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G R E AT E R N A S H V I L L E H O U S E & H O M E & G A R D E N
™
storm
shelters
A
s winter turns into spring the Nashville area looks to the skies for
signs of super cell clouds and homeowners think about adding a
s
torm shelter for the safety of their families.
Storm shelter choices range from those dug in the ground, those placed
under garage floors, those built as a safe room within a home, and those that
are bolted securely into a garage or other living space.
"
Before you decide what storm shelter is right for your family, it's impor-
tant to focus on purchasing a storm shelter manufactured with the highest
quality materials. We recommend buying a storm shelter
made of galvanized steel. Galvanized steel is the toughest,
strongest, and most durable material used to build a storm
shelter. It also has an impressive lifespan, capable of las ng
more than 70 years without maintenance, and if necessary,
can be recycled mul ple mes," says Jeff Turner, president of
Na onal Storm Shelters.
Turner says a high quality above ground safe room or un-
derground storm shelter can cost between $4,000 and
$6,000.
Smart Tornado Shelters offers above ground and in
ground storm shelters, and Ken Porterfield says the amount
of rock in Middle Tennessee is one considera on when se-
lec ng storm protec on. "Above ground safe rooms are a
great alterna ve to the cost of excava ng rock," he says.
Frank Miller of Storm Shield Stormrooms offers a DuPont
Stormroom with Kevlar and points to the advantages of an
above ground room which, he says, is as safe as an in-ground
storm room but is easily accessible to those with disabili es
and pets. "There's less chance of entrapment in an above
ground storm room," he says, "and no danger from water in-
trusion." Eleven sizes are available and range in price from
$6,000 to $17,000, and the rooms can serve as a closet,
bathroom, pantry, office, gun safe, or other space.
Saying that her company sells three mes as many safe
room shelters as below ground units is Ginger Varderheyden
of Steel Storm Shelters LLC. Saferooms, she suggests, are
easier to access and don't require going into the weather as
the company's SafeDens do. Costs for a saferoom range
from $4,500 to $5,700, while Safe Dens range from $6,200
to $6,500. The company also offers in-slab installa ons and a
Safe Shed.
Also offering safe room alterna ves to in-ground shelters
is TornadoSafeRoom, Inc., which provides units for one, two,
or five people, and also a five-person unit that doubles as a
workbench in the garage.
Experts say compare products carefully, including con-
struc on and materials, as well as the ra ng of the product
you're considering. ◆
There are a number of sources for storm shelters/saferooms in the
Nashville area including:
Na onal Storm Shelter
Smyrna
615/ 223-7233
Steel Storm Shelters
Medon TN
615/ 38356
Storm Shield Stormrooms
Crossville
931 337-1266
TornadoSafeRoom, Inc.
Murfreesboro
615/ 663-2373
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