Tornado Shelter

I am thinking about getting a storm shelter for my family. We live just north of Dallas and tornadoes are not as common here as in Oklahoma but they are still pretty common. I had previously thought about the safe room reinforced closet but the tornadoes that hit south of Dallas and in Norman, OK are making that not seem good enough. A reinforced closet is just not going to stop a flying Ford F150. Both of these tornadoes have tossed vehicles around like Styrofoam cups. The only place I see safe from these types of tornadoes is below ground. I don't like the idea that debris could pile on top of an in ground shelter. I saw one of the survival bunker shows on TV where they installed a jack to help raise the door even if something heavy was on top of that. I could probably do something like that.

I found three local companies selling storm shelters. I have filled out inquires to all three.
I got a price from one company this morning and was surprised it wasn't more expensive. It was a 6' x 8' concrete in ground shelter installed for $3,000. The company is in the septic tank business and I assume the storm shelter is basically a septic tank with a door ,ladder, and vents.

What's your guys thoughts?

My Dad installed a fallout shelter on some depleted farmland he purchased - also north of Dallas. It was thought that the shelter would also be useful in the event of a tornado. The unit was never used for either purpose, but it was nice to have anyway. It did provide useful storage and a cool place to hang out. It was probably more elaborate than what would be adequate for a tornado shelter, since the fallout scenario required more time underground.

You could spend $3000 in many more frivolous ways, in my opinion.

Tornados aren't nearly as common here but I would cheerfully pay $3k to get an in-ground shelter installed.

for new construction, the unit that fits in the garage floor, between the wheel width of your car... horizontal sliding top with air vents... come-along to move under debris... immediate access from your home, protected from the elements...would be my choice...

there are a lot of good vids on Youtube on buried fiberglass or steel units for yard retrofit...make sure it's anchored and won't pop out of the ground during heavy rain

I have seen a freshly planted fallout shelter pop back up with lots of rain combined with a river stage on the Miss River which was 1/4 mile away.

Wildman... my first experience was hurricane Donna in 1962... septic tanks and caskets....

I don't think it's that complicated, really. did you see the short live footage of the OK tornado? the two guys who shot it piled themselves into a mechanics pit that had been dug in the floor of their garage. the pit had a couple of metal doors that closed over the top and could be fastened down. the essential thing is to get below ground level and have an overhead secure door/ceiling. even if an F-150 lands on top ... you are alive. rescuers will be there within 30 minutes afterwards. they can drag off the debris. you and your family just need to be in 1 piece. that's all.

Pete2

Go to the guys down at Monolithic Domes in Italy, TX. Talk with them or research their site.

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My $.02

Do you have a link for the shelter mentioned in the OP?