Our under garage shelter fit between the wheels of the car parked above it. It was out near the door so you could still get in it without moving the car. Climbing down into it took a minute. Getting big dogs down there would have been a trial for sure. In our new house we went above ground. Somebody will always be around to tell you "I bet it won't withstand 900 mph winds so it's no good". No matter whether you go with below ground, above ground, or no shelter at all, somebody will be around to tell you doing it wrong - just like everything else. Anyhow, register it with the city/county if you can but don't tell anyone else that you have one.

When we had ours installed they gave us a piece of paper detailing the shelter and was told to take it to the nearest station so they knew there was a shelter in case of an emergency. They didn't detail why though so I'm interested to hear this as well.

Slick.  What did that run ballpark wise for purchase, install, etc? @Paulie771

I gave up on the weather radios once the radar apps got good enough. Damn things are county wide so the storms could be 15+ miles away, meanwhile my wife is losing her shit because the sirens are going off, and i'm out on the front lawn with my nightvsion and a beer checking out the action.

Between the redundancy on my verizon network, and my google fiber wifi thats on an UPS I have a reasonable plan for getting data to watch the storms exact locations to make the shelter decision. Plus I've got tv's on UPS with OTA antennas as well, but they're too annoying with the FIRST ALERT SEVERE WEATHER DAY CONTINUING COVERAGE hypefests so just using my radar app is the primary until wifi and cell does, then go to TV, then I can go to a baofeng for a NWS channel. But if i'm losing my fiber or cell i should already be in a shelter cause shits getting wrecked nearby.

In case your house collapses they know you're underground there. If not they might just keep on moving and you might be trapped.

I've lived in Mid MO all my life.  Hid in the tub a few times as a kid with a green sky.  My folks split and Dad moved to NashVegas and lived there for 20+ yrs.  Went down to visit some friends of his that lived on an old homestead about 45mins South of Nashville.  100+ yr old cabin was still there and an old Barn.  But in the old family grave plot, early 1900's were 5 graves, all the same family and date, "Killed by Twister" and I never forgot that.  Can't imagine . . .

Current House does not have a basement.  We go hide at the neighbors a few times.  But now we are adding on, garage slab is spec'd out thickened in the corner.  Plan was to build concrete block "vault" and fill the cores with grout, steel door.  BUT I found a house being demo'd with a F5 rated steel SafeRoom for $1200.  All modular, 1/4in plate bolt together pieces so we will anchor that for now.

ANY shelter is better than NO Shelter.  Below ground might be best, but consider flooding and going outside to access.  An above ground, grade level steel box, inside the garage that you can walk/roll into rated for an F5 will do just fine 99% of the time.  If the finger of god comes down with an F5+ it was likely my time to go anyway.  Sure beats hiding my kids in the tub.

I disagree. The garage is where I have a slab to anchor too. Properly anchored, I have no concern about the garage failing.

I think i'd rather have it anchored along a corner footer area on the slab then interior or basement too. I'm terrified of entrapment though.

There's plenty of videos/photos showing how survivable a proper above ground shelter is.

That's why inward opening door is key.

In my house, I just have the garage slab and then a crawlspace. I have no other choice but the garage...., or outdoors anchored to my new rebar reinforced driveway.

Wouldn't you then be concerned about the house collapsing in on you?

So that we know to dig you out. Some will show on CAD map. With resources stretched due to a direct hit, any information helps us find you faster.

Nvm wrong thread

Understood and makes sense. We are talking about probabilities and risks here. The probably of a nado hittin your house is low, and it's even more unlikely it's going to collapse in, so makes sense. I decided for my situation it's work looking into a shelter, but I'm not going to go overboard. I think one of the 4x4s will be perfect for my need.