In-garage, in-ground and above-ground shelters can all protect against tornadoes when properly tested and installed. They differ in access, site needs and cost.
A steel or concrete unit installed in the garage, either set into the slab below the floor or bolted to the slab as an above-ground room. You reach it without stepping outside.
Good for: getting to shelter fast, from inside the house, at night.
Watch for: below-floor units need stairs or a ladder, which is hard for some people.
Read more →A buried steel, fiberglass or concrete shelter in the yard or under a new slab, entered through a door or hatch at ground level.
Good for: families that want the shelter outside the main living space.
Watch for: rock or high groundwater can raise cost or rule out a site.
Read more →A steel or reinforced concrete room anchored to a concrete slab, inside the home (a closet or interior room) or outdoors on its own pad.
Good for: wheelchair users, older family members and anyone who cannot use stairs.
Watch for: the slab must be able to take the anchoring loads.
Read more →| Question | In-garage | In-ground | Above-ground |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reach it without going outside? | Yes | Usually no | Yes, if indoors |
| Stairs or ladder? | Below-floor units: yes | Yes | No |
| Wheelchair accessible? | Above-slab units can be | Rarely | Often |
| Sensitive to rock or groundwater? | Some (slab cut) | Most | Least |
| OK in a flood-prone area? | Ask the installer | No | Ask the installer |
General comparison only. Every site is different; an installer should confirm what fits your home.
Tell us about your home. We pass your request to an independent local installer, who confirms options and price.