Underground Tornado Shelters Hobart
On May 3, 1999 an EF5 tornado struck Moore, OK that’d record wind speeds of over 300mph. After that 1999 tornado, we realized that not everyone in Oklahoma had the space to put in a septic tank shelter. People had very, very limited choices with respect to protecting their families from tornadoes.
Immediately thereafter, the first generation of the in-garage, underground tornado shelters was born. This allowed for the masses to install a shelter underground, inside their home for tornado protection. Homes throughout Hobart were installing these underground tornado shelters to protect themselves.
This was a fantastic thought for sheltering people and keeping them from the weather but it had its downfalls. It stuck up 4 to 5 inches off the garage floor, had poor ventilation, rusted out quickly, and had steep, awkward ladders for entry and exit. Many of these underground tornado shelters in Hobart weren’t installed correctly and have really floated up out of the earth because of buoyancy and ground water. We took note, and made history.
In 2003, the FlatSafe Tornado Shelter was invented. We engineered our underground tornado shelters, to be installed in-garage to deal with the destructive forces involved with tornadoes that would offer our Hobart clients peace of mind and supply them with the maximum probability of survival in an EF5 tornado.
Through extensive research, we identified vacuum, air pressure, and debris as the most destructive forces involved with tornadoes.
- Vacuum
With potential wind speeds of 300+miles in mind, we recognized that vacuum is among the most damaging forces which tornadoes create. It doesn’t require much vacuum pressure, with regard to psi, to cause structural damage. To counter vacuum forces, FlatSafe made a lid system which permits 360o of ventilation for rapid equalization of pressure inside the shelter. By boosting the pressure inside of the shelter to quickly equalize with the outside pressure, the secured lid system is held securely closed.
- Pressure
We understood that 300+mph winds can cause enormous damage to whatever it slams against so we sought to lower our exposed surface area as much as possible. The patented FlatSafe lid system only sticks up 1/4″, so there is very little surface area affected by horizontal wind speeds.
- Debris
Because FlatSafe Tornado Shelters are under ground, it is from the way of horizontal winds and the debris thrown and circulated by it. So the only debris to be concerned about is falling debris. We knew that all debris falls at the exact same speed and only mass determines its effect. Our 1/4″ plate lid is bigger than the shelter opening and is reinforced to absorb and withstand any falling debris which may land squarely on it. We made it to provide more than sufficient ventilation (breathing) even after impact.
FlatSafe Underground Tornado Shelters
The FlatSafe Tornado Shelter was engineered to meet all of the regulations and criteria that were available. It was also engineered with corrosion protection options to ensure that the shelter would last as long as the house and the homeowner. FlatSafe provided the original single-lid design and was the first low-profile, in-garage shelter offered. The lid is 1/4″ thick steel plate with additional structural tubing to provide additional strength. The single-piece lid is bigger than the framework of the saferoom opening and sits above the framework, not down within the frame.
Our lid system is a lot stronger than the normal 2-piece lid system provided by everyone else and provides more than adequate ventilation to the occupants. FlatSafe was the first to encase lands in ready-mix concrete to counteract buoyancy and floatation. The FlatSafe shelter design does not take away from a homeowner’s usable garage floor area.
FlatSafe below ground tornado shelters permit easy entry and exit, provides a powerful system for leaving with debris on the lid, and leaves Hobart residence with the peace of mind that they have an extremely large probability of surviving a direct hit from an EF5 tornado.
Read Real Testimonials From Tornado Survivors
Since 2003, FlatSafe has established itself as the innovator in the in-garage, low profile, below ground tornado shelters business. Many FlatSafe shelters have taken a direct hit from an EF5 tornado and our customers rave about the protector performance and their choice to buy. FlatSafe continues to push for new invention and continues to push for more stringent and thorough codes to protect the families in the vicinity of Hobart.
Contact our dedicated specialists today at (866) 520-FLAT to learn more about the installation of our storm shelters in your Hobart home.