Delivery and installation is included because we are within their delivery range. Unlike an inground shelter, installation should take just a couple of hours - if that. And since they don't have the risk of hitting rock, extra charges shouldn't be an issue. It amounts to driving in, setting it down and pounding in anchors. Ours will be about $100.00 more because we are having them install a conduit/pipe in the wall to run electrical wiring.

We have a five acre lot so delivery shouldn't be a problem. You need to have a ten foot wide gate or gap in the fence for the truck to bring it in. Our gate is 9 foot ten inches but they said they thought that would be okay. We'll see. I am sure it is going to rut up our yard and be hard on the asphalt driveway but for us, getting it into the backyard isn't an issue. I can see where it would be difficult in many neighborhoods.

[Servicetech571]

Did some shopping today and ended up going with Storm Safe off I35 just south of 59th street:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Storm...69232689788466

$3,150 installed for a 5x7 garage shelter. Not enough room to drive in the backyard for an above ground...
Why are prices on Storm shelters so hush-hush? Few websites list prices and not many talk about it.
Ground Zero wanted $4,000. Hitsteel wanted $3,200 for thier 5x7's

[PennyQuilts]

Did some shopping today and ended up going with Storm Safe off I35 just south of 59th street:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Storm...69232689788466

$3,150 installed for a 5x7 garage shelter. Not enough room to drive in the backyard for an above ground...
Why are prices on Storm shelters so hush-hush? Few websites list prices and not many talk about it.
Ground Zero wanted $4,000. Hitsteel wanted $3,200 for thier 5x7's

Is this above ground of inground in the garage? When can they install?

[Servicetech571]

Is this above ground of inground in the garage? When can they install?

In the garage. We're getting ours in March, but they had some earlier appointments.
There were 3 other couples in the showroom when we were looking, they ALL bought a shelter.

Prices are so hard find online, I thought I'd help some other shoppers out:

Ground zero over on S Western wanted $4k for the 5'x7' (aka "extra large"). Hitsteel in the same shopping center (also known under 2 other names, don't remember what they are) was $3200 for the "medium" (still a 5x7). Storm safe $3350 for their "medium" (again a 5x7) but did a price match plus $50 for a total of $3150 installed.

All prices included tax/delivery. The only thing not included was the $53 permit fee which we pay the Oklahoma city directly. Hitsteel and Stormsafe winter sale prices were only good to the end of January. Groundzero said their pricing was limited also, but at $4k I don't see why. Not sure if everybody really is going up next month or if it's just a sales tactic.

Groundzero is the biggest seller, they said they install 40 per DAY, and they are a national company based out of Perry. Shelters look to be factory made of good quality, not sure if they make their own. Oddly they have little social media presence.

Hitsteel is a small company which the CSR in the showroom on Western says is out of Moore. Shelters look to be made in a shop and of good quality. Branding issues scared us off, using 3 different company names seems odd. The name on the storefront is NOT Hitsteel, yet all their literature says Hitsteel. CSR said they do 6 shelters per day. Was unable to find their website/FB page.

Stormsafe Is a large company, quality shelters made in a shop in Valley Brook. Showroom is on west side of I-35 between se59th and se66th st. FB page has 42,000 likes, so I figure they sell a shelter or two. Company active on FB, they post to their page regularly.

TV ads, couldn't tell you. We rarely watch Live TV and skip the commercials. We don't even have cable/sat/uverse. We record off of our old school antenna or watch TV online.

[PennyQuilts]

Allegedly, they're pouring our shelter, this week. We've got a guy lined up to come smooth out the ground and, hopefully, they'll deliver next week or the week after.

[BBatesokc]

After going back and forth on garage vs. outdoor, we flip flopped back to outdoors. We got a April 20-something install date from Ground Zero.

We went with outside finally because the wife heard too many stories of people stuck inside their garage shelter for hours or even a day or more after their house fell on it. We also had someone look at our garage area and they admitted that if our french drains by the garage got clogged with debris then water would go into the garage and could possible find its way into the shelter or cover it completely.

We also have neighbors that don't have a shelter (yet) and if we are not home we want them to have access to it.

Gave up hoping for a federal grant when I saw the update on how slow some people were to getting repaid.

Only thing I don't like is the Edmond rule that the shelter has to be behind my most forward front wall. Meaning I can't put it in my front yard area at all - even though my front yard is two-acres. I preferred to put it hidden behind a massive rock mound just off the garage on the uphill side.

[PennyQuilts]

I don't blame you on being irked by the placement rule. Seems like they could come up with some sort of rule adjusted to acreages. Shelters are safety issues, after all, and many backyards can't be accessed for installation very easily. Maybe homeowner rules would be a more sensible way to deal with the asthetics of storm shelter placement.

We're supposed to have ours delivered/installed next Tuesday. We'll see if the weather cooperates. I'm not pleased that it will be right after a snow/ice event because it will soften up the ground and likely leave huge ruts. The above ground one we're getting weighs many tons and the delivery truck will have to cross our football field like backyard to get to where it will be placed.

[ctchandler]

BBatesokc,
How is your property zoned? Mine is 2-A Agricultural and that restriction wouldn't apply to my five acres. However, I'm in OKC, not Edmond but you might double check.
C. T.

Only thing I don't like is the Edmond rule that the shelter has to be behind my most forward front wall. Meaning I can't put it in my front yard area at all - even though my front yard is two-acres. I preferred to put it hidden behind a massive rock mound just off the garage on the uphill side.

[BBatesokc]

BBatesokc,
How is your property zoned? Mine is 2-A Agricultural and that restriction wouldn't apply to my five acres. However, I'm in OKC, not Edmond but you might double check.
C. T.

I was told it didn't matter how my land is zoned - if its within the city of Edmond then it applies.

[ctchandler]

BBatesokc,
That's what I was wondering, and why I said I was in OKC, I'm sure there are a lot of differences between OKC and Edmond.
C. T.

I was told it didn't matter how my land is zoned - if its within the city of Edmond then it applies.

[BBatesokc]

Anybody know of anyone who has bought one of these Oklahoma storm shelters?

New Day Tornado Shelters - Tulsa OK | Safe Rooms | Storm Shelters in Tulsa, Oklahoma City OK

[PennyQuilts]

No, but that looks pretty cool for the right person.

The advent of safe above ground shelters was a game changer.

[PennyQuilts]

Installed, today.

[BBatesokc]

Installed, today.

I love the idea, but above ground still scares the crap out of me. I have a neighbor who went above ground and put a faux log cabin theme on the outside. Looks great.

I keep seeing that news broadcast where they said "three of the homes in this frame had above ground shelters, as you see, none are still standing."

[PennyQuilts]

I love the idea, but above ground still scares the crap out of me. I have a neighbor who went above ground and put a faux log cabin theme on the outside. Looks great.

I keep seeing that news broadcast where they said "three of the homes in this frame had above ground shelters, as you see, none are still standing."

The nws tells us above ground shelters got dinged up when the homes blew away on May 20 but the owners walked away without a scratch. One of these was used on May 20 and the owners lost everything but what they had inside. I'd like to see that broadcast, though. I did a lot of research before we bought. Too late to change our minds, now, but I'd still like to have seen it.

[Servicetech]

Got ours installed today:
https://plus.google.com/photos/11243...02602564123393

[Servicetech571]

https://plus.google.com/photos/11243...02602564123393

[Plutonic Panda]

Mustang Times, City approved for grant to reimburse those who purchase storm shelters